Guest blog post from our friends at the Fair Trade Federation, “Fair Traders Support A Refocus on Relationships”

SERRV has always supported the Fair Trade Federation’s ’9 Principles of Fair Trade.’ We’ve modeled our business practices and trading relationships after them but it seems more pressing now than ever to engage in a conversation about these guidelines. Specifically #6… “Support safe and empowering working conditions.”

With the events that occurred recently in Bangladesh and stories we’ve heard from mega-factories throughout the world, we found this article from the Fair Trade Federation’s (FTF’s) website particularly timely. It is a great reminder to think more about where our goods and products come from and who makes them.

SERRV works with 4 fair trade producer organizations in Bangladesh; CORR- The Jute Works, Dhaka Handcrafts, Prokritee, and The YWCA of Dhaka. Each of these amazingly talented artisan organizations emphasizes fair and transparent trade and social responsibility. We are honored to be a part of this global movement and to partner with these outstanding leaders in fair trade.

To learn more about “safe and empowering working conditions” and to see all 9 principles of fair trade, check out FTF’s new site!

Let’s refocus on relationships…

Fair Traders Support A Refocus on Relationships

Last month’s events in Bangladesh – the collapse of a garment factory which killed over 1,100 people and a fire at a nearby garment factory which killed 8 people – have reminded those who support ethical business practices of the disasters that can result when supply chains are too long and relationships are too distant.

We’re also reminded of how important it is for companies to build relationships with the people who make their products.

Since these events, a number of news stories and op-eds have suggested that apparel brands and factory owners hold themselves more accountable for prioritizing worker safety and well-being. This is an important step in the right direction.

“While it is good news that large apparel manufacturers are making efforts to address the labor violations of their suppliers,” says Renee Bowers, Executive Director of the Fair Trade Federation, “it is also important to remember that factory audits alone are not enough to address the flaws in current overseas supply chains.”

Fair trade organizations prioritize direct, long term relationships with small scale producers in the developing world. Because of these relationships, craftspeople and farmers who live on the margins of their societies can count on long term stability for themselves and their families.

Shorter supply chains also help overseas workers to escape the market pressures that often lead to forced overtime and unsafe working conditions in factories and larger-scale operations. Maintaining these relationships, even if they are not financially advantageous to companies in the short term, is beneficial to everyone involved in the long term.

Understandably, small-scale production can’t match the volume and speed that is a priority for larger apparel brands. This will continue to be a challenge for the garment industry as consumer consciousness changes. A focus on relationships with producers, though, might require shoppers and retailers alike to place less value on high turnover trend pieces and more value on how brands do business.

“Dedicated fair trade organizations take a different approach,” continues Bowers. “They eliminate layers of middlemen. They also know their suppliers, understand their challenges, and share information that helps keep producer health, safety, and well-being at the forefront of their purchasing decisions.”

At its core, fair trade is about relationships, not simple business transactions.

Guest blog post borrowed from our friends at The Fair Trade Federation. To learn more about FTF, visit their website or Facebook page.

To learn more about SERRV and Fair Trade, visit the info page on our website. Or click here to learn more about the work we are achieving through fair trade partnerships in Bangladesh.

Understanding a Global Community

by Megan Arzbaecher, Resource Development Associate

When I started walking up the narrow, dusty stairs, I had no idea the emotional experience I was about to endeavor upon. I walk into a small second story workshop surrounded by 23 smiling women. They prepared a welcoming ceremony for me, in which I lit a small candle that was surrounded by brightly hued flower petals. The leader of the workshop dips her finger in a pink powder and pushes her finger on to my forehead. It is a gesture meant for visitors, to invite them into a new space.

I sit down at the head of the group and begin to listen as the women introduce themselves. Sunita, Sushila, Eram, Punisha, the names go on and on. But before they share their names, each woman bows gently and says “Namaste” as they softly touch my hands.  I immediately feel the warmth and openness of this group. Although some of them are shy, they are all so interested in my visit and want to share it with me.

After the introductions, the leader of the group, Ansara, explains about their workshop and history. She was passionate about supporting women in her community, and learned how to embroider from her mother at a young age. She learned about MarketPlace: Handwork of India from a friend and was immediately intrigued by the group’s work. She approached them about opening a workshop in her slum, and they agreed to help her get started. Since then, she has brought on over 20 women and trained them up, so they are able to make a living wage.

