how and where was your decorative pillow made?

beautiful products aside, i'm so moved by the mission of a company who thankfully emailed me, one thread fair trade. i'll start with its commitment to the environment which involves a commitment to hand loom weaving which according to its website, "results in zero energy impact and releases 1 ton less co2 in a year than the same job produced on a power loom. power loom fabrics contribute large amounts of carbon emissions into our environment and one job on a power loom sucks up as much energy as 20 vacuum cleaners running all day."

their website continues, "also, by using hand loom we support the rural hand loom weaving villages which are struggling to survive due to the increasing usage of power looms. hand loom weaving uses nine times more labor than required by a power loom, thus providing many more people with a livelihood and means of survival." you can actually learn about the artisan who made your pillow by an artisan's number on the pillow's label and clicking on that number on the company website. it's amazing!!!!

even more impressive than their eco impact, is the company's mission. according to their website, "we believe that every one of us has the responsibility to improve the state of our global community, the state of mankind." wow! one way they do this is by their promise to fair trade which means they pay their artisans a fair wage, ensure safe and healthy working conditions, support the artisan's community in education and business development, provide training in textile arts, and cover all costs of raw materials and unit maintenance. i can assure you that most manufactured items, especially those made in china, do not follow fair trade practices. however, with increased awareness, we can make more educated choices and create a home filled with items that contribute to humanity rather than exploit it.