One World Projects
Handmade Ruffle Apron from Mali
Handmade Ruffle Apron from Mali
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These wonderful Ruffle Print Aprons are made with recycled printed fabrics which would otherwise be discarded. Due to being handmade and from recycled materials no two printed aprons will ever be identical. Adorn yourself in the kitchen with one of these highly durable and beautiful aprons today.
Handmade by artisans at Mali Chic, a fair trade organization that assists over 195 artisans in exporting their products.
- This product measures 35" long x 29" wide
- 27" Strap Drop
- 8" Neck Drop
Handmade and Fair Trade Imported from Mali.
Mali Chic was founded by an American designer, Elaine Bellezza in 1998 in Mali. Elaine trained the local artisans in Mali to successfully design and produce their crafts. Mali Chic was started as a boutique and an exporter of ethnic Malian products.
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In 2006 Elain left the company under the ownership and supervision of five of her employees/ master craftsmen in Mali lead by Fatim Bouare. Fatim’s innate business sense and entrepreneurial skill has helped Mali Chic to grow into a successful business today. Currently, the organization has 14 employees and about 200 member artisans. The organization sells its products through a boutique store in Bamako city. Mali Chic has partnered with various international agencies such as United States Agency for International Development (USAID), West African Trade Hub and Aid to Artisans. Aligning with such agencies has helped Mali Chic to expand the reach of its handmade and fair trade products internationally. With increased demand for handmade and fairly traded products, Mali Chic has been able to contribute to social and economical development for its artisan members.
About the Artisans
About the Artisans
Chichicastenango, Guatemala, has become one of the most important heritage centers in Guatemala during the past 10 years, due to its predominant indigenous Maya Quiche population and their traditional textile products. Yet, despite increased tourism and a renewed interest in traditional Mayan crafts, work opportunities remain few for the indigenous population, many of whom are uneducated and otherwise unemployable.
Enter De Colores Art, a local business that levels the playing field for villagers by offering free training to anyone who demonstrates the initiative to learn a trade. The company employs 30 women and 18 men to knit and embroider textile products, with the option of working at home using materials provided by the company. De Colores recognizes the culture of its Mayan employees, and as such allows flexible hours and gives time off for sowing and harvest days.
De Colores also invests in community education projects by funding two local schools in the neighboring towns of Chujupen y Pachoj, and by providing scholarships to qualifying students.
In addition to stimulating the local economy by creating new jobs, De Colores makes a conscious effort to use recycled materials whenever possible. The reason for this is twofold: to preserve Mayan culture, as recycled textiles showcase traditional knitting patterns that aren’t often seen in newer textiles, and to reduce scraps and waste.
Communities collaborate in the production process, as men work on the biggest textiles and women do the embroidery, crochet and macramé seen in smaller pieces. In some cases, in order to be competitive, sewing machines are used to assemble the finished product, although all the components are handmade and hand embroidered from cotton, wool and/or silk.
