This messenger bags is appliquéd with a symbolic, Tree of Life motif on the front flap. It is a quilted bag with a big pocket inside. Made by an all-female cooperative in the draught-affected Marwar region of West Rajasthan, India. This cooperative is made of 272 women actively practicing this art. The artisans are distributed over the region in various villages. Women from far villages come once a week to the cooperative office, submit their products and collect more raw materials to take back to their homes to work on them. Profits from this art help in the overall development of the group. This region now has medical centers providing basic health services, electricity produced from solar energy, evening schools for kids and vocational colleges for women.

organic cotton

Manish Gupta has a professional background in engineering and operations. Before starting Handmade Expressions, he worked at Dell as an operations manager. While at Dell, Manish came across the concept of Fair Trade. While he was working at Dell, Manish came across the concept of Fair Trade. He was inspired with the conscious application of trade to facilitate development and progress, and took some time off to travel within rural India. He met a number of artisans and realized that they needed help. He comments: “There is so much sadness in those hands that create such beautiful things.” Not only were these people suffering, but a number of traditional art forms were fading away. He realized he could use his skills and opportunities to create a difference in their lives, and at the same time create a fulfilling path for him. That is when he decided to form Handmade Expressions, a company with the mission of empowering underprivileged people in the world by reinforcing local economies through just and responsible practices.

India

Organic cotton is grown without the use of toxic pesticides and chemicals. This promotes a healthier eco-system than conventional cotton farming by keeping dangerous chemicals from leaking in rivers and soil as well as out of the air.