Mahone Bay entrepreneurs who’ve made it their business to help support sustainable traditions and rural female artisans in Thailand and Laos are hosting a pre-holiday fibre fair in Halifax next weekend.
Alleson Kase and her partner Ellen Agger spend four months of each year in those two countries, where they’ve forged personal relationships with female artisans. Their goal is to sell the women’s handcrafted treasures for a fair market price.
“There’s a growing awareness among people now thinking ‘I want to do something nice for my family, loved ones and my friends, but it shouldn’t be at the expense of someone on the other side of the world,’” Kase explained.
That’s where Kase and Agger step in. Four years ago they registered their business TAMMACHAT Natural Textiles. Their online store was established one year later as demand for their products spread beyond the province.
In addition to sweatshop-free clothing like jackets, tops, wrap pants, organic silk scarves and cotton shawls, they also sell home textiles that include placemats, cushion covers, fabrics for craftspeople and wall hangings.
“We have had to build awareness that there is an alternative to sweatshops. People became aware that there is such thing as fair trade coffee,” Kase said. “We’re working to build an awareness of sustainable fashion or eco fashion..It’s similar to the growing awareness about sustaining our local economies through initiatives like farmers’ markets.”
The relationships forged with individuals and collectives in Thailand and Laos have led the pair to donate a portion of every sale to a program called Big Brother Mouse (www.bigbrothermouse.com).
Last year that non-profit group gave more than 85,000 rural children in poverty-stricken Laos their very first book. When you buy a product from Tammachat Natural Textiles, a child in Laos will also receive his or her first book.
The Nov. 12 Tammachat fibre fair in Halifax will feature a wide range of products, including some stocking stuffer items not found on the company’s website.
For the month of November, Kase and Agger are also donating 10 per cent of every sale to flood relief in Thailand.
“When you buy something, you’re not only giving your sister or friend a beautiful silk scarf for Christmas, you’re giving a child their very first picture book and you’ve made a contribution to flood relief in Thailand,” Kase said.
Each item will include a brochure explaining where the item came from.
Admission to next weekend’s Halifax fibre fair is free. Anyone who drops by can watch ‘The Call of the Loom,’ a film about female artisans in Laos that will run throughout the day.
The fair takes place from 10 am until 5 p.m. at the Universalist Unitarian Church, located at 5500 Inglis Street.
More information about Tammachat can be found at www.tammachat.com. For more information about the fibre fair, call 902-624-0427.
ydentremont@hfxnews.ca
