Indigenous Crafts from Bolivia

Fair Trade: I have a direct trading relationship with two artisan groups in Bolivia. I met these individuals in 2004, when I visited in Bolivia. I returned in 2008 to strengthen those relationships and to help them develop products that would sell in a North American market.

The artesan groups, Ayni Bolivia, and Artesania Sorata are both members of WFTO. The artisans are from the indigenous Aymara culture. I import their hand made products , which include: alpaca hats, mittens and scarves, wall hangings and 3 Bags Full Finger Puppet Pouches. I sell these products by purchasing vendor tables in public venues--e.g. churches, hospitals, conferences. I also sell to retailers who want to support fair trade.

I am the founder and a member of Faces of Fair Trade, a group of independent fair trade entrepreneurs who live in the Toronto area. We work together to promote fair trade as a form of social justice, and work in partnership with other socially conscious groups, including Zatoun, Kairos, Development and Peace, and Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice, Ten Thousand Villages, the YWCA International boutique.

www.craftsfrombolivia.com