Sold out -40% sale
Handmade Banana Fiber Nativity Set
Handmade Banana Fiber Nativity Set $66.74 $110.18
This Nativity set is handcrafted out of banana fiber wrapped on wire and includes a 5-1/4 by 7-1/4 inch handmade banana fiber box for storage. The tallest piece is 5 inches high. Esther Kariuki is an independent artisan who, in her area of Kenya, near Kitui, has organized and trained women in her village to use the dried fiber of the banana plant, which would normally be discarded. The banana fiber is first dried, and then a light varnish is applied. Once this process is complete craftspeople cut the fiber into thin strips to make several different items, including boxes, Bao Bab trees, and mobiles. The varnish on the banana fiber with its many tones of brown resembles a textured tortoise shell. Esther ensures the craftspeople are paid a fair wage for their goods, which has enabled many in her small village to earn a sustainable wage. We deliver socially responsible products curated for you from over 20 countries. Be part of the solution.
Sold out -34% sale
Wire Bicycle Pin with Tusker Wheels, Handcrafted in Kenya, Africa
Wire Bicycle Pin with Tusker Wheels, Han... $18.24 $27.30
Made of recycled copper and steel wire with local beer caps for wheels this bicycle pin is approximately 2 inches long with a safety pin closure. Called "boda boda" by the locals, bicycles are used as public transportation (you ride on a padded rack on the back) and are named for the bikes used to transport people across the border between Uganda and Kenya -from border to border. Creative Alternatives works with marginalized producers in rural and urban areas of Kenya. The producers take pride in the product ideas they are able to develop and market through Creative Alternatives. The producers are self employed men and women, largely young and middle-aged, who have failed to get formal employment. They have thus had to seek employment in the jua kali (which translates into hot sun in the Swahili language) sector. They work in groups, in small family-owned businesses, or as individuals. We deliver socially responsible products curated for you from over 20 countries. Be part of the solution.
Sold out -25% sale
Hand Crafted Wire Bicycle Earrings
Hand Crafted Wire Bicycle Earrings $33.91 $45.00
Made from recycled copper and steel wire, these earrings are inspired by a common mode of transportation in Western Kenya - the bicycle. Called "boda boda" by the locals, bicycles are used as public transportation (you ride on a padded rack on the back). The name "boda boda" comes from the bicycles used for transporting people across the border between Uganda and Kenya from border to border. These earrings feature a single bead separating the hypoallergenic hook from the bicycle. The earring is approximately 1.5 inches wide. The color of the beads may vary from those shown. Creative Alternatives works with marginalized producers in rural and urban areas of Kenya. The producers take pride in the product ideas they are able to develop and market through Creative Alternatives. The producers are self employed men and women, largely young and middle-aged, who have failed to get formal employment. They have thus had to seek employment in the jua kali (which translates into hot sun in the Swahili language) sector. They work in groups, in small family-owned businesses, or as individuals. We deliver socially responsible products curated for you from over 20 countries. Be part of the solution.
-35% sale
Set of Six Hand Carved Mahogany Wood Safari Animal Napkin Rings
Set of Six Hand Carved Mahogany Wood Saf... $68.97 $105.30
Set of six napkin rings carved from African mahogany, handmade using rudimentary hand tools. Hand-painted with appropriate spots and stripes, the set includes one of each lion, cheetah, elephant, rhinoceros, giraffe, and zebra. The average size is 3.5 inches wide including the head by 2.5 inches tall. Working with more than 100 individual carvers in Machakos, Kenya, Jedando Modern Handicrafts markets African handicrafts primarily made of wood and bone worldwide. Carving is a tradition in Kenya with the children learning the craft from their parents. Carved by hand using only rudimentary hand tools, olive wood bowls, salad serving sets, and animal-shaped napkin rings take shape from pieces of olive wood, mahogany, and mpingo, or "African Ebony". An integral part of the organization's function is to educate the craftspeople on the need for reforestation to enable the products to be available for years to come and offer a sustainable income for generations. While wood carving provides the major income for many in the Machakos area, other craftspeople earn a living by further enhancing the products including painting the napkin rings and carving discarded animal bones for the handles of salad serving sets. Often the bone is "batiked" by placing wax on the white bone and dipping the bone in a dark brown/black dye, resulting in patterns of African mud cloth designs. We deliver socially responsible products curated for you from over 20 countries. Be part of the solution.
