World Style Stories
ABOUT WORLD STYLE STORIES (WSS)
World Style Stories honors five inspirational exhibitor essays recalling the journey each exhibitor traveled in producing the products they’ve made, as well as the positive impact on the people and communities served by these international craftsmen.
Watch the July 2011 World Style Stories presentation.
Check back for January 2012 submissions and to vote for your favorite story.
JULY 2011 WINNERS
Good Paper | Space 1012
Good Paper is America's premier distributor of handmade, fair trade greeting cards and is the exclusive home of Cards from Africa, a greeting card line which creates jobs for young people in Rwanda who have been orphaned by genocide or diseases like AIDS. Good Paper's newest line, Sanctuary Spring, creates jobs for women who are escaping human trafficking in the Philippines and building new lives for themselves. A proud member of the Fair Trade Federation, Good Paper is committed to fair trade principles, including strong wages, protection of children from labor and environmental sustainability.
Project Have Hope | Space 1030
Project Have Hope, founded in 2006, is a non profit which empowers women in Uganda’s Acholi Quarter. The women are talented artisans who craft jewelry from recycled paper, often combining other natural elements like seeds, glass and bone to create distinctive designs. Project Have Hope uses the profits to help the women establish additional income generating activities through direct loans, vocational training and agricultural initiatives. We also enroll their children in school and offer adult literacy classes. One artisan, Labuka Santa, gave us the highest compliment, “Thanks for taking us from nowhere to somewhere.” Hope, and a little help, makes all the difference.
SPIRAL Foundation | Space 1015
Located in Hue, Vietnam, Healing the Wounded Heart Shop is a project of the nonprofit SPIRAL Foundation in cooperation with the Office of Genetic Counseling and Disabled Children, Hue College of Medicine and Pharmacy. The shop sells handicrafts made by disabled artisans using recycled materials. HWH employs twenty disabled artisans and provides medical insurance, housing, a daily meal and a recreational allowance. Half of the profits are donated to fund heart surgeries for poor children in the Hue area through OGCDC. In this manner, they are no longer disabled, but are empowered to give to those who are even more in need.
Heavenly Treasures | Space 1018
Once known as one of the worst gangsters in the slums of Kenya, John was a man to be reckoned with. While running a recycled jewelry and wire vehicle business, John met the Lord. Now he is employing twenty eight street boys, ex-prostitutes and gang members, helping rehabilitate them back into productive and healthy roles in society. Since 1998, Heavenly Treasures has assisted poor orphans, disabled individuals, refugees, widows and more. Thousands of lives are affected daily through the sales of handicrafts, each product made reflecting the heart and soul of artisans around the world.
FAN FAVORITE
Dunitz & Company, Inc. | Space 1031
Nancy Dunitz, owner of Dunitz & Company, views herself as an artist and an explorer. These two character traits catapulted her from corporate America to the highlands of Guatemala in 1989. For over twenty years, Dunitz & Company has been working and collaborating with the same community of women (and a few men) to successfully bring fashion forward and fair trade beaded jewelry to appreciative customers. Dunitz believes her contributions to Puerta Abierta and Pueblo a Pueblo, two grass roots charities based in Santiago Atitlan, is another way she makes a difference in what she considers her Guatemalan community.
FINALISTS
Threads of Change | Space 610
We have created modern functionality inspired by the ancient art of African textiles. Proceeds from each sale of our one-of-a-kind handmade cases, bags and accessories help support the Manya Krobo Queen Mothers Association, a private, non-profit group serving children and women in the Ghana’s Manya Krobo area. These women, descendents of chiefs, identify potential orphans in the region and provide a matriarchal role; these children eventually become their own. 370 association members have been responsible for the care and education of 466 children, illustrating their motto "every child is our child.” We are proud to help in supporting these amazing women.
Noko Designs/Innocent Spirits | Space 1222
Established in 2006 by Nina Sedumedi, Innocent Spirits was founded in awareness of fashion. Nina studied Fashion Design at the University of Johannesburg and started working on the kiddies range before incorporating craft. Currently, Innocent Spirits is running a variety of skill development workshops in South Africa and internationally to alleviate poverty. The company has taken part in a number of exhibitions including Monte Carlo Expo in Monaco, L A Artigiano Milan, Heim and Handwerk in Munich, Firenze Expo in Florence, Black Caucus Conference in Washington DC & South African Fashion Week.
