We were lucky enough to be featured on Miss Malaprop, a blog that focuses on promoting small businesses with ethical missions! Read the full post below or click here to read it on her site!

The world of contemporary fashion and modern business often leaves behind centuries-old practices in art and culture. Across the globe, many communities that have made a living by using traditional art practices have found themselves struggling to find new sources of income, and have been held back by lack of economic empowerment and resources. This is where GGP comes in.

Global Goods Partners is a non-profit organization that specializes in partnering with artisan communities across the globe and providing them with access to the US market. We work with nearly 40 associations, cooperatives and social enterprises worldwide that integrate their commitment to community development—such as improvements in education, health, women’s rights, and employment opportunities—with socially responsible income-generating programs in craft development. GGP works exclusively through local organizations, so none of the work disrupts the community or negatively affects other artisans trying to make a living. This way the focus is entirely on the needs of the community; not building a foreign business that competes with other impoverished citizens.

Our designers work with our artisans to create fashion-forward designs that incorporate traditional practices into contemporary products. This partnership not only reinforces a community-centered artistic tradition, but also provides living wages and economic empowerment to impoverished families around the world.

One example of our collaborations is the Indigo Ikat Weekender bag, a beautiful product from our partner Maya Traditions in Guatemala. Indigenous peoples such as the Maya are especially in danger of loss of culture, so we are proud to show a design that features an example of traditional Mayan weaving practices.

To create this product, first natural dye is prepared and applied to cotton thread to achieve a deep, vibrant indigo:

Next, the thread is woven on a traditional back-strap loom as the intricate ikat pattern is formed. Although ikat has become a trendy pattern seen on style icons such as Kristen Bell, Leighton Meester, and Michelle Obama, the roots of the pattern can be seen in traditional Maya blankets and weaving:

After that, the woven fabric is carefully sewn into shape. With the addition of locally-sourced leather straps, the bag is ready to be shipped to our warehouse and then to you!

Every purchase of the Weekender provides social services such as youth education, financial assistance, a community health program, and workshops on product design and business development, as well as a living wage to our artisans.

To shop our handmade, fair trade products and support hundreds of talented women throughout the Global South, please visit GlobalGoodsPartners.org. Any questions or comments can be directed to info@globalgoodspartners.org or tweeted to @GlobalGoods. You can also find Global Goods Partners on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.

We always love seeing how people style our products, and Instagram is a pretty great way of showing off fabulous fashion. 

Ksenia Lova from Breakfast Criminals and Tallulah Alexandra from In My Bowl, two of our favorite food bloggers, have found some pretty amazing ways to style our bracelets whilst at Wanderlust Festival.

Ksenia (@breakfastcriminals)

Teal Th(e) Bracelet / Grey Th(E) Bracelet / Metallic Bead Bracelet

Tallulah (@tallulahalexandra)

   

Elsewhere Isabel of Etudes Des Femmes (@etudesdesfemmes) has been showing us how to style a selection of GGP jewelry. Doesn’t she look great?

Long Stacked Paper Pendant / Color Block Wrap Bracelet

In light of such great styling, we're very excited to announce a competition to see how you wear your GGP!

There are just three things to do to enter:

Rules

1. This competition is open to anyone with a Instagram account who is at least 16 years of age. Employees of Global Goods Partners and family members of such employees are not eligible to enter.
2. The competition give away will begin at 3:00pm EST on Tuesday, July 21, 2015 and finish at 12:00pm EST on Wednesday, August 5, 2015.
3. One Instagram post equals one entry. A winning post (not Instagram account) will be randomly selected. One item will be available according to the winner’s choice. The winner will be announced no later than 2:00pm on Thursday, August 6th, 2015.
4. To enter the competition you must send out a post from your own Instagram account and include a tag to the @GlobalGoods Instagram account in your message. The rest of the message is up to you.
5. You can post as many times as you like. Posts that are shared to Twitter will count as a double entry. 
6. The prize itself is one Th(E) Bracelet from Global Goods Partners that will be awarded to five different people. 
7. We will choose winners randomly from all the entries within a particular two hours of 12:00pm EST on Thursday, August 6, 2015. We will then announce the winner from our Instagram account (@globalgoods) so keep checking in to see if you've won. The random winner will be determined by a computer generation.
8. Global Goods Partners will contact the winner through a direct message on Instagram to obtain further contact and shipping information. This information will remain private.
9. Global Goods Partners shall not have any liability for (i) any technical failures of any kind, including but not limited to malfunctions, interruptions or disconnections in phone lines or network hardware or software; (ii) technical or human error which may occur in the administration of the competition; (iii) any malfunction of or damage to the prizes; or (iv) any restrictions or delays imposed by any customs authorities or any import or other taxes of any kind imposed by any taxation authority in respect of the prizes.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to email info@globalgoodspartners.org

With these hot summer months upon us, we're all searching for those perfect accessories that make us feel cool (in the figurative and literal sense). Luckily at GGP we have you covered for easy breezy summer style, and you can shop these looks below. 

