Flavours of Life seeks to partner with organizations who share our passion and commitment to fair trade. All of our products are sourced from artisans, co-operatives, producer groups, and/or importers, who have undergone an external screening of their business practices or have been audited and carry a product certification label. Many of our partners are members of the Fair Trade Federation (FTF) and World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO).
While we partner with over 30 organizations to source products for both our brick and mortar store and for on-line sales, we have listed below those organizations we trade with most frequently. We actively encourage our customers to better understand where our products come from, the lives of the producers, and the social, cultural, and environmental advantages accrued by the products we carry.
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In 1987, an exhaustive economic development survey of the Tibetan communities in India and Nepal was carried out. This resulted in the formation of a Planning Council, which several years later, engaged a group of supportive Americans to determine how best to sell and promote Tibetan handicrafts in the US. This new partnership initially called The Tibetan Handicraft Development Project eventually became dzi - Tibet Collection, the wholesale company we trade with today.
Tibet Collection is committed to creating innovative trans-cultural experiences. They strive to inspire and educate with high quality goods and services by connecting artisans and consumers through the sale of fair and ethically traded products.
dzi Tibet Collection is a founding member of the Fair Trade Federation. |
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Founded by two former volunteers in Kenya (Peace Corp and VSO), Global Crafts’ Mission is to offer income-generating opportunities to craftspeople in developing countries by following fair trade practices. These include payment in advance, fair market prices and safe working conditions, integrity and honesty.
Global Crafts works directly with artisans, craftspeople, and other producer groups to achieve their goals and help improve the lives of others with whom we share the planet.
Global Crafts is a member of the Fair Trade Federation and the World Fair Trade Organization. |
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Now in business over 15 years, Michael and Kris Barker, two former teachers went on a vacation of a lifetime to Costa Rica! They began their business by bringing back rocking chairs and driving to local stores to sell them. They are still a small mom and pop business. Which they love.
They continue to travel to all of the countries that they work with and have very long standing relationships with the artisans. They import Fair Trade products from Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Peru and Colombia. They host fund raisers for the artisans and their communities and revel in the stories about how the artists and artist co-ops are growing. Kris and Michael love doing work that matters and makes a difference in peoples lives.
La Vida Verde are members of the Fair Trade Federation. |
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Since 1984, Denise Attwood and Ric Conner of Ganesh Himal have been supplying shops and retail customers in the U.S. with high quality, handcrafted clothing, jewelry, textiles, and paper. Ganesh Himal import directly from small cottage industries in Nepal, including development projects working to improve the lives of Tibetan refugees and women.
Their goal has always been to support work that enhances people's lives and traditions. Working directly with the producers as a team, they all benefit and expand each others' talents and ideas. It is rewarding for them to work with such skilled artisans who enjoy what they do and to know that they realize a fair return for their work.
Ganesh Himal Trading is a founding member of the Fair Trade Federation. |
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The two founders, Renae Adam and Kristin Johnson, met in 1992 in Ghana during their tenure in the US Peace Corps. Both Renae and Kristin fell in love with Ghana, its people, and the drive of many business women to grow their enterprises in order to provide better lives for their children. In 2002, they formed Women in Progress, a non-profit organization based in both Ghana and the US.
Women in Progress believes that the most effective way for women to realize social and economic justice is to achieve economic independence through self-employment. Women in Progress, through a thriving volunteer program, provide services such as training and support, business development, and international trade to women in West Africa. Marketing their products under the brand name of “Global Mamas”, Women in Progress are able to link women owned businesses in West Africa with consumers in the rest of the world.
Global Mamas are members of the Fair Trade Federation and the World Fair Trade Organization. |
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The mission of WorldFinds is to create beautiful, unique, inspired products that sell on their own merit, while simultaneously helping to improve the lives of the artisans involved. WorldFinds works directly with artisan groups, sharing marketplace trends, developing new designs, discussing ongoing issues to continually improve their products.
WorldFinds partners with fair trade organizations, self-help groups, and small artisans families that strive to make a difference in their communities. These organizations have made a commitment to social welfare and provide many services to their producers including: ongoing education and training, health care services, subsidized meals, day care, schooling, and AIDS awareness.
WorldFinds is a member of the Fair Trade Federation. |
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