Just one dress

Zuri is a Kenyan / New York brand that makes only type of dress. But in many many different prints. All dresses are made of 100% cotton wax.

"We firmly believe that sustainable economies develop from businesses that operate fairly and ethically and create products that people want. Having spent a combined eight years in Nairobi, we've seen how much both corruption and aid can distort markets, resulting in wasted resources and unsustainable livelihoods. We hope that by paying fair wages, sourcing locally, and making a product that our customers truly love, we will be helping to support a long-term, sustainable economy in Kenya." 

By sourcing from East Africa-based manufacturers, they hope to contribute to the regeneration of local industry, helping to create jobs and opportunities that have all but disappeared.

 

"We believe that education is the key to long-term empowerment and social change. That’s why we provide artisan women and young people in Africa with the training they need to build and sustain independent livelihoods."  

They reduce waste in the production process by using recycled (and upcycled) materials, repurposed fabric scraps, and other salvaged textiles across our product lines, they schedule large batch cargo shipments from Africa to New York in order to reduce our carbon footprint and pay our partners fair, consistent wages for their work. 

   

Basha’s high quality, unique kantha products are handmade by at-risk women and survivors of human sex trafficking in Bangladesh. The women artisans complete a training and rehabilitation program prior to beginning work. Basha provides weekly training, including literacy and life skills programs. The artisans also receive medical support, counselling, and day care assistance for their children.

"In the Bengali language basha means ‘house’ and asha means ‘hope’. Basha is the house of hope we’re building in Bangladesh."

Saris are sourced from a wide variety of locations in Bangladesh, then carefully colour matched and washed. Hand stitching then begins joining the 6 layers of sari cloth. A kantha can take up to 70 hours of work to complete, depending on its size and complexity. Once complete, the item is washed again and ready to be sold. Each product is unique and can never be replicated!

Basha. Where your purchase changes lives & builds futures.

 

Read the women's stories

ETHIC & TROPIC Corinne Bally offers art and decorative objects, unique pieces handmade in the heart of the tropical forest in Central America by the indigenous women of two small tribes between Panama and Colombia.

The ritual masks find their place in either classic or modern ambiance and give strength to minimalist decoration. They are a strong and magical element, hold a shamanic vibration, an eco from the tropical forest...each piece is unique and the range is endless.

The masks originally made for the shamanic rituals are burnt after they have "danced", for this reason old pieces cannot be found. Moreover, the shamanic rituals are less frequent these days. It is unusual to find these kinds of masks.

The meeting with the women from the Wounaan and Embera tribes of Panama have allowed to save the ancestral technique and create an artisanal activity, an important income source for women, generating decorative items production and being faithful to the way the ritual masks are made.

Women work freely and at their own pace for Ethic & Tropic, they have no limits in the use of their creativity, only requirement is to be the best quality, using authentic natural materials and dyes’ 

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CHABI CHIC is located in Morocco. They work with talented artisans with a mission of protecting Moroccan culture and improving the quality of the artisans’ lives. Chabi Chic’s story began in Marrakesh with a former architect and a former home decorator.

Their goals include creating high quality, handmade home goods that are ethically made from natural materials; benefiting the artisans’ livelihoods, creativity, and vast skill sets; and sharing the traditions globally.

They work with approx.18 artisans and suppliers between the ages of 20 to 60. While some of the artisans, such as those who work on pottery and ceramics, are based out of workshops, some also work out of their homes.

They work hard to preserve a tradition that has been passed down through generations and that is facing competition in today’s environment. Chabi Chic is part of the Marrakesh Cultural and Creative Industries, a program started by the United Nations. Through this program, Chabi Chic is given access to funds for the artisans looking to improve their skill sets and sell their work. Each purchase empowers these skilled artisans and their families.

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Kahaari (ka-haa-ri) comes from the Swahili word "Kifahari", which means elegant. Kahaari is a collection of chic and elegant african fashion that is a self-expression of beauty, elegance, simplicity and different personalities.

"I’ve always been for women empowerment because I believe that if you empower a woman, you empower the community. They will always take it back to the community to raise and empower the lives of their families. For example, the women we work with dedicate most of their income to educating their children. "

Their skilled artisans in Nairobi delicately handcraft each piece with African love to make these elegant African print skirts, in line with their social agenda to promote home-grown talent and skills. 

Kahaari is sourcing its fabrics solely from Nigeria and Ghana and all the fabrics are from women-owned businesses.  

Some of our products are sourced from fair trade organisations that offer unique baskets and wavers from throughout the African continent. These one-of-a-kind pieces of functional artwork are woven by local craftspeople. 

The story of each item is introduced under the specific product