In light of the terror unfolding across Afghanistan, we are highlighting our Afghan partners and their handcrafted works. With 12 years of working with artisans in Kandahar, the reports of violence against women is incredibly painful. Support women artisans directly.

Global Goods Partners has the privilege of partnering with some of the most talented and inspirational women in the world. Kandahar Treasure employs 350 women artisans who use a rare form of hand embroidery to decorate scarves and purses. The organization distributes raw materials so that women can earn a living while working in the safety of their own homes.

Kandahar Treasures’ wish for the women of Afghanistan is for a peaceful and stable country. “The women of Afghanistan are tired of over 30 years of war and as the biggest and quietest victims of all, the women are now calling upon their sisters all over the world to help them get out of this violence.”

Here are the words of Parween, one of the many women working with Kandahar Treasure: 

1. How has working with Kandahar Treasure changed your life? 

I have 7 children and I never thought that it was my duty to help my family until my husband lost his job and I was forced to come out of the house to work for my family.  It was hard in the beginning, but after a while I realized that working and earning an income gave me independence and confidence that I never thought I had!  Shorwa (soup made with lamb or beef) is a must in many Afghan families for dinner and before I was working, my husband would eat the meat and I would eat bread with the broth - but now that I am working I eat the meat as well!  I no longer feel bad or feel that I am a burden for my husband. 

2. What would you like to say to the people who purchase the products that you make

Thank you for making me and all of the other 350 women feel that we can be active citizens of our society as well.  We are better than our men because we spend our income on our children unlike our husbands.  Feel proud of the product you have purchased because you give us an opportunity to continue to empower ourselves, our families and our communities.  Again, we thank you for your support. 

3. What are your hopes for the women of Afghanistan for the coming year? 

I hope that all of the women of Afghanistan can unite to speak loud and clear to their leaders and the world that they are tired of this unjust war and that will no longer sit silent to watch their loved ones die in unjust attacks.  I hope that our ability to earn and bring an income to our homes will make the men believe that not only can we take care of our homes and children, but we can also be active participants and positive and peaceful agents of peace in Afghanistan.

Shop Kandahar Treasure

Thank you for your commitment to Global Goods Partners and to the women, families, and communities we have supported for the past 15 years. In this rapidly changing world, with the punishing impact that COVID-19 has unleashed on the more than 20,000 artisans we work with, our mission to deepen our reach and build resilience and opportunities for some of the most vulnerable women and their communities has never felt so urgent.

When we founded GGP 15 years ago, we had a dream of connecting the crafts, cultures, and lives of women around the world to marketplaces and people in the US. Our model to enhance the businesses and outcomes of our artisan partners not only relies on the funds generated from consumer activity, but also is dependent on charitable contributions from generous donors like you. The dollars we raise go to:

• Building the operational capacity of our artisan partners’ enterprises

• Training hundreds of new artisans to enter the formal economy 

• Creating a multiplier effect within local economies by securing reliable fair living wage jobs

•  Awarding financial grants to our partners, including funding for Covid-19 relief,  and support for health and education programming and community improvements.

Today, we need your help more than ever to keep GGP’s mission moving forward. We are faced with new and unparalleled challenges and are asking for your support to meet the immediate needs of GGP and our partners.  As this holiday season kicks off and we launch into our celebration of our 15th year, we ask you to deepen your investment with a generous year-end gift. There’s never been a more important time to give. 

This interview with Andeana Hats introduces the mission of Global Goods Partners (GGP) and includes a few anecdotes from the perspective of our very own Stephanie Harrison about what she has enjoyed the most during her time with GGP.

Global Goods Partners is an e-commerce shopping site focused on bridging gaps, opening doors, and providing opportunities for artisan women to join the international marketplace. We partner with over 35 women-led cooperatives in over 20 countries around the globe.

Recently, we have featured 9 ethical black owned businesses on our homepage as a tribute to the Black Lives Matter movement as well as provided COVID-relief grants to our partners in Nepal, South Africa, and Peru. Stephanie touches on these initiatives as well as one of her favorite “success stories” and three women that inspire her today.

Read more

During these trying and unprecedented times, one of Global Goods Partners’ highest priorities has been to provide critical support to our partners whose needs are greater now than ever.

We have strategized work-from-home implementations and provided emergency grants to our partners in Nepal, South Africa, and Peru who have been left most vulnerable due to COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns. These GGP grants have funded food packages, healthcare insurance, and personal protective gear such as masks and hand sanitizers for over 200 women and their families. GGP would like to thank you for your donations and support at this time, which have enabled us to provide the following four aid packages:

1.  $250 to Streetwires, our partner in Cape Town, South Africa. In March, the South African government put into place some of the toughest restrictions in the world. These included shutting borders, closing schools, stay-at-home mandates, and a ban on alcohol. GGP funding was distributed to artisans who lacked income to buy food and pay for rent under lockdown conditions. On Monday, August 24th, South Africa is set to ease restrictions and the reopening of businesses.

2.  $500 to GGP partners in Nepal, Nirjala Craft and Nuptse Craft. The current situation in Nepal is very concerning as cases have risen in the past month and the country is under a second strict lockdown. The artisans there are not able to leave their homes at this time unless for essential goods such as medicine and food which has impacted their work production abilities.

