Trade for Hope is The Salvation Army’s social enterprise, selling handmade goods created by artisan partners in Kenya and Bangladesh. Its home, travel and gift products connect everyday purchases with work opportunities for people who have had limited access to them, including handcrafted wooden goods made in a workshop in Jashore, Bangladesh. The enterprise emphasizes safe, ethical trade and uses commerce to help fight poverty and forced labor.
Aruna ProjectAruna Project is a nonprofit social enterprise that makes survivor-made bags and accessories while creating paid career pathways for women who have survived human trafficking. Its Freedom Business combines manufacturing apprenticeships with holistic care, living-wage employment and long-term support; the organization reports that more than 250 women have transitioned into career employment and that its model has achieved an 86% sustained freedom rate.CINCINNATI, OH
Creative WomenFounded in 2004, Athens-based Creative Women creates handmade home textiles and decor through fair-trade partnerships with more than 1,400 women artisans in nine countries. Its collections pair traditional techniques and natural materials with a mission to preserve textile heritage while helping women build economic opportunity. The brand is especially distinctive for connecting shoppers with the makers behind pieces such as handblown recycled-glass tumblers and Tanzanian Iringa baskets.YORK, PA
Minda LivingPhiladelphia-based Minda Living creates ethically made home goods and apparel, with a distinctive focus on handcrafted pieces made from natural fibers, vintage textiles, and responsibly sourced leather. Its woven collection is produced in partnership with Moroccan master craftsman Abdelati, who has spent more than 50 years honing his craft on foot-pedal looms built from reclaimed wood. The company also operates a Philadelphia store and describes its work as an effort to make retail easier on the planet.PHILADELPHIA, PA
Wholestory CollectiveWholestory Collective turns discarded banana plants from Nicaraguan farms into handwoven wicker furniture and storage pieces. Its artisans use weaving techniques passed down for more than a century, while fair-trade employment supports local communities. The company says it has recycled more than 5,000 banana plants, partnered with over 100 artisans, and helped fund five homes in rural Nicaragua through 10% of proceeds.WEBSTER, NY