New Fair Trade Products at our East Store: dZi Handmade!
Last month we introduced new fair trade products from a new vendor, dZi Handmade! dZi is a founding member of the Fair Trade Federation. They were founded in 1984 in Kathmandu, Nepal, just as Tibet was opening to independent travelers for the first time since Chinese occupation! dZi began their work in Nepal creating job opportunities and marketing products for Tibetan refugee families. In 1990, they also began working with Tibetan refugees in India. They have since expanded their capacity to support 13 artisan groups in Nepal, and 7 groups in India.
The felted wool birdhouses have already generated some excitement at the East Store. Felted wool is naturally waterproof, ideal for being out in the weather. These birdhouses will last a few years before starting to fray, and then the birds will pick at the fraying pieces to use for making nests, naturally repurposing the materials.
Our East Store also has felted wool coin purses, small paper prayer flags, new Tibetan incense (which come with the world's tiniest prayer flags), and ceramic lotus incense burners. Be on the lookout for more Fair Trade products in the future!
To learn more about dZi Handmade, their work, and artisan groups they partner with, visit: