Global Crafts was founded 20+ years ago by Peace Corp volunteers who were working in Kenya and saw a need to help local artisans open up their income opportunities by selling goods in overseas markets. Global Crafts has expanded its reach and now works with marginalized artisan communities around the world by importing home goods, accessories and holiday pieces that are sold in the US and Canada. Each piece is a work of art-- high quality, beautiful, and always a story around the crafting process and groups impacted. The products celebrate age-old crafting techniques from local villages as far flung as Kenya, India and Mexico. Materials range from carved wood to Kisii soapstone, cotton macrame, and more. We love to source pieces with a sustainability angle and feature many products that are upcycled or made from renewable resources. Global Crafts is a a member of the Fair Trade Federation.
Purpose
Their mission is to empower artisan communities through commerce with an empahsis on opening opportunities for women.
People
In local villages, Global Crafts is making a broad impact. By creating economic opportunties in marginalized communties, the entire village is lifted up. They strive to open opportunities for women through training and access to projects. For example, they work with a groupin who will bring the materials and training to women in a remote Indian village; they can not leave their homes for work due to religious protocols. They like to see their work translate into a positive outcome for children- partners are facilitaing basic healthcare and their purchcases have contributed to a school in Nairobi that assists those who have been orphaned.
Planet
Global Crafts loves to source pieces with a sustainability angle and feature many products that are upcycled or made from renewable resources. Examples of upcylced products include recyceld drum art from Haiti (55-gallon steel oil drums), unique handbags from India made from industrial waste (label patches, firehose, intertube tire), and macrame made with recycled cotton (recovered from discarded demin). Many of their pieces are made from felt- wool is a great renewable resource.
