Illuminate's New & Very Popular Fair Trade Guatemalan Bags

We have been involved in the Fair Trade movement since it picked up steam back in the 1990s, first with the NGO World Share, then with Fair Trade Quilts & Crafts in 2000, and now with Illuminate Fair Trade. Simply stated, Fair Trade means working directly with artisan cooperatives, instead of exploitive middlemen, wholesalers, and brokers. We let the artisans set the prices so that they receive a fair return and assist them with product design and marketing. We have been working directly with the same artisans in Guatemala for more than 20 years.

We started with Guatemalan patchwork quilts, throws, table runners, and pillow covers, and then added Zacualpa cotton bedspreads and the wonderful wool blankets and throws from Momomstenango. More recently, we added a line of Guatemalan bags and they have been selling out each month. They are really quite special and here is a bit of detail about two of the best sellers.

The first [above] is our Handmade Guatemalan Backpack Shoulder Bag. It's a durable leather backpack with detachable straps that easily converts to a shoulder bag. The cotton fabric designs are hand-woven by our artisans. Each is beautiful and quite unique. 16 inches x 12 inches x 6 inches. Plenty of room to use as an overnight bag. See them here.

The second is our Hand Woven Day Bag Backpack from Guatemala. Its made from woven cotton fabric and is appropriate for a day at the beach, concert, or a hike on your favorite trail. It has three exterior pockets and lots of room inside. Each is a unique treasure, with beautiful jewel tones and pastels. See them here.

Thank you for supporting our Fair Trade work over the last 21 years.

#fairtrade

By: Don Lam