Originally used by those supporting social justice and the alleviation of the intense poverty found in many developing nations, the term “fair-trade” is increasingly becoming more popular by consumers concerned about the social, economic and environmental impact of their purchases. Thousands of people like you believe in fair-trade as a model of economic and environmental justice. Through your conscious selection of these fair-trade products you have a direct impact on people's lives.
Aura Imports bring you fair-trade handcrafts from Nepal, India and Tibet. We strive to promote living wages, women's rights and eco-friendly production through our partnerships with small-scale artisans. No child labor is used to make our products. We pay the adults a fair wage so that children can be children, become educated and do not have to work simply to survive. We seek to combat exploitation and poverty through fair-trade.
Two months every year we travel around Nepal, India and Tibet either meeting new producers or working with our existing producers on new designs. We know all these fine folks personally; in fact they have become our friends. By making our own contacts we are personally priveledged to develop close relationships. It also means that we are able to reach the primary producers of the goods. In creating a market for their items we enable our suppliers to help themselves. We believe very strongly in the concept of “Aid Through Trade”.
We also work with our suppliers on the products that we sell. This is particularly true of jewelry design as our artisans are great craftspeople but know very little about western fashion. We thoroughly enjoy co-designing items that use their traditional techniques yet will be popular over here.
We Pay a Fair Price
Many disadvantaged producers deserve a chance to increase their control over their own future, have a fair and just return for their work, continuity of income and decent working and living conditions through sustainable business partnerships. We are committed to providing fair wages and employment opportunities to economically disadvantaged artisans in the Himalayan region of the world.
Agreeing on a fair price with the artisans in advance, this enables them to cover the costs of producing the goods and make a reasonable profit. This allows them to care better for their children rather than always worrying where the next meal is coming from. We also pay a large portion in advance so that our artisans do not have to finance expensive credit.
Indeed we have to survive in a competitive retail market place. We therefore price our products as competitively as possible given all the costs that we have to bear. We only make a small profit. A portion goes to support deserving students in the region and the balance is invested back into the business to enable it to grow.
Bringing Dignity and Hope
Many artisans tell us that fair-trade brings them much more than regular work and fair pay. They begin to see hope for the future, earn dignity and respect in their community and experience joy in being able to provide for their families. This is a strategy for poverty alleviation and sustainable development. Its purpose is to create opportunities for artisans who have been economically disadvantaged or marginalized by the conventional trading system.
Fair-trade also means that women’s work is properly valued and rewarded. Women are always paid for their contribution to the production process and are empowered in their organizations. By developing long-term relationships with our artisans, this enables them to plan for the future providing them the necessary stability they need to grow.
Aura Imports is committed to achieve social justice and change through the market, to celebrate our successes, learn from our experiences, and to create strategies to work collaboratively to strengthen the fair-trade movement.
Spread the word to your friends, family and co-workers and help sow the seeds for a better life for artisans and their families in this impoverished region.
Originally used by those supporting social justice and the alleviation of the intense poverty found in many developing nations, the term “fair-trade” is increasingly becoming more popular by consumers concerned about the social, economic and environmental impact of their purchases. Thousands of people like you believe in fair-trade as a model of economic and environmental justice. Through your conscious selection of these fair-trade products you have a direct impact on people's lives.
We Pay a Fair Price