-38% sale
Hand Carved Natural Soapstone Circle of Friends
Hand Carved Natural Soapstone Circle of ... $43.11 $68.84
African Soapstone is among the most beautiful in the world. Mined by hand from surface mines large stones are pulled by a team of workers, cleaved into smaller pieces, and worked into stunning art and functional objects. This sculpture depicts a stylized circle of friends. The soapstone is natural. Please allow for color variation from cream to pink to gray in any single piece. Dimensions: 3 inches tall by 3 inches wide and 3 inches in diameter. Our Soapstone is carved by the artists of SMOLArt a group of artists who live in the rural village of Tabaka, Kenya, the heart of soapstone crafts. The name, a shortened version of Small, Medium, and Large Artists refers to the size of the soapstone products the artisans make, not their stature. Established in 1990, SMOLArt is a member of the WFTO, and as such assures that the artisans are paid a fair price for their work. In addition, the organization support community development by contributing to projects that improve living conditions, education, and health of their members and the village at large. Soapstone is mined from great pits in the area surrounding Kiisi, Kenya. The mined soapstone is then delivered to carvers who carve sculptures from the natural stone for the wholesale market, the color of which ranges from cream to pink, to brown, to yellow, to black, to a marbling of all of them. Once carved, the craftspeople smooth the rough edges of the soapstone with sandpaper dipped in water and polish the piece to a high gloss or paint African motifs in brilliant colors with etched accents. All of the soapstone products we sell are completely handmade. The tools consist of household items from screwdrivers, and hand drills, to switchblades. "Pangas," sword-like tools usually used for cutting down vegetation, are used to cleave the stone in the mines. We deliver socially responsible products curated for you from over 20 countries. Be part of the solution.
-41% sale
Handmade Lovers Knot 6 inch Black
Handmade Lovers Knot 6 inch Black $56.05 $93.60
Hand-carved from a single piece of Kisii soapstone by African artisans, this sculpture is an abstract artwork celebrating the loving bond between two souls. Known as "the wedding sculpture" in Kenya, the two loops represent two people joined as one, yet still separate individuals. A wonderful and unique wedding, anniversary, or engagement gift! Product Features: Measures approximately 6-inches tall. Due to the handmade nature, the actual size may vary by up to a half inch. Hand-painted with a lustrous black finish to match any décor. Soapstone is a soft stone, making it easy to carve into many forms. Handle with care to avoid breakage. Each piece has gone through multiple stages of sanding and waxing, giving the soapstone a satiny finish. Socially responsible products empower consumers to purchase according to their values and help alleviate global poverty. Fair Trade is an alternative business model that values safe workplaces, fair wages, and community investment for factory employees. Each sculpture is artfully hand-carved from a single piece of Kisii soapstone, found only in the hills of southwestern Kenya. Mining the soapstone from surface hills is a labor-intensive process, using little to no machinery. Laborers work with shovels, picks, axes, and machetes to carve out large soapstone chucks, which are then carved into beautiful art. ​
Hand-Carved Giraffe Salad Serving Set
Hand-Carved Giraffe Salad Serving Set $46.72
Handmade in Kenya, these salad servers are carved from one piece of wood. Each piece is hand painted and carved by hand. These salad tongs are a fun addition to any serving set - They are sure to attract compliments. They are about 12 inches in length. Working with more than 100 individual carvers in Machakos, Kenya, Jedando Modern Handicrafts markets African handicrafts primarily made of wood and bone worldwide. Carving is a tradition in Kenya with the children learning the craft from their parents. Carved by hand using only rudimentary hand tools, olive wood bowls, salad serving sets, and animal-shaped napkin rings take shape from pieces of olive wood, mahogany, and mpingo, or "African Ebony". An integral part of the organization's function is to educate the craftspeople on the need for reforestation to enable the products to be available for years to come and offer a sustainable income for generations. While wood carving provides the major income for many in the Machakos area, other craftspeople earn a living by further enhancing the products including painting the napkin rings and carving discarded animal bones for the handles of salad serving sets. Often the bone is "batiked" by placing wax on the white bone and dipping the bone in a dark brown/black dye, resulting in patterns in African mud cloth designs. We deliver socially responsible products curated for you from over 20 countries. Be part of the solution.
-34% sale
Eight Inch Pink Metal Gecko
Eight Inch Pink Metal Gecko $28.74 $42.90
This gecko is handmade in Haiti from recycled oil drums. Each has a small hook to hang the piece and is painted with a bright colorful design inspired by the local Haitian culture. From head to tail, the gecko is 8 inches long. Founded in 1990 by a multinational group of young entrepreneurs, Caribbean Craft promotes employment in Haiti by training unskilled craftspeople and assisting independent artisans by introducing new designs and new market outlets for painted Haitian metal art. Caribbean Craft's specialty is the brightly colored, artistically hand-painted Haitian metal art wall hangings. These hand-painted Haitian metal art pieces are truly works of art. Wall art designs include painted metal geckos, painted metal dragonflies, and painted metal frogs. We deliver socially responsible products curated for you from over 20 countries. Be part of the solution.