As she continues, I can see all the other artisans are listening just as intently as I am. We must work through a translator since many of the women don’t know English, and I know no Hindi. But it is no concern because as she shares her story, I realize quickly how close group of women this truly is. They all look on attentively and nod, because they already know what she is going to say. They know her story. They know her. They are friends with her. They respect her.

Ansara asks me if I have any questions for the women. Immediately, I ask if they can share some of their own stories about their lives. I was curious to learn about how Marketplace and fair trade have changed their lives. Right after I ask the question, I can see them all looking around the room to see who will answer first. They are all excited to share their stories, because they all have one. First comes Sanija, who states that prior to Marketplace she could never leave the home for work because she had too many chores to do. But because Marketplace has a flexible schedule she can work from home and pick up her embroidery work when she has free time.

Next comes a young woman who says that Marketplace allowed her to move from the village to Mumbai. “Without Marketplace, I never could have moved. They helped me start a new life in the city. In the village, life was too hard. No one could find work. Marketplace gave me a chance. “

Next came Kanika, who said economic empowerment was the biggest change that came from working at Marketplace. “I can support myself. I can buy my own food, my own clothes. Economic empowerment allows me to be independent.”

My favorite response however was from a proud woman of about 50 named Sasha. She spoke about the feeling of community and the deep connection she felt towards the other artisans in her group. “Other sewing groups could give me work, but they don’t care about improving my life. At Marketplace, I have a community of women who I can talk to and learn from. Marketplace offers us trainings and support on issues that we face.”

I could keep going on like this, because every woman had something to say. Even the shy ones. The bolder women would point at them and urge them to share their story. You could feel what a tight knit bunch they were, and how much each woman knew about the woman sitting next to year. They weren’t simply coworkers, they were a community. Their smiles and warmth made me feel as though I had been a member of their group for years. I felt so empowered about myself as a woman just from sitting among these women and hearing how they were able to change their lives.

After listening to everyone’s response, I let them ask me questions. And guess what, the first one was “How can we get more orders?” I am not even kidding. All the women nodded along as the bold Sanija told me, “We want more orders. We like to work and there are more women in the community we would like to join us. But we need more orders.” Another woman chimed in, “I like to make all of SERRV’s headbands. They are a fun design to embroider!”

In the final moments of my time at this workshop, the women decided to dedicate a song to me. They all began to sing in harmony, smiling at me and holding my hand. I was almost brought to tears by the sweet gesture, because I had known these women for less than an hour; yet, I already felt as though I was a member of their community. When I got up to walk out, they all thanked me, hugged me, told me to return again. It was truly inspiring. I was touched by their hospitality, generosity and willingness to share their stories. Being surrounded by such strong, newly independent women will forever hold a special place in my heart. And it reminded me that this is what fair trade is all about

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Savor the Sweetness…
Try this simple recipe for Chocolate covered Coconut Macaroons

SERRV volunteer, Jamie Hayes, working with Threads of Yunnan in China -Part II

Reflecting on my time with Threads of Yunnan, I am amazed at what our team accomplished in a mere six weeks. Six weeks may sound like ample time to create a collection in the U.S., but Threads of Yunnan operates under very different conditions that are much more challenging than those of a typical design company in the U.S.

The Jigaize embroidery staff were really excited to see the new designs. They were also intrigued by the computer, since the town only has 3! The other 2 belong to the local school and the mayor.

Some of these challenges became apparent on my very first day, when I asked what I thought was a simple question: “How long will it take to get from the office in Kunming to Jigaize (the rural village where the embroidery production center is located)?” My new co-workers looked at one another and laughed. “It depends on the road … it should take four hours. But it can take all day. Just think of the journey as beginning once we’re in the car, not when we arrive.” When I saw the poor condition of the road, I began to understand. But it was weeks before I stopped asking fruitless questions like, “What time does the bus come?”