Sevya | Space 1025
Sevya works with artisan cooperatives throughout India to help preserve their craft traditions and earn a sustainable livelihood, reinvesting all profits into these communities. One group that Sevya works with is a women’s group based in the slums of Chennai. These women are all physically challenged; some are blind, physically handicapped or HIV positive. It is very difficult for these women to find employment in India. Working with Speed Trust to train these women in making recycled plastic totes, Sevya then markets the items for them.
Amazon Authentics | Space 1123
Owned and managed by Irene Bacchus-Holder, Amazon Authentics was founded to create job opportunities for young people who could not obtain employment due to the unavailability of jobs in the Region 10 District of Guyana. Amazon Authentics utilizes beautiful wood species from the Guyanese rainforest to create decorative and functional products. The women loggers of Kwakwani were recruited to gather burls instead of logs to be used for the creation of products. Awareness for the environment is carefully observed and AA has been operating with observance of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy.
Akonye Kena | Space 608
Meaning "I will help myself" in a tribal language of Northern Uganda, Akonye Kena is the result of a decade of founder Richard Kennair volunteering and working with youth in Uganda. With a focus on working with partners to develop products for the global marketplace and local markets, our goal is that our partners become self-sufficient, no longer needing to rely on external aid. Akonye Kena's partners reflect the diversity of Uganda and include groups that train rural youth on how to develop effective community-based cooperatives to those that work with at-risk and challenged adolescents.
Kingdom Ventures | Space 1022
Kingdom Ventures (a Fair Trade Federation member) works with artisans to create sustainable economic empowerment. STOPstart (Cambodia) manufactures fun & funky totes and other eco-friendly products from vibrantly-colored recycled rice and feed bags. STOPstart employs women who have been rescued from sexual slavery and severe abuse. Alisim Glass Studio (Kenya) produces striking jewelry of hand-drawn glass beads made from recycled glass. Necklaces, earrings and bracelets are available in a rainbow of colors! Fuente de Pino (Nicaragua) provides unique hand-crafted pine needle baskets to grace any décor! Asian Threads (Thailand) creates beautiful hand-woven cotton placemats in a variety of designs.
SUBMISSIONS
EO Designs | Space 604
Edric Ong has traveled many paths to support the arts and crafts of indigenous peoples, including as an architect, researcher, writer, lecturer, designer and currently by serving as consultant to UNESCO in its Award of Excellence for Handicrafts program, as Vice President of the World Crafts Council - Asia Pacific and Secretary of the World Batik Council. EO Designs offers traditional textiles woven in longhouses of Sarawak, modern fashion textiles based on Borneo tribal motifs made using natural dyes and materials crafted by block print or hand painted. New for this year are textiles using hand-stamped flowers, leaves and ferns.
Jungle Arts and Flora | Space 604
David McLanahan established Jungle Arts and Flora to support the arts of indigenous peoples in Southeast and South Asia and to share awareness about these cultures through photographs, DVD documentaries and authentic, handcrafted art, all supporting the mission to “keep the traditions alive.” JA&F offers stunning woven ikat and other textiles and crafts from Sarawak, East Malaysia, coordinated by Edric Ong, noted designer and authority on indigenous textiles. They also support designers Bina Rao, A. Jabbar Khatri, and AsifShaikh, whose works preserve the ancient textile traditions of India including weaving, block prints, tie dye and embroidery.
Tesoros Trading Company | Space 700
All of Tesoros' Handmade Haitian product’s proceeds are being used to help artisans of Haiti reestablish their enterprises. A Million Hearts for Haiti program will generate an estimated one million dollars to benefit Haitian artisans. A portion of the purchase price of each heart is donated to the HAND/EYE Fund’s Artisan Grant, giving cash grants to artisans to replace earthquake-shattered equipment and shelter or provide other assistance. The HAND/EYE Fund supports skilled artisans in their struggle to earn decent livelihoods through the preservation of ancient traditions, innovation of new ones, exploration of new markets and educating of the consuming public about the cultural and economic importance of their work.