Sold out -38% sale
Hand-Carved Zebra Salad Tongs
Hand-Carved Zebra Salad Tongs $46.72 $74.30
Handmade in Kenya, these salad servers are carved from one piece of wood. Each piece is hand painted and carved by hand. These salad tongs are a fun addition to any serving set - They are sure to attract compliments. They are about 12 inches in length. Working with more than 100 individual carvers in Machakos, Kenya, Jedando Modern Handicrafts markets African handicrafts primarily made of wood and bone worldwide. Carving is a tradition in Kenya with the children learning the craft from their parents. Carved by hand using only rudimentary hand tools, olive wood bowls, salad serving sets, and animal-shaped napkin rings take shape from pieces of olive wood, mahogany, and mpingo, or "African Ebony". An integral part of the organization's function is to educate the craftspeople on the need for reforestation to enable the products to be available for years to come and offer a sustainable income for generations. While wood carving provides the major income for many in the Machakos area, other craftspeople earn a living by further enhancing the products including painting the napkin rings and carving discarded animal bones for the handles of salad serving sets. Often the bone is "batiked" by placing wax on the white bone and dipping the bone in a dark brown/black dye, resulting in patterns in African mud cloth designs. We deliver socially responsible products curated for you from over 20 countries. Be part of the solution.
-36% sale
9-Inch Hand Carved Olive Wood Bowl
9-Inch Hand Carved Olive Wood Bowl $47.43 $74.10
Highly grained olive wood bowl hand-carved in Kenya using rudimentary hand tools, approximately 9 inches in diameter by 2.75 inches tall. Please allow for variations due to the hand-carved nature of the bowl. Working with more than 100 individual carvers in Machakos, Kenya, Jedando Modern Handicrafts markets African handicrafts primarily made of wood and bone worldwide. Carving is a tradition in Kenya with the children learning the craft from their parents. Carved by hand using only rudimentary hand tools, olive wood bowls, salad serving sets, and animal-shaped napkin rings take shape from pieces of olive wood, mahogany, and mpingo, or "African Ebony". An integral part of the organization's function is to educate the craftspeople on the need for reforestation to enable the products to be available for years to come and offer a sustainable income for generations. While wood carving provides the major income for many in the Machakos area, other craftspeople earn a living by further enhancing the products including painting the napkin rings and carving discarded animal bones for the handles of salad serving sets. Often the bone is "batiked" by placing wax on the white bone and dipping the bone in a dark brown/black dye, resulting in patterns in African mud cloth designs. We deliver socially responsible products curated for you from over 20 countries. Be part of the solution.
-40% sale
6-Inch Hand-Carved Olive Wood Bowl
6-Inch Hand-Carved Olive Wood Bowl $34.35 $57.00
Highly grained hand-carved olive wood bowl from Kenya, approximately 6 inches in diameter by 2 inches tall. Please allow for variations due to the hand-carved nature of the bowl. Working with more than 100 individual carvers in Machakos, Kenya, Jedando Modern Handicrafts markets African handicrafts primarily made of wood and bone worldwide. Carving is a tradition in Kenya with the children learning the craft from their parents. Carved by hand using only rudimentary hand tools, olive wood bowls, salad serving sets, and animal-shaped napkin rings take shape from pieces of olive wood, mahogany, and mpingo, or "African Ebony". An integral part of the organization's function is to educate the craftspeople on the need for reforestation to enable the products to be available for years to come and offer a sustainable income for generations. While wood carving provides the major income for many in the Machakos area, other craftspeople earn a living by further enhancing the products including painting the napkin rings and carving discarded animal bones for the handles of salad serving sets. Often the bone is "batiked" by placing wax on the white bone and dipping the bone in a dark brown/black dye, resulting in patterns in African mud cloth designs. We deliver socially responsible products curated for you from over 20 countries. Be part of the solution.
Sold out -54% sale
Hand Carved 8
Hand Carved 8" Olive Wood Salad Serving Set $35.22 $76.00
Handmade in Kenya, these 8-inch salad servers are carved from a single piece of olive wood in a unique twisted design. Working with more than 100 individual carvers in Machakos, Kenya, Jedando Modern Handicrafts markets African handicrafts primarily made of wood and bone worldwide. Carving is a tradition in Kenya with the children learning the craft from their parents. Carved by hand using only rudimentary hand tools, olive wood bowls, salad serving sets, and animal-shaped napkin rings take shape from pieces of olive wood, mahogany, and mpingo, or "African Ebony". An integral part of the organization's function is to educate the craftspeople on the need for reforestation to enable the products to be available for years to come and offer a sustainable income for generations. While wood carving provides the major income for many in the Machakos area, other craftspeople earn a living by further enhancing the products including painting the napkin rings and carving discarded animal bones for the handles of salad serving sets. Often the bone is "batiked" by placing wax on the white bone and dipping the bone in a dark brown/black dye, resulting in patterns of African mud cloth designs. We deliver socially responsible products curated for you from over 20 countries. Be part of the solution.