Just before my arrival in Yunnan, Threads of Yunnan had asked many of their embroiderers to make embroidery strips of their own design. When I saw them, I was blown away by the sophisticated and intricate color combinations, and asked to use the new designs for bracelets, headbands, and belts. The woman in the photograph designed and made this strip, which will be used for bangle bracelets and other accessories.

Eventually I learned to adjust to the rhythm of life in rural Yunnan. You do your best to make a plan, but you can’t get frustrated when obstacles, such as water buffalo, goats, or ducks in the road, get in the way of your plan. I even learned to get used to nightly traffic jams in Jigaize, a town that consists of one block.

Now that Threads of Yunnan has an expanded production space in Jigaize, the embroiderers are able to not only embroider, but also learning new skills like cutting and sewing on industrial machines. Here they are preparing some cross stitch fabric for embroidery.

Threads of Yunnan is the first and only fair trade company in China. Considering the levels of bureaucracy in China that the company had to navigate in order to achieve this status, I began to realize the incredible dedication, determination, and resourcefulness of the Threads team. I learned from Threads to keep things in perspective, to keep a positive attitude, and to look for resourceful solutions. Honestly, it would be difficult to avoid these lessons in rural China. The villagers must work very hard and be very resourceful for in order to survive.  No one wastes anything–discarded tires are turned into baskets; corn cobs and husks are used for fuel. Lawnmower motors are rigged up to power trucks, and trucks are built around motorcycle frames.

The embroidery center is a safe space for women to work and to bring their children. The front of the center has an enclosed where children can play. Currently a play area is being developed in the center to provide the children with toys and books to keep them entertained and stimulated.

It quickly became clear to me that the accomplishments of Threads of Yunnan are also thanks to the wonderful, reciprocal relationships that have been built over their fifteen-plus years working in rural Yunnan. In addition to the Threads’ handicraft projects, they have also built schools, and provided schools with donations of protein-filled food (many school children in rural China live far from the nearest school, and thus board at the school during the week, starting at the age of six. Many of these children walk several hours to get to school, and must carry their food for the week with them. Many families in the area lack the resources to provide their children with the sufficient resources for growth and development). Threads has also built clinics and trained villagers in medical care, to name just a few of their many projects.

Yi and Lisu embroiderers unpacking their work and sharing it with one another.

So when our printer broke on my first day and we were unable to print all the complex patterns that I had developed, we simply went to the village mayor’s office, had a cup tea, and he gave us permission to use his printer for the week. When late one night I feared that we had missed the last bus out of town, my co-workers assured me that someone would give us a ride, a place to stay, and a hot meal. One day when it was unseasonably cold, one of the embroiderers made the long trek back home to get warm clothes for all of us. Villagers even gladly loaned me some  giant cooking caldrons that I traced in order to make Christmas tree skirt patterns, much to the amusement of the embroiderers. Or perhaps it was the concept of a tree wearing a skirt was amusing … some things are definitely lost in translation

SERRV volunteer, Jamie Hayes, working with Threads of Yunnan in China

Jamie Hayes, a talented designer from the Chicago-area, is currently volunteering with our partner, Threads of Yunnan in China to develop new products for the American market. She has accomplished so much in just a few short weeks with them. Below is a quick update on her time in China…

My trip to Yunnan Province in China has been action-packed. After 24 hours of travel, I arrived at midnight in Kunming, where Thread of Yunnan’s offices are based, and left early the next morning for the tiny village of Jigaize, where the embroidery production center is located. On a good day, when the traffic is light and when the potholes on the mountainous road are avoided, the trip takes about 4 hours.

Some of the women have to walk for a long time to get to the center. sometimes it’s best to meet them halfway and have a meeting in front of the general store in the town halfway down the mountain.

When we arrived in Jigaize, many of the members of the embroidery groups were waiting at the center to greet us. The manager of the center, Wan Ping Feng, had cooked us a delicious meal, a soup of greens and beans, grown by her family. Then we toured the center, built by Threads of Yunnan. The center is open on weekdays, and women from the surrounding area can come in to work together, purchase threads, and receive training on the handicraft work. Recently Threads of Yunnan also added on second floor to this building, where industrial sewing machines (purchased with a grant from SERRV) are located. In the next few years, Threads of Yunnan plans to train the embroiderers to not only embroider, but also sew products on the industrial machines.