 Lightweight Natural Dye Scarf / Peruvian Textile Travel Pouch / Bead and Leather Wrap Bracelet / Love Poem Cuff 

Here at GGP we’re dedicated to providing you fashion-forward designs in our ethically sourced products, providing you with the opportunity to use your purchasing power for social good. Our pieces are fair trade (and often cheaper!) alternatives to popular designs seen on celebrities.

For a look similar to Jessica Alba’s sunny summer scarf, try our Mustard Block Print Scarf. This scarf is handmade by survivors of the sex trade, and girls and women who are at risk of being trafficked in Kolkata, India.

Kylie Jenner has climbed to her spot as one of the biggest style icons of 2015. For a fair trade alternative to her gold cuff bracelet, take a look at our Love Poem Cuff. This beautiful bracelet is engraved with an Afghani love poem, which reads "Love is always eternal, love is night and day, cruelty and injustice."

To look as elegant at Maggie Grace, take a look at our Lapis Drop Earrings. These earrings bring to life the cultural tradition of jewelry making and gem cutting in Afghanistan.

Finally, match Diane Guerrero’s chic red carpet style with our Ikat Crossbody bag! This gorgeous bag is crafted from hand-woven ikat fabric and locally-sourced leather by artisans from Guatemala.

Have you found or worn any fair trade alternatives lately? Tag or tweet us at @GlobalGoods and let us know!

Our co-founder Joan Shifrin was interviewed by our friend Tapiwa over at Atelier Fifty Five! Read the full transcript below or click here to read it on the original site.

Global Goods Partners is a inspirational non-profit social enterprise that was set up by women to help women. Launched in 2005 by Catherine Lieber Shimony and Joan Shifrin, and headquartered in New York, Global Goods Partners works to provide women in some of the world’s most disadvantaged communities with the means to earn a sustainable income by providing a platform to promote and sell collaborative collections of their handmade products. The products are sold through the organisation’s website. Atelier Fifty-Five caught up with co-founder Joan Shifrin to find out more about the life-changing work Global Goods Partners is doing.

A55: For those readers who don't know, who or what is Global Goods Partners?

JS: Global Goods Partners (GGP) is a not-for-profit social enterprise that creates economic opportunity for women in some of the world’s poorest communities by providing access to the US market for the fair trade, handmade products they produce. We work with nearly 40 associations, cooperatives and social enterprises worldwide that integrate their commitment to community development—such as improvements in education, health, women's rights, and employment opportunities—with socially responsible income-generating programs in craft development. 

Our development model centres on supporting local women leaders and democratically governed organizations; promoting empowerment through economic development; and reaching the most marginalized populations. GGP provides technical assistance, product development, operational expertise and small capacity building grants to our community based partners. With this support, GGP is empowering women to create sustainable change—advancing the health and wellbeing of their families and communities.

Our merchandise line is focuses on jewellery, accessories, home décor and children’s products.  For example, our scarf collection includes hand-woven cotton scarves from Ethiopia, hand-embroidered silk scarves from Afghanistan and locally sourced alpaca shawls from Bolivia. For the home, we have a wonderful selection of contemporary bowls and trays, hand-woven in Swaziland from lutindzi grass, hand-blocked aprons from India and silk covered journals from Cambodia.

Catherine Shimony (GGP’s other co-founder) and I previously worked for international development organizations where we had the privilege of meeting women throughout the Global South and being invited into their homes, where much of handmade craft production still takes place. What they produced—from embroidery to weaving to felting to jewellery making—was often extraordinary but there were few if any outlets for them to sell products and earn income from their craft. The inspiration to launch GGP came from the talented and tireless women we met. We saw the opportunity to serve as the bridge between the western marketplace and the poor, often isolated communities where beautiful handmade products are made.

[Image credit: Sasa Designs, Bead and Leather Wrap Bracelet - Global Goods Partners]

[Image credit: Tintsaba, Sisal and Brass Circle Earrings - Global Goods Partners]

A55: Can you give an insight into the different artisans and groups Global Goods Partners works with in Africa, and how the partnerships come about?

JS: When we first launched Global Goods Partners, we worked with a small number of artisan groups we’d met while working with other NGOs. As we traveled and awareness of GGP grew, colleagues in other like-mined organizations referred us to potential artisan partners. At the same time, as access to the Internet expanded, even in some of the most remote areas, artisan groups eager for international market access reached out to us. Each of the groups we work with must meet certain criteria before we enter into a partnership. Above all, they must follow fair trade practices, which means providing fair living wages and safe and healthy working conditions. In addition to offering sustainable jobs and income, we look for each of our partners to demonstrate fiduciary responsibility, high quality standards and effective management of their operations. Understandably, some of our partners need support in these areas and GGP provides a wide range of training targeted to our partners’ specific needs including, technical assistance, product development, operational expertise and small capacity building grants.  

