At Arran trading Post we believe passionately in fair-trade. We work very hard to ensure that our products are purchased through fair-trade contracts. Featuring work from around the world gives our shop a distinctive and very special quality. Behind some of this work are the most remarkable stories and we thought that we would share some with you.
Harshan moved to Saharanpur, near Delhi from Kerala in South India in 1976. In 1986, with the help of a government small-scale industries grant, he set up his own business. He is now an expert in making wooden toys and educational puzzles, and ships them to fair-trade organisations in Australia, Canada and many other countries. This picture was taken by a member of the Shared Earth team in January 2004. See our wonderful
wooden toys made by Harshan.
Salay is a small seaside town of about 20,000 people, who rely on agriculture and fishing. S.H.A.P.I. (Salay Handmade Paper Industries) employs over 250 people and has brought real stability to Salay. Employee benefits include free medical consultation, dental health and eyeglasses. All salay handmade paper is made from local grasses and leaves and its production helps to free the village of the 'cogan grass'. The flowers, petals and leaves which make the products are gathered from local streets and gardens.
See our stunning
photograph album made in Salay.
Arran Trading Post is proud to be supporting the work of Worton Cottage Industries.
Worton Cottage Industry is a partnership committed to "Fair Trade", and their products are manufactured using environmentally friendly materials. The original selection of dolls and animals are all handmade, many of them with the strikingly brightly coloured 100% cotton handloom.
The headquarters of Worton Cottage Industry is based in Sri Lanka. The people of Sri Lanka have suffered terribly from the tsunami, Nine Point Zero 2004. Worton Cottage Industry has been giving assistance since the day after the event.
Although none of their employees were directly affected, some of our suppliers were not so lucky. Initially the Worton team were involved with helping the fishermen and their families in the local villages but they soon became aware of the plight of the children, the coming generation on the island, who could be suffering from the mental after effects of the Tsunami. They met Julian Bolling, a three times Sri Lankan Olympic swimmer, who had the same thoughts. With Julian Worton Cottage Industry has set up a charitable trust called SwimLanka and if you would like to know more please visit the web site -
www.swimlanka.lk
