the
artisans we support
Sales of
Globally Minded handmade and ethically produced jewelry and
accessories provide just and fair wages for many women in the
Highlands of Guatemala.
Fair prices are determined by the time and ability needed to produce an item. There is a learning curve with a new design and it is sometimes very tedious the first time around. Artisans are paid more for each product, until they know how to do the designs easily. Because of the fierce competition in Guatemala with India, China and Indonesia, some products are more expensive in order to make them equitable to produce.
All the expenses of making the product determine the price, including: cost of running the workshops, salaries for production of products and the sorting afterwards, and administrative tasks, like accounting and payroll.
The cooperative exists in order to provide work and income to women in a village. The producers are able to express their opinions and make known what their needs are. They are involved in the decision making process when it comes to price. With each new product, the artisans are asked how much time they will need and what materials are required to make a specific item.
Sourcing of all the products are not sustainable, as materials are imported. Some thread is purchased in Guatemala, but even that is imported at some point in the supply chain.
Our producers use needles and threads, and wires and beads to make the jewelry. There is no environmental danger with the work. The producers work in well-lighted, open rooms, outside the bustle of downtown Santiago Atitlan. They are surrounded by natural beauty, including birds, flowers, trees and other plants. All the artisans can see outside as they work in our newly built facility. The artisans always receive financial and other help when they are sick and when disaster strikes, like Hurricane Stan in 2005. Those who lost their homes were given clothes, kitchen supplies, tools and building materials. Scholarships are also provided to those who suffered loss, so the children could go to school. In addition, the group partners with other organizations in time of need, to help support families and artisans in need.
Fair prices are determined by the time and ability needed to produce an item. There is a learning curve with a new design and it is sometimes very tedious the first time around. Artisans are paid more for each product, until they know how to do the designs easily. Because of the fierce competition in Guatemala with India, China and Indonesia, some products are more expensive in order to make them equitable to produce.
All the expenses of making the product determine the price, including: cost of running the workshops, salaries for production of products and the sorting afterwards, and administrative tasks, like accounting and payroll.
The cooperative exists in order to provide work and income to women in a village. The producers are able to express their opinions and make known what their needs are. They are involved in the decision making process when it comes to price. With each new product, the artisans are asked how much time they will need and what materials are required to make a specific item.
Sourcing of all the products are not sustainable, as materials are imported. Some thread is purchased in Guatemala, but even that is imported at some point in the supply chain.
- Nylon thread is made in Venezuela
- Beads are made in Czech Republic and Japan
- Stones are from China or Indonesia
Our producers use needles and threads, and wires and beads to make the jewelry. There is no environmental danger with the work. The producers work in well-lighted, open rooms, outside the bustle of downtown Santiago Atitlan. They are surrounded by natural beauty, including birds, flowers, trees and other plants. All the artisans can see outside as they work in our newly built facility. The artisans always receive financial and other help when they are sick and when disaster strikes, like Hurricane Stan in 2005. Those who lost their homes were given clothes, kitchen supplies, tools and building materials. Scholarships are also provided to those who suffered loss, so the children could go to school. In addition, the group partners with other organizations in time of need, to help support families and artisans in need.
