Imperfectly Perfect Handcrafts

Let's reduce poverty and improve working conditions for farmers and producersin developing countries together!

Meet our artisans

Jute Baskets

The Bono collection is sustainably handmade by women artisans in a rural artisan organization located in the northern part of Bangladesh. The 176 women artisans working at this organization use jute, a strong plant fiber, as the main raw material. Before joining the organization, the women artisans were predominantly housewives whose work went unrecognized, unpaid, and limited to household activities. Some women worked in the nearby rice mills for very low wages, such as Tk. 100 per day (equivalent to 1.16 USD), for long workdays of over 10 hours. Unfortunately for the women, finding work in the area is extremely difficult. However, with the help of the organization, these artisans are able to find financial independence and self-sufficiency. They are able to have greater autonomy by contributing to their family and participating in important decision-making processes. They can also send their kids to school and provide for their basic needs. Most importantly, the artisans are respected for their contributions and dignified with a higher status in their community.

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Meet our artisans

Seagrass Baskets

BHS is one of the partner organizations providing seagrass baskets to KORISSA. Seagrass is a freshwater plants, known locally as “Hogla” and grows abundantly along the banks of freshwater rivers in Bangladesh.
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BHS provides training for new artisans and provides job opportunities for disadvantaged women who live in a rural area. Presently 82 women and 18 male artisans work in this organization. Generally, women make a basket at their home and male artisans make the metal frame for baskets in the workshop.   
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Our artisans are paid a fair, livable wage. In addition to wages, they get some festival benefit during the main religious festival.

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Beyond fair trade

Toquilla Straw

KORISSA partners with two small indigenous artisan communities in Ecuador. Our project is called "Beyond Fair Trade" to improve our artisans' lives further and get involved with artisans.
We work directly with these small artisan families and communities and work together to preserve their history & Culture and make a difference in the developing world. 

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Meet our artisans

Jute Bags

All our Jute tote & clutch collection is handmade by artisans in the Women’s Development Organization Bangladesh. 
This Women’s Development Organization is a non-profit, national level, voluntary development organization with a mission to contribute to the establishment of a just and poverty-free society by organizing and training the most disadvantaged women through its committed and skilled workers.

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Meet our artisans

Handmade Paper

Biborton Handmade Paper is in Barisal district in southern Bangladesh. This is a particularly disadvantaged and vulnerable area in Bangladesh. Floods, droughts and high unemployment, year after year have made such poor condition of the area. Biborton is working with the disadvantaged and poorest of the poor from the rural areas. For years, Biborton has been making handmade paper using water hyacinth, a weed that clogs up the waterways in Southern Bangladesh and silk. With the abundance of water hyacinth and the extraction of good quality fibres; creative products are being produced there. Handmade Paper (jute, water hyacinth, silk)