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Plaits made from long strands of jute are the first step for weaving our rugs, baskets and tableware. Artisans wrap the plaits around a pole to hold things taught, adding new sections of jute as they go.
In much the same way, artisans also twist jute fibres for use in our macrame wall hangings and bags and to prepare for weaving some of our baskets.
Jute plaits are expertly coiled or woven to create our baskets, placemats and rugs. The consistent finish of each piece is testimony to the artisan’s skills.
When making the shapes for our rugs and runners, they coil, weave and stitch the strands into a small wooden frame to make sure each piece is the right size and shape.
Macramé was first introduced to our artisan partners in the 1970s. A recent resurgence in this craft has given the next generation of artisans a chance to learn these intricate skills, as seen in our wall hangings, bags and tableware.
Using age-old methods and skills that have been passed down through generations, artisans handloom beautiful textures and patterns with jute and cotton for our shoppers, totes, lining textiles and throws.
Working from home, or in community weaving centres on traditional wooden looms, each new pattern can take days to set up before the intricate process begins – row by delicate row.
Ancient techniques using tannin mordants and indigo sourced from nature are skillfully practiced to achieve beautiful hues of blue, charcoal, brown and gold for the fibres in our baskets and bags.
Where the skill of natural dyeing isn't present, we always make sure our artisan partners are using the safest and most sustainable option available to them.
All of our woven products including jute baskets, bowls and rugs are fixed and finished with hand stitching. Using a strong needle, and fine jute or cotton thread, artisans place tiny stitches through every layer to keep things securely in place.
Practicing traditional screenprinting techniques, our cardboard swing tags, fabric pouches and hessian duos are all carefully printed by hand using AZO free dyes in a workshop in northern Bangladesh.
Sewing workshops are established in several of our artisan communities.
Our shoppers and totes are carefully sewn in a workshop that supports women who have been rescued from prostitution. Leather handles for our bags are stitched by a group of men who live with discrimination and disability. And our fabric pouches are sewn by a large fair trade workshop that trains and employs women in a small community in northern Bangladesh.
From trimming loose fibres and threads to double-checking stitching, our artisans ensure quality throughout production, whilst still preserving the little flourishes that make our products distinctly handmade.