SEAsTra | Space 713
SEAsTra’s CEO spends nine months each year in Thailand working with over twenty primarily rural artisan groups throughout the country. Among those are three Hill Tribe groups who create bags and shoes from hand embroidered and hand stitched cotton fabrics, originally utilized for formal and traditional apparel. The fabrics are collected from the remote mountain villages in the northern part of the country. The artisans boil the recycled fabrics for cleanliness and, at times, redye the fabrics for style. SEAsTra is pleased to promote the sustainability of the artisans by expanding the markets for their unique and fashionable women’s accessories.
Textile Treasures/Miao Silver | Space 811
As a newly-minted international school counselor in China in 2003, Pam first met the indomitable Miao minority artisans as a regular in the markets of Beijing. Overeager collecting resulted in the need to share the gorgeous traditional textiles and fine silver items with the Western market. Since 2005, Pam assisted the Miao in bringing their work to the annual Santa Fe International Folk Art Market. Her greatest pleasure has been frequent trips to their mountainous village homes in Guizhou Province where the crafts are still created. In November, Pam shared the 13-year cycled Guzang Festival with friends in four villages of Leishan and Taijiang Counties.
Eangee Home Design | Space 830
Eangee began as a small retailer in 2003, purchasing fair trade and eco-friendly items, and by 2007 established in the wholesale industry. Our mission was to grow a sustainable business in the US that could support artisans in places that desperately needed the help. We worked with artists to create a product that is design focused yet true to their talents and culture. Making sure that the product is marketable currently allows us to support more than 100 artists in the outskirts of Manila, Philippines. We ensure this generates food, shelter, healthcare and education.
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The Green Elephant | Space 842
These jute and paper bags spell success for this group of homeless young adults from Delhi. They help free youngsters from a life of squalor and raise their self-esteem. Situated in Haryana, Lakshya is an organization of homeless young adults who have come together with a social responsibility to provide education and shelter to others like them. They are currently involved in a variety of activities, including raising awareness about social issues through street and role playing as well as income generating activities such as making jute and paper bags.
Ole Peru Imports | Space 909
Originally from Lima, Ana has been importing from Peru for the last 20 years. When her husband Joel was diagnosed with Alzheimer's two years ago, she was so devastated she thought it might be the time to get rid of the business and dedicate herself to taking care of him. After the doctor advised against it and she now sees her husband slowly retrieving into a world far away, Ana has grown the business and started importing from Ecuador and Colombia. She feels very fortunate and thankful for the way things have worked out for herself and the people that make these wonderful crafts.
Global Handmade Hope | Space 918
Global Handmade Hope’s goal is to offer quality products that promote social justice. In Liberia, an underage prostitution ring was thriving, providing the only way for many girls to bring in enough money to eat. Thanks to a sewing project, we supported opening a center in the area, giving the girls an alternative and shutting the ring down. The economy calls for thoughtful purchasing decisions that promise a brighter economic future for all parties. Consumers have the power to change people’s lives by purchasing from companies that support fair trade principals. Join us in making a difference in the world.
One World Projects | Space 1006
El Remate Village, Flores, Petén, Guatemala
The artisans of the El Remate community used to work in agriculture as their means for subsistence, cutting down and burning five hectares of forest per year. The agricultural activities practiced brought very little income to their families and caused significant damage to the forest. Twenty years ago the community started carving wooden crafts. Now as artisans they only need one previously fallen tree, using its roots and branches, to work the entire year. The crafts provide higher incomes than their previous work in agriculture and guarantee the protection of natural resources and the lives of wild animals.
One World Projects | Space 1006
Morca Coal Project
Morca, a community in Sogamoso, Colombia, depends heavily on coal mining to sustain its residents. Working in the mines is dangerous and many have lost their lives due to collapses and inhalation of poisonous gases. In 1995, the Colombian government established the Morca-Boyaca workshop to keep young men and boys out of hazardous mines. The boys attend academic classes and learn the skills needed to transform the coal into beautiful, intricately carved jewelry. The workshop has the potential to eradicate child labor in underground coal mines and provide a better quality of life for future generations of Colombian youth.
One World Projects | Space 1006
SPEED Trust (Slum People Education and Economic Development)
SPEED Trust is a non-profit organization in Chennai, India's fourth largest city. The organization’s programs, which emphasize education, responsibility and self-confidence, are directed towards improving the slum-dwellers’ situation. Recycled plastic totes are made by first melting bits of used plastic items (such as plastic bottles) and drying them in the sun. They are then turned into plastic strands that are dyed and hand-woven into colorful and fun, yet very practical tote bags. Each year more women are rescued from living on railroad tracks and other slum areas and given an opportunity to learn these trades.
