This handwoven sisal necklace is made by Tintsaba. Tintsaba is a Fair Trade organization that provides training, jobs and mobile healthcare to hundreds of rural women in Swaziland. All of Tintsaba’s jewelry is made from Sisal Agave, an invasive weed that has spread through Swaziland because of its use to make cattle fences. Because it is an invasive exotic plant it is ideal for craft production. The preparation of the sisal involves little water, no chemicals and environmentally friendly certified dyes.
Weaving and wearing silk is an expression of deeply rooted culural and social traditions of Cambodia with particular patterns worn on special occasions and by certain people. The silk is hand dyed and hand loomed in Takeo Province. Despite being well known for its concentration of skillful silk weavers, primarily women, the rural producers of Takeo have so far remained poor. Historically their lack of access and knowledge about international markets have left them with only a small fraction of the profit their products generate. We are working to change that.
