Cultural Traditions Need Fair Trade Advocates Too!!

The other evening I was driving somewhere and tuned in (partway through I must admit) to a CBC radio program where renowned primatologist, Jane Goodall was being interviewed ( I have since listened to the entire interview online). Now you may ask yourself …what has she got to do with handmade, but just walk with me and we’ll see where it leads. I listened while she and the interviewer discussed human beings responsibility to the many species of plant, animal, and (something I never even considered) micro organisms that have become extinct; as well as those that are on the brink of extinction due to the megalomaniacal attitudes of some of our fellow humans (my words not theirs).

Where extinction is looming for certain primates a direct line can be drawn in some cases to the poaching of these animals. Yet you can’t just expect the local people to stop poaching when it is the way that they feed their families. (Now don’t get me wrong I am aware that deforestation, and logging does untold damage that is much more visible). Ms. Goodall suggests that alternative ways to make a living is needed so they can prosper alongside the animals in their areas. In response to this she has just launched her line of Fairly Traded Organic Coffee grown in various areas in Africa by locals to encourage them to look to alternative, sustainable ways of making a living.

She said that it costs more for the consumer to purchase but those of us who “get it” meaning understand that all the links in the chain from field to store shelf have been dealt with in a fair and equitable way; don’t mind don’t mind being a conscientious consumer and exercise the power that we carry around in our wallets.

Now, as it relates to handicrafts; as I listened to this program I found my mind saying that the people of many of these so called third world, under developed, or developing countries, call them what you may, need representation similar to the way Jane Goodall is the voice of primates, if you will. We need to speak out for those whose culture and traditions are being poached into extinction, for a bigger profit margin.

When shopping look for fair trade certified product. I know that it is harder with handicrafts, but ask anyway. Ask if they are fair trade certified if not, ask about their origins. If you are getting it cheap thinking that you got a “GOOD DEAL” it is very likely that the people who made it got a “RAW” one.

Here is the link to the interview:

http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/episode/2012/09/19/jane-goodall-on-environmental-ethics/

Handicarfts vs Arts&Craft vs Mass Produced Handicrafts

I just read through some comments made by some of my fellow members in a group on LinkedIn. The question posed for discussion was; “Who do you think this group is meant for? Artisans and crafters who sell their handmade creations, wholesale businesses, companies who sell to the arts and crafts industry.” After many comments and opinions one of our members got the answer from the group creator. The answer doesn’t matter to what I am going to write about so I’m not going to go into it further.

I went to Wikipedia, this is what was written about handicrafts…

Handicraft, more precisely expressed as artisanal handicraft, sometimes also called artisanry, is a type of work where useful and decorative devices are made completely by hand or by using only simple tools. It is a traditional main sector of craft. Usually the term is applied to traditional means of making goods. The individual artisanship of the items is a paramount criterion, such items often have cultural and/or religious significance. Items made by mass production or machines are not handicraft goods.

Usually, what distinguishes the term handicraft from the frequently used category arts and crafts is a matter of intent: handicraft items are intended to be used, worn, etc., having a purpose beyond simple decoration. Handicraft goods are generally considered more traditional work, in traditional non-industrial and transitional societies created as a somewhat more necessary part of daily life (in comparison to industrial societies), while arts and crafts implies more of a hobby pursuit and a demonstration/perfection of a creative technique. In Britain in the late nineteenth century, however, the Arts and Crafts Movement was not a matter of hobbies, but of creating useful as well as creative work for people, using natural materials and traditional techniques. In practical terms, the categories have a great deal of overlap.

What I see from this is…if you create art and crafts as something you do or started doing in your spare time or is a talent that you discovered, but you don’t need to make and sell it in order to feed your family or yourself. It is ARTS & CRAFT.

HANDICRAFT; the author of the contribution has suggested are made by artisans who produce their craft for sale, and are sometimes the only means of supporting themselves and their families. These persons are usually found in poor or under-developed/developing countries.

Let’s go back to the LinkedIn discussion for a minute; one of the members mentioned crafts that are mass produced in countries, India for example where, due to the sheer size of their population can MASS PRODUCE HANDICRAFTS. I use the word “handicrafts” purposely here because in many instances the items are made by hand and the artisan must have minimal skill to produce a salable product. But most importantly these artisans produce these handicrafts as a means of feeding their families.

Now take into account the cost of shipping, duties, tariffs and other taxes; I sit here wondering what these hard working artisans are PAID because many times the end product ends up on the international market at  trade shows, exhibitions, arts & crafts shows and bazaars at ridiculously low prices.

Just my thoughts…please tell me yours on the subject.

 

 

Tradition & Culture VS Mass Production

The other day I came across an article about a Senegalese shoemaker who had spent DECADES honing and perfecting the art of making the traditional leather shoes, which in the past had been worn only by kings. The beautiful shoes with the pointed toes are now favored by the culturally fashionable of Senegal.

It took the Chinese only ONE MONTH to copy the style, mass produce it using plastic instead of leather and sell it for a third of the price. They have flooded the shoemaker’s local market and can easily take their product global, essentially anywhere you may find a Chinese wholesaler.

So what happens to the Senegalese shoemaker now that his product has been HIGH JACKED? How does he provide for his family and make a living? What happens to his craft, a craft that had been passed down for generations? What recourse does he have?

In my business I market and sell handmade products produced by artisans in developing countries. We buy directly from them, no middle man, and pay them what would be considered a fair-trade price, that they set, for their product.

What I’ve been doing for the past few years is selling this product at events, festivals and shows; on MANY occasions I have had Chinese people come to my table or booth and take pictures of my product, I mean up close and DETAILED pictures. It never dawned on me that their motivation was to copy and mass produce; call me naive.

Over the years of vending you start to recognize other vendors; the regulars. They tell similar stories of Chinese tourists taking pictures of their product. We now give them a firm “no” when they come to our booths to take pictures.

But really, what stops them from simply buying the item and taking it with them? What I have found is that they don’t buy anything, even if they showed interest in it by wanting to photograph it they are usually not interested enough to purchase.

Take the time to read the article for yourself, see attached link.

In Senegalese shoe capital, Chinese not welcome – Times Union.

Culture & Tradition VS Machine Mass Production

I wanted to use this page as a place where the beauty of old world culture and tradition can be showcased.

It will also be used to help shine a light on those who highjack the beauty from these cultures and machine mass produce them for profit without compensation to those that originated it.

Check out this link- http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/In-Senegalese-shoe-capital-Chinese-not-welcome-3756370.php