Bridge for Africa | Space 1009
Bridge for Africa is Building Resources to Inspire Dignity, Growth and Empowerment in the developing world, with a new emphasis on the country of Swaziland, South Africa’s impoverished neighbor. Swaziland suffers from the highest HIV/AIDS infection rate in the world, but has hope for the future for its many artisans who produce a wide variety of crafts, including ceramic jewelry, unique baskets made from recycled materials, intricately embroidered purses and innovative home décor and jewelry out of reclaimed paper. Bridge for Africa is proud to support these creative endeavors, working to fight poverty in one of Africa’s troubled countries.
Manos de Madres | Space 1014
Manos de Madres is a nonprofit organization dedicated to carving pathways out of poverty through women’s income generation initiatives founded on principles of fair trade and sustainability. Our newest and most intimate line of products, Beads of Tomorrow, is handcrafted by the Cooperative Ejo Hazaza (meaning “tomorrow”) in Nyacyonga, Rwanda. The women of Ejo Hazaza are living with HIV/AIDS and struggling to prevent the transmission of the virus to their children. The jewelry is fashioned from African fabric and paper beads woven together with pride and dreams of prosperity.
Woven Promises | Space 1027
Woven Promises creates economic partnerships by supporting entrepreneurial efforts of talented individuals struggling financially in the developing world. These partnerships are based on a deep appreciation for their cultural heritage and traditional artisanship and are formed through the fair purchase and resale of their products. The goal is to provide assistance in improving their quality of life.
Eternal Threads | Space 1032
Madagascar is a country great in beauty and natural resources, yet its people live in extreme poverty, especially in the rural areas. The women who live in these remote villages possess an amazing skill that has been handed down for generations. Weaving silk is part of their culture and fabric of their lives. With no electricity or running water, they are able to produce a product that is extraordinarily beautiful and of amazing quality. Since starting the project in Madagascar, it is our joy at Eternal Threads to provide a market for the goods that these amazing women produce.
Kismet Designs | Space 1055
MAYA... The woman who inspired Kismet. In the sweltering heat, a small group of women in brightly colored gaghras cleaned debris from Lake Pichola. Watching as I directed two men loading my car, Maya winked and whispered to her friend. They burst into laughter. A woman giving the orders...now that was something different! Asking her if she could imagine being the boss, she shrugged and stated plainly, "This is my life." Maya accepted her circumstances believing she had no other choice. Kismet empowers women like Maya by providing a completely flexible work environment, allowing each person to earn a fair living wage on their own terms.
Exotic Textures | Space 1077
Exotic Textures owner Susan Hall travels each year to various third-world countries, buying one-of-a-kind handmade textiles and folk art from indigenous markets or local artisans she meets along the way. This year those countries included Vietnam, Ecuador and Indonesia, but the countries visited most often are India and Thailand. She has made lasting friendships with local people including Karen Hilltribe, an artisan living with her family in a tiny Thailand village. Several of the artisans Susan has come to know have been able to improve their standard of living through sales to her.
Shkaa'la - Handwork of the World | Spaces 1113, 1212
Shkaa’la has the unique opportunity to provide artisan crafts that represent relationships, sustainability and hope. These beautiful, handmade treasures grab anyone’s attention, yet it’s the stories that bring them to life. Maria created that necklace. Rosita sat on a stool and beaded that belt. Francisco took traditional Guatemalan blouses and up-cycled them into handbags. The stories go on and on, but they don’t stop there. They extend to their families, neighbors and communities. The combination of them creating these products, Shkaa’la discovering and sharing them with the Fair Trade community and the buyer purchasing a product with a story behind it all contribute to a better life for all.
Beyond Borders/F.T. Renner Company | Space 1200
The traditional art of converting oil drums into wall sculptures is a true mark of man’s imagination and his resourcefulness in the face of dire economic circumstances. Using 55-gallon oil drum cast-offs, the artist first removes both ends of the drum, reserving those pieces for smaller sculptures. Next, the drum is stuffed with straw and ignited to burn out any residues. He then slices it down one side and pounds it into a canvas. With a stick of chalk, the artist draws his design on the metal sheet. Finally, he applies a hammer and chisel, cutting, shaping and contouring the piece to its completion.
