WORLD FAIR TRADE DAY - 10/05/2014

Fair Trade consumers and producers are the drivers of the growing Fair Trade industry.

Fair Trade producers and the people buying their products are the real drivers of the growth of Fair Trade. Backed by promoters, advocates and hundreds of thousands of volunteers all over the globe, Fair Trade has become the leading movement promoting social justice today. World Fair Trade Day, on 10^th May is a global day to celebrate this.

In  six continents around the world World Fair Trade Day will be celebrated, led by members of the World Fair Trade Organization. From the Pacific islands to the Andes, Palestine to Bangladesh, Mongolia to Kenya, seminars, hunger banquets, fairs, concerts and drumming, and Fair Trade fashion shows mark the day to celebrate ‘Fair Trade People.’ Every year, this is the biggest Fair Trade celebration on the planet.

The People behind the Product
Fair Trade is a transparent trading system that supports economically marginalised people, fair prices, good working conditions, and long-term partnership through trade. Behind every Fair Trade product on the market there are real people. We tell their story through the WFTO Product Label, which was launched last year when the WFTO Membership approved the new WFTO Guarantee System. 

The People promoting Fair Trade

Consumers and Fair Trade promoters are central to building the Fair Trade movement. By buying Fair Trade products, consumers have helped strengthen Fair Trade groups and supply chains, built a network of over 1,000 Fair Trade towns, cities and universities globally; and put pressure on governments and big businesses to improve their business practices.

Supporting the change

Fair Trade has produced change, and we will continue to do so. Fair Trade has improved the lives of several million small producers worldwide and their communities. Show your support.

Use our web app and show to the world that Fair Trade People are everywhere, by sharing it on social media channels with hashtags #FairTrade and #WFTDay.  

“Fair Trade was established to enable producers, especially the smaller ones, to improve their livelihoods in a sustainable fashion. With the support of conscientious consumers, Fair Trade has grown to become a sustainable solution to fight poverty and economic crisis. Today, Fair Trade impacts not only producers but all of us. Fair Trade is a movement of the people, by the people and for the people.” Natália Leal, WFTO Chief Executive

“Throughout the years in which I have been involved in Fair Trade, I have personally met ten thousands of people who have demonstrated how we can each make a difference. We are a movement of committed individuals working together towards a common goal and WFTDay celebrates the dedication of this movement and its achievements.” Rudi Dalvai, WFTO President

“I initiated World Fair Trade Day in Japan, 1999, as a way of celebrating diversity, sustainability and incredible examples of justice through business – Fair Trade is a powerful movement with real proven examples that deliver social development. The public want to be part of the solution and people from every walk of life around the world will get involved May 10^th!” Safia Minney

Silk scarves and shawls

Here are the amazing Mysore printed silk scarves introduced by Baladarshan.
The scarves are available in three sizes and dozen of designs: 44 x 44", 36 x 36" and 72 x 21".

Baladarshan supplies also bulk silk fabric.

Overseas Women Club

Big thanks to the OWC Chennai for having granted to us the opportunity of displaying our products on 09/11/2013 at Residency Towers.

Upping the Recycling game

What's new?

 

 

 

Meeting the Producers (7)

Baladarshan has established a partnership with a newly founded organization, Green Vision, in support of 2 producers groups: below poverty line / illiterate women in Puducherry, and leprosy patients relatives in Chegalpet, a small town located 60kms from Chennai.

The two groups have been trained in making eco-friendly products, especially jewelry and accessories using magazines and newspapers.

 

While the group from Puducherry rolls the beads, the groups from Chengalpet joins the beads and packs these nicely finished products.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Very Cute Kalamkari Handbags

Now available at Baladarshan!
http://www.baladarshan.com/en/kalamkari.html

Press Releases

From India to South Africa: A story of kalamkari

Bed sets and table linen available at CRAFTWORX. For more information, contact:
Ronnie Watt, clumber@iafrica.com, +27-82-557-3976

BALADARSHAN, Member of World Fair Trade Organization

Meeting the producers (6)

SPEED Trust, in partnership with the Panchayat Level Federation from Kayar, a remote village, near Kovalam, has trained a new group of women in basketry set up a new group of producers under the Self-help group scheme. 

Baladarshan -sister concern of SPEED Trust- is now proud to support this group in marketing these colorful baskets, from a small village in Tamil Nadu to USA, Canada, Europe, North India, Singapore, Australia and Japan.

Welcome to this group within Baladarshan network! 

Crafts exhibition

Baladarshan got the opportunity to display the handcrafts at Cholamandal Artists Village, Injambakkam, Chennai on November 17th.

Special thanks to Camille Allauzen, Beatrice De Carvalho and Nasrin from Shiraz Cafe for having granted this opportunity on the occasion of the Brunch of the French Community in Chennai.

Herebelow are a few pictures.

Meeting the Producers (5)

 Shri Haji Valimamad Suleman (known as Haji Kaka) resides in Zura village. Belonging to Sindh (Pakistan), his family migrates to Kutch in Gujarat generations ago.  Originally, Haji Kaka family was Hindu Rajput later converted to Islam.  Haji Kaka believes that the Garasiya Maldhari (animal herders) invited his ancestors to the village of Zura, insuring them that they would benefit of all facilities. Nowadays, the Lohar community is around 30 members, most of them are manufacturing bells, while some other are making agricultural tools and equipments. Haji Kaka lives with 10 family members, 5 of them are involved in bells making with him which is the major source of income. Haji Kaka taught his skill to his son, daughter-in-law, daughter and son-in-law along with his grandson Suleman.  He has extended this craft training to more than 30 artisans who run now their own workshop successfully. 

The task of mashing the local clay and mixing cotton into is performed by the women of the family. They shape the bell using with the copper brass powder (known as “Takkankhar” locally) before it goes in the kiln for firing. This process requires high degree of precision and final quality depends on this process.

Haji Kaka is a senior copper bell artisan. He became famous for his ability in providing voice tones to the copper bells. The copper bell artisans are making tones on the demand of Maldharis (animal herders) who need different tones of bell, helping them to locate their cow or buffalo herds grazing in outskirts of the village. Before, many artisans were skilled enough to supply this particular kind of bells, nowadays, only Haji Kaka and two other artisans have this ability. 

But since the demand of bells from Maldharis decreased, Haji Kaka and other artisans had to change significantly the usage of their crafts, converting the bells into wind chimes, musical instruments such the saragema, door bells, etc.  Haji Kaka is fond of music. He plays ‘Morchang’ (a local musical instrument) during the leisure times.

Haji Kaka has been awarded with a Merit Award from the President of India in 2005 and the prestigious Kamaladevi award presented by the Craft Council of India (CII) in 2007.

Photos by Pallon Daruwalla & Subrata Pandey