On our first GGP trip, Catherine and I spent several weeks in South Africa and Swaziland. We knew that South Africa was rich in artisan crafts but were completely struck by the wonderful variety and quality of products in Swaziland, where we currently have three partners (Gone Rural, SWIFT and Tintsaba). I met our most recent partner in Africa, Sabahar, while visiting Ethiopia last summer and have had great success with their hand-spun, hand-woven cotton scarves and table linen.  Sometimes, we’ve learned about artisan groups, including several in Africa, through pure serendipity. As a small organization, the net we cast and the others we get swept up in are just part of the great reward of the work we do.

A55: Who designs the Global Goods Partners collections, and do you collaborate with designers and other industry professionals?

JS: Design is often a collaborative process at GGP. While we want to promote and, in some cases, help revitalize, traditional artisan skill sets, we know that the products we offer will only sell if the esthetics and quality meet Western standards. Our partners’ success depends on our own success so under the direction of GGP’s designer, Jenn Wong, we work diligently to create a line of products that meet the demands of the market. As an example, in communities around the world women have been embroidering and passing down culturally specific techniques for generations. Their works is exquisite but has traditionally been applied to products such as table linen, which requires washing and pressing. In a world where casual dining and permanent press are the norm, there’s little demand for embroidered table linen. To address this gap we often provide our partners product input, design direction and and new designs. One of our partners in Afghanistan, Kandahar Treasure, is recognized for the complex, geometric embroidery technique known as Khamak. For the local market, Kandahar Treasure, creates traditional products such as men’s shawls, women’s head coverings and wedding trousseaus. To expand their product line for the US market, we collaborated with a local New York designer to create a line of embroidered jewelry, cosmetic bags and scarves, which has sold well on our site.   

[Image credits: Gone Rural, Woven Platter - Global Goods Partners]

A55: What impact has Global Goods Partners had on the lives of the artisans you work with, and what have you learnt from working with artisanal groups that has had an impact on your own lives?

JS: Without income, without being economically empowered, women’s potential goes unrealized.  Research shows and our experience supports the well-known truism that women direct their earning power to their family’s well-being, using almost of all the money they earn to advance their children’s health, nutrition and education.

In an effort to evaluate the effectiveness of our work, we send our partners an annual survey that asks them, among other things, to report on certain social and financial indicators that affect the women artisans with whom they work. We see lots of statistics that point to real advancements in the lives of artisan families, but it is the personal stories we hear that bring to life the benefits that women gain when they have the opportunity to earn a liveable wage. In many cases, the artisans we work with are earning an income for the first time in their lives.

Just about every decision we face at GGP—both small and far-reaching—we evaluate on the basis of “what impact will this have on the women artisans we work with?” With this question always at the forefront, I am increasingly grateful for the stability in my own life, the opportunities my daughters have and our good fortune to live in a safe and peaceful environment. At the same time, I’m always reminded of the similarities that unite women and mothers, who, wherever they live, want their children to prosper and live a healthy and happy life.

[Image credits: SWIFT, Classic Stud Earrings - Global Goods Partners]

A55: Running a social enterprise such as this must have its fair share of challenges, what were some of the challenges you faced when you first set up Global Goods Partners, and what keeps you motivated to keep doing what you?

JS: At the beginning, we experienced the challenges that come with starting any new business. But, as a mission driven organization dedicated to helping our partners create sustainable craft businesses, we confront two challenges on a regular basis.  The first is related to training and the second to product design.

Because of the cultural realities and needs of our partners can vary greatly, we often have to design specialized training programs that can be both costly and labor intensive.  One partner may need assistance with inventory management procedures, while another with exporting, accounting practices or purchasing. On the design side, several of our partners create fashion forward products each and every season. But in other cases, as talented as some of our partners are, they have little or no access to trend and fashion reports. Our in-house design team works closely and collaboratively to contemporize their products so they will fit with the GGP brand and appeal to audiences in the US, Canada and Europe.


A55: In the decade since you founded Global Goods Partners have you seen a difference towards the consumer’s view of, and understanding and interest in the areas of fair-trade, ethics and sustainability, are these terms now accepted as the ‘norm’ or is there still more to be done?

JS: We definitely see greater awareness of fair trade among millennials today and find that more people of all ages are factoring in the positive impact that a fair trade purchase can have. But, at the same time, there is a countervailing force from fast fashion, which devalues workers, the environment and safety.  These two realities make it even more important to expand our work and to continue to support fair trade groups like the Fair Trade Federation; the Ethical Fashion Forum and the World Trade Federation Organisation.

[Image credits: SWIFT, Rolled Magazine Rod Earrings - Global Goods Partners]

A55: What are your hopes or plans for the future of Global Goods Partners, and especially with regards to your work in Africa?

JS: Our expansion into new countries and outreach to new partners is driven by market demand and an internal assessment of the potential of groups we meet. We’re looking to increase our partnerships in Ethiopia and in Rwanda, which we’ll be visiting this summer.


A55: In addition to your online shop, where else can Global Goods Partners products be found?

JS: In addition to shopping on globalgoodspartners.org, our products are available at boutiques, specialty shops and museum stores around the US and we’ll be rolling out international shipping by the end of the summer. 

Atelier Fifty-Five thanks Joan for taking the time to share Global Goods Partners work.