After our tour, we introduced ourselves to one another formally, with short speeches, then played some games, and sang songs from our respective cultures. The embroiderers are a very diverse group, coming from the Yi, Lisu, and Miao ethnic minorities. Traditionally these groups live in separate villages, but after an earthquake in the 1990s destroyed many villagers’ homes, different ethnic groups were relocated together into Jigaize. The Threads of Yunnan project was the first time that many of these different groups had had the opportunity to work closely together.

The next day, we started straight away on developing new products. I worked closely with Xiao Deng, the sample-maker/seamstress from the Kunming office, and we were able to bridge our language gap fairly easily with the use of a few words and a lot of pantomime. After the first day, we also had the invaluable help of Xiao Zhang, Threads of Yunnan’s accountant, who translated for us.

Thanks to the incredible team, we were able to keep on schedule during our week in Jigaize, and developed new headbands, bracelets, necklaces, belts, bags, table runners, and Christmas tree skirts. Each day different groups of women would stop by the center to pick up samples to embroider and to learn about the new products.

After only one week I felt that I had learned so much. It was really invaluable to start my time here in Yunnan in the countryside so that I could meet the artisans and observe both their skills as well as the challenges they face in production. The experience also helped me to relax my American expectations of control and regularity. In the countryside in China, the bus comes when it comes–the timetable is irrelevant. Maybe there will be hot water, maybe there won’t. We do our best to plan and make the most of our time, but in the end, we do the best we can with what we have in the moment. Of course that’s the case everywhere, but at times in the US I can be easy to forget.

More updates from Jamie and Threads of Yunnan to come. Stay tuned…

Giving Thanks

A mother and child from Delta Survie in Mali

As you sit down with your family this week to give thanks, SERRV would like to thank you. In today’s world, practicing 100% fair trade is not easy and we truly appreciate your purchases, donations, and support of our work and mission.

Every purchase from SERRV makes a positive difference in the lives of families and communities around the world. Thanks to your fair trade choices, children are educated, women receive medical care, and families earn a fair wage that allows them to thrive.

 

On behalf of the more than 60 artisan and farmer groups we work with in over 30 countries, we thank you. Have a wonderful holiday.

My SERRV Sale

by Serena Sato, Director of Marketing

I believe this is the 3^rd year in a row that I have, with the help of others, hosted a SERRV Sale. This time was by far the easiest! I can’t believe how smoothly it came together.

Since I happen to have insider knowledge on what is selling well at SERRV, I was tempted to choose items I was most familiar with. Luckily, my husband reminded me that our community certainly may not match what is selling best across the country. That was great advice, and so I took a different approach as I went through the consignment catalog…a few repeat items that sold quickly at previous sales, various products at lower price points, and then just a few higher priced point items that were simply beautiful.

Fun for all ages!

My sons and a friend of theirs helped me carefully unpack all of the items, check them off the invoice (it was 100% accurate, by the way), and repack them to carry to the sale location. That didn’t take long at all, and was super fun. It is great to how excited the kids are about not only Divine Chocolate but also the handcrafts and discovering what countries the products come from. My older son has become my key co-host and is a great help. Once he suggested that I post our sale poster to face out the front glass door rather than inward, to invite people who may pass by the church rather than just those who are already inside – a great reminder to also think of this as a local outreach activity. As you can tell, it is meaningful to me to share this time and experience with him.

Getting crafty

I took the advice of another SERRV Sale host and cut out photos and descriptions of (almost all) of the items and pasted them on index cards to have on display at the sale. I did the same with artisan stories. This took a little while, but was a simple craft project which I think boosted sales – many people asked to take those cards along with their purchases and it helped me be prepared to answer questions.

Most of my order sold during one weekend, then I sold a few more at a different location the following weekend, one item to a neighbor and yes, two items to myself (there is no way we could part with that adorable cat door draft stopper once it had been in our home).  All-in-all we sold just over $650 worth of products and only returned two items. Yaay! I am glad that we could volunteer in this way and that my small church has an opportunity to directly support fair trade.

Shopping for a good cause!

It’s not too late for you to decide to host a SERRV Sale this holiday season. Just call us at 1.800.423.0071 or email orders@serrv.org and we would love to help. Feel free to contact me directly if you have a question for me, at serena.sato@serrv.org. Thank you!

