Our artisans work alongside each other in shared community workspaces. Sometimes they choose to work from home, where they can also care for their family and tend to daily chores. Although highly skilled, they hail from the poorest and most disadvantaged communities, so access to education, training and health care has been very limited. 

By working with PURE, these artisans, mostly women, are breaking this cycle of impoverishment by using their carving, weaving and craft skills, handed down over generations. They set the price for each piece based on the time it takes to make; intricacy of design; and the cost of the raw materials. 

Being paid fairly is undoubtedly life-changing. However a host of other wonderful benefits also arise through their work: the pride of making something beautiful with their own hands; the camaraderie of learning new skills; earning respect from their families and community; the dignity of being able to buy new clothes; and the opportunity to educate themselves and their children.

Motivated to empower people out of the cycle of discrimination and poverty, we develop strategies to assist them to become self-sufficient. The design process always begins with observing the artisans skills, their environment and the raw materials that are locally available to them. Artisans practice a range of techniques – from traditional wood or stone carving, basket and handloom weaving, to the more modern crafts of macrame and crochet. After noting the craft skills, we then interpret what we see into contemporary and functional design products. 

EMPOWERING WOMAN

It’s widely understood that when women are economically empowered, they make financial decisions that will benefit not only their families, but entire communities.

Ongoing work and fair prices mean the female artisans who make most of our products are often the main breadwinners in their families – an incredible achievement in a patriarchal society! This creates respect, and helps to make sure that their voice is heard when it comes to important decisions about how their well-earned money is spent.

PRESERVING TRADITIONS

In some communities where our products are made, age-old craft skills have been passed down through generations. However, without access to buyers and consistent orders, these skills will be lost. The artisans who weave the fabric for our batik, cotton and totes on handlooms are one such example, as is the revival of natural vegetable dyeing.

KEEPING FAMILIES TOGETHER

Migrating for work separates families and creates imbalance within communities. Often, the work that people relocate for turns out to be different to what they have been promised and leads to heavy labour; prostitution; and – in some cases – trafficking.

When there is sustainable work in remote rural communities, the need to move to big cities is reduced. It is also why paying artisans a fair price for their work is vital so they are able to provide for their family.

CHANGING SOCIAL NORM

Life can be challenging for women living in a patriarchal society; they often face opposition to working from the men in their lives. When a women is empowered by earning a consistent living wage, traditional social norms are naturally challenged – and changed for the better.

This occurs slowly, as the benefits become tangible. Now, our artisan’s husbands often help to prepare dinner; care for the children and support them fully in their work, even offering to help carry raw materials and completed products. There is also anecdotal evidence of reduced rates of domestic violence within the artisan communities due to less financial stress.

SUSTAINABILITY

Showing communities how to farm in a more sustainable way, and without chemicals, is important for their health; and helps to avoid buying expensive food or raw materials from elsewhere. Artisans while making our products, still tend to their farming so they can contribute to local crop harvests that benefit their whole community.

When it comes to our products, we always have a preference for locally-grown natural fibres and natural dyes. We are passionate about not polluting the waterways where artisans make our beautiful products, so they can enjoy the fruits of their labour in a healthy, sustainable environment.

This holistic approach means our products are crafted by happy women, who are living in communities that are thriving on every level.