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Giant 17 inch Hand Carved Hands Salad Servers
Giant 17 inch Hand Carved Hands Salad Se... $47.25
This olive wood salad serving set in the shape of hands is handmade in Kenya. These are large -- you may have a totally different use for them than tossing salads. Working with more than 100 individual carvers in Machakos, Kenya, Jedando Modern Handicrafts markets African handicrafts primarily made of wood and bone worldwide. Carving is a tradition in Kenya with the children learning the craft from their parents. Carved by hand using only rudimentary hand tools, olive wood bowls, salad serving sets, and animal-shaped napkin rings take shape from pieces of olive wood, mahogany, and mpingo, or "African Ebony". An integral part of the organization's function is to educate the craftspeople on the need for reforestation to enable the products to be available for years to come and offer a sustainable income for generations. While wood carving provides the major income for many in the Machakos area, other craftspeople earn a living by further enhancing the products including painting the napkin rings and carving discarded animal bones for the handles of salad serving sets. Often the bone is "batiked" by placing wax on the white bone and dipping the bone in a dark brown/black dye, resulting in patterns in African mud cloth designs. We deliver socially responsible products curated for you from over 20 countries. Be part of the solution.
Sold out
Hand Crafted Banana Fiber Arched Nativity Set
Hand Crafted Banana Fiber Arched Nativit... $59.99
This Nativity set is handcrafted out of banana fiber and comes in a 10 by 7-inch handmade banana fiber box that doubles as a stable. Esther Kariuki is an independent artisan who, in her area of Kenya, near Kitui, has organized and trained women in her village to use the dried fiber of the banana plant, which would normally be discarded. The banana fiber is first dried, and then a light varnish is applied. Once this process is complete craftspeople cut the fiber into thin strips to make several different items, including boxes, Bao Bab trees, and mobiles. The varnish on the banana fiber with its many tones of brown resembles a textured tortoise shell. Esther ensures the craftspeople are paid a fair wage for their goods, which has enabled many in her small village to earn a sustainable wage. We believe that hardworking African artisans, producers, and export agents hold the key to their own personal success and that the path to success requires a steady, committed pace. We can extend each artisan's channel of trades from local markets to the global marketplace, all the while providing them with options to work from the comfort of their own homes and communities. Secure in the knowledge that the fair payment they receive will not be reduced by traveling expenses, childcare costs, and haggled prices, most artisans in the network promote their family's future by using earnings to put food on the table and pay educational expenses for their children. Fair Trade Federation, a group of like-minded companies and organizations that adhere to: providing fair payment to workers in developing nations educating artisans and workers to increase their potential for advancement ensuring the rights of children developing products and processes that protect and conserve the natural environment promoting fair trade as the standard in commercial exchanges
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Handmade Compass Soapstone Sculpture, Light Gray Stone
Handmade Compass Soapstone Sculpture, Li... $89.97
Hand-carved from a single piece of Kisii soapstone by African artisans, this natural stone compass is a beautiful piece of art! Made from dark grey natural soapstone, it blends well with any décor and works well on a desk. The significance of the compass as a metaphoric guiding point is a great reference of strength to support a friend. Great gift for men! Product Features: Measures approximately 4-5/8-inches wide x 5-1/4-inches tall x 1-1/2-inches deep. 2-piece set. The colors are a lighter grey with natural variations expected from soapstone. Due to the hand-carved nature, each piece may vary in size by up to half an inch. Made from a natural stone. Soapstone is a soft stone, making it easy to carve into many forms. Handle with care to avoid breakage. Each piece has gone through multiple stages of sanding and waxing, giving the soapstone a satiny finish. Socially responsible products empower consumers to purchase according to their values and help alleviate global poverty. Fair Trade is an alternative business model that values safe workplaces, fair wages, and community investment for factory employees. Story Behind the Art: Each sculpture is artfully hand-carved from a single piece of Kisii soapstone, found only in the hills of southwestern Kenya. Mining the soapstone from surface hills is a labor-intensive process, using little to no machinery. Laborers work with shovels, picks, axes, and machetes to carve out large soapstone chucks, which are then carved into beautiful art. ​