Nuptse Craft used the funding to purchase a COVID-19 specific health insurance policy provided by the Nepalese government. At a cost of $5 per person, the policy covers healthcare related expenses up to approximately $850.For Nirjala Craft, funds were used to purchase and distribute food packages for 65 women. These packages included Nepalese staples such as rice, lentils, flour, and oil.

A popular Nepali recipe that our partners shared with us and is pictured below is called Sel Roti. A batter is made of rice flour, powdered sugar, clarified butter and water which is then fried in a ring shape until golden brown. We were told that this dish is traditionally a festive food made as an offering to gods and goddesses but can also serve as a comfort food during difficult times. For a link to a recipe posted by our partners at Food52 click here.

3.  $400 to grant to Alivicha in Peru. COVID-19 has recently spiked in the country and resources for medical care are very limited, especially in the rural areas where the majority of the women that we work with live. Grant funds were used to implement COVID-19 health and safety guidelines, including wearing face masks and using soap and hand sanitizer in the workplace. We believe that these accommodations are crucial in protecting the health and wellbeing of our partners, their families, and the communities in which they live.

The grant allowed members of the Alivicha team to travel to Lima, to purchase facemasks, which were then distributed to 180 artisans. The remaining funds were deposited into each of the artisans bank accounts to buy soap, hand sanitizer, and any other outstanding sanitation products.

Alivicha artisans with new protective gear.

As COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc in much of the world, GGP’s network of artisans remain unable to leave their homes and provide a stable income for their families. Many of our partners still require immediate assistance. All donations during this period, which can be made through our site or added when checking out, will go towards our COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund.

Again, the whole GGP team would like to thank you for your continued support through this difficult time. We pride ourselves in fortifying a community of strong women around the world, and could not support and provide them with assistance without your help.

If you have any questions regarding the specifics of our grants, please feel free to contact plama@globalgoodspartners.org for more information.

In the wake of relentless police brutality, targeted overwhelmingly at black and brown communities, we have watched and seen the world wake up and take action to demand an end to these horrific stories that have become all too familiar in our world.

With thousands of protests across all 50 states and 18 countries, we have been encouraged to speak up, add our voice to the chorus and show up physically to protest police brutality and the larger issues of systemic racism.

One way of supporting our black communities is through the power of purchasing. Global Goods Partners' mission has always been to stand against the injustices that fast fashion and conventional retail push upon makers and artisans in all corners of the world, many of whom are in some of the most vulnerable communities. Fair trade and ethical supply chains are key in this better way of business, and we are proud to be in the fight alongside businesses founded and led by black women and men.

While donating, protesting, reading and learning, please consider visiting some of our favorite fair trade organizations below:

AAKS

The wonderful Akosua Afriyie-Kumi has been a long-time friend of Global Goods Partners, working in collaboration to create our Pom Pom Baskets and custom bags. AAKS boasts a beautiful assortment of Ghanaian-made handbags and accessories using natural materials and a bright palette.

Image credit: AAKS

Shop our AAKS collection here, exclusive to Global Goods Partners.

Brother Vellies

This Brooklyn-based storefront is filled with handmade shoes ranging from statement boots, classic heels and traditional Huarache sandals. BV shoes are made around the world in South Africa, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Italy, Haiti and New York City.  

Image credit: Brother Vellies

Proclaim

This LA-based lingerie brand offers inclusive nude colors and sizing in sustainably-made Tencel fibers (produced from wood pulp!) Their tight assortment makes for simple no-fuss underwear that treats the earth and her people right.

Image credit: Proclaim

Omi Woods

Paying tribute to founder Ashley Alexis McFarlane's Jamaican-Ashanti-Maroon heritage, Omi Woods everyday jewelry ethically handmade with fair-trade African gold and globally sourced conflict-free fine metals.

Image credit: Omi Woods

Atelier Calla

Partnering and employing artisans in her home country of Haiti, founder Christelle Chignard Paul focuses her efforts not just on sustainable use of horn and bone but also addressing the lack of fair access to education across the country. In partnership with local non-profits dedicated to teacher training and bettering school environments, this powerful organization touches many parts of life for Haitian communities.

Image credit: Christina Montes

Shop our Atelier Calla collection here, exclusive to Global Goods Partners.

Tree Fairfax

Using locally-sourced leather, Tree Fairfax's minimalist pouches and bags use even the little scuffs and scratches to create truly unique leathergoods.

Image credit: Tree Fairfax

SustainAble Home Goods

Our dear friend and wholesale customer, LaToya Tucciarone, founded SustainAble Home Goods in Decatur, Georgia, in 2017 to bring handcrafted fair trade homewares to her online store and pop-up space at Ponce City Market. As well as stocking hundreds of our beautiful felt flowers, LaToya meets artisan women on the ground and brings their crafts to her store in true maker-to-market style.

Image credit: WABE

Jade Swim

Fashion editor & stylist Brittany Kozerski combines her minimalist aesthetic with functional swimwear, sustainably and thoughtfully made in LA of innovative materials that keep their shape while sculpting the body and offering UV protection. 

Image credit: Rita Bothun

The Narativ

After partnering with Brooklyn-based store The Narativ at the 2020 NY NOW Winter Trade Show, we have loved seeing the collection of independent black designers and makers. Check out their store or site for a truly unique and eclectic mix that pays homage to African culture.