Helping Communities Abroad and At Home

By Megan Arzbaecher, SERRV Store Madison

When I started my job at SERRV last April, I was so excited to start working for a non-profit that helped artisans and farmers around the world. Giving a stable and equitable job to disenfranchised women or mentally handicapped people or sexual assault victims was what drew me to SERRV’s mission. These were people the global community had forgotten about, and fair trade helped create a just future for them. It never dawned on me that a lot of these same problems exist in the US, and in my home city of Madison, WI.

Our artisan partners from India visit our booth at a local street festival.

In June 2012, I began working as SERRV’s outreach coordinator through the SERRV Store. With our headquarters here in Madison, I realized how important it was for us to be an active member of our own community. It has become my goal to bridge SERRV’s global work with the needs of our local area. Many of the problems that exist in Nepal or Kenya still exist in this country, even if the forms are different.

For the past few months, I have connected with other area non-profits and companies who all support the same sustainable future that SERRV does. Through partnerships and joint special events, we will be able to accomplish real change in the Madison community as well as the global community. There are so many upcoming events and partnerships, I can’t wait to get started planning them all!

Martin the Puggle with Sarah the store manager

This past week, we partnered with the Dane County Humane Society to host a fundraiser at the SERRV Store. Supporting compassion for all is exactly what Fair Trade is about! We were graced by one of the shelter dogs, Martin, who warmed the hearts of all our customers. He reminded us how real the issue of animal cruelty is, and brought home the importance of this fundraiser.

We are also partnering with area student organizations to raise awareness of Fair Trade on campus. This week, we will be co-hosting an event with the University of Wisconsin’s Slow Food chapter. With organic food products from the Middle East and Fair Trade chocolate from Ghana, SERRV is a perfect match to the mission of Slow Food. By sharing stories of food from around the world within our own community, we will be able to connect students and supporters from many parts of the world.

One of our amazing interns at a SERRV booth during the weekly Capitol Square Farmer’s Market.

My most anticipated fall event is a collaborative art show & fundraiser we will be hosting in the store. Our partner, Chyrsalis, helps people with mental illness enter the workforce and offers them workplace training. Several of their clients are artists, whose art we hope to showcase while also sharing stories of artists from around the world who share similar struggles. Art has the ability to transform any life, and we look forward to celebrating the power of artistic talents.

So many times, I get wrapped up in the problems our global community faces, that I forget those very problems exist within my own community. I feel blessed that I am able to help alleviate problems on both fronts through my work at SERRV. I hope all of you are able to make one or all of our events, because they are a great opportunity to support SERRV’s mission while also giving back to your own county.

Stories of Fair Trade: Design Camp and SERRV Retailer Retreat in Madison, WI

By: Meghan Roberts, SERRV Marketing team

I’ll never forget the stories… Like when Kerry Evans, senior product designer, kissed a giraffe at a wildlife refuge in Kenya (and had the pictures to prove it) or when Sara and Serena, of SERRV’s marketing team, held an impromptu photo shoot at the Taj Mahal, or when Bob, SERRV’s executive director, experienced Holi for the first time, a Hindi festival of colors marking the beginning of spring.

Sara, from SERRV’s marketing team, modeling a scarf in front of the Taj Mahal

The best part about working for SERRV is the stories people share. I have not yet (**hint, hint) had a chance to travel overseas to visit our artisan partners but I am fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to meet many amazing people working for fair trade right here in the US. Recently, we have had a group of 22 fair trade retailers and several designers from our overseas partners visit our offices in Madison for an incredibly busy week.

Swagata, Amruta, Tarun, and Sunita doing a little “research” on American shopping culture.

SERRV held the 3^rd annual Design Camp in September for a few designers from our partner organizations in Nepal, India, and Bangladesh. The Product development team introduced our partners to our trend report, new design ideas for upcoming seasons, and spent time at the Art institute of Chicago reviewing their designs. The highlight for everyone was “competitive shopping,” where the designers were able to experience the North American market first hand, immerse themselves in the retail experience, and better understand consumer’s lifestyles.

Ice Cream at the Memorial Union Terrace with the Design Camp Crew

We were able to cram a lot into the short week but also made sure set aside time to share stories and get to know Amruta, Sunita, Tarun, and Swagata. I was able to take them all out for “dinner” after work one evening and introduced them to a truly Wisconsin experience. We walked State St and chatted with a shop owner from Nepal, took pictures of interesting handmade products, and ended up enjoying French fries and an ice cream cone by the lake. We shared stories about our jobs, our friends, our dreams and stayed out a little past curfew to catch a glimpse of the night sky over the Monona Terrace. It’s moments like these that I realize just how lucky I am too work with such an amazing group of people and how much we have in common despite the distance.

 

The day after Design Camp, the marketing team dove right into another event, our first ever SERRV Retailer Retreat. Twenty-two of SERRV’s store customers made the trip to Madison for 2-plus days of retailing insight, inventory management, and discussions about fair trade. We were fortunate enough to have Candi Horton, of Baksheesh Fair Trade, and Renee Bowers, Executive Director of the Fair Trade Federation, join us to facilitate discussions and lend their expertise. Sunita and Swagata were also able to stay to share their stories of fair trade in India and Nepal with our retailing partners.

We were more than pleased with the turn-out from our first ever retreat and learned so much from having all of these talented people in the same room together talking about fair trade. My favorite part, was the time we spent together talking, hearing the stories of their travels and what fair trade means to their lives.

I’ve had many other opportunities to spend time with the people of fair trade over the last two years and I can honestly say those conversations have changed my life. I have learned so much from the stories and can’t wait to share more of those in coming years.

Happy Fair Trade Month! Take this time as an opportunity to learn more about the people and products of fair trade, each handmade with a beautiful story!

Please share your stories with us…

The Power of Fair Trade in Nepal

Swayambhunath, Kathmandu

By Sara, Marketing

Kathmandu: frenzied streets. Lively rituals. Historic temples. When I arrived in Nepal a few weeks ago to visit SERRV’s partners and work with them on their websites and internet marketing, I didn’t quite know what to expect. What I found was an incredible country full of beautiful traditions and beautiful people. I was lucky enough to learn the stories of artisans who work with our partners Mahaguthi, Get Paper Industry, Kumbeshwar Technical School, and Association of Craft Producers, and what it means for them to work in fair trade. Hearing direct examples of how people’s lives are changed through working for these organizations is a huge reminder of the powerful change our purchases create!

Spools of thread wind onto the warping wheel

On a dusty street in Kathmandu, we visited the weaving production area for Mahaguthi’s shawls and scarves. Inside were many large jacquard looms, as well as a huge warping wheel. The method of creating these shawls is a tradition that goes back hundreds of years, and it was mind-blowing to see the actual process take place. We visited in late afternoon so many workers had already left, though a few were still there finishing up for the day.

Parwati, Mahaguthi weaver

I met Parwati, a weaver who has worked with Mahaguthi for a relatively short time, only 8 months. Parwati’s husband is in the army, and she uses her income to support her two children, ages 10 and 8. She’s able to send them to school with this money- if she didn’t have it, they wouldn’t be able to attend.

Parwati used to knit for work, but the company wasn’t trustworthy and she wouldn’t get her payment on time. She says it was a very difficult situation. When her friend recommended she find work with Mahaguthi instead, she did, and is now content with her reliable payments and good work atmosphere. She says she’s so happy.

I met people like Parwati everywhere I went, who told me that with the fair wages they earn they can send their kids to school, which is a huge cost for families in Nepal. Women are no longer “idle” housewives and are instead empowered to give themselves and their families better lives. Plus, they gain medical allowances, savings programs, and other social benefits not found with other companies.

Visiting KTS knitters in their home

For me, these interactions were the highlight of the trip – spending time with artisans and their families, understanding way of life and the obstacles they face, and hearing powerful stories of how their lives are changed for the better through their work. All four of our partners in Nepal work tirelessly for dignity and equality for their artisans, and it shows! Sunil, director of Mahaguthi: Craft with a Conscience sums it up best: “Fair trade honors the human dignity, culture and livelihoods of people around the world. Through your purchases, you make a difference in the lives of artisans thousands of miles away.”