At Bambootique the beauty of women comes to you in the form of their handiwork!
We work directly with artisan cooperatives in Honduras, Guatemala, Thailand, Cambodia, Nepal, and South Africa. This direct relationship ensures that the artisans are paid promptly, in full, and that we work together on ensuring the quality and design of their craft. Each co-op has their own unique gifts, always steeped in rich artistic heritages. All our cooperatives are part of the fair trade movement, a world-wide movement that embraces the principles of fair pay, gender equity, and justice. Bambootique is a proud member of the Fair Trade Federation.
Some of our co-ops make beautiful jewelry from recycled soda cans. Others weave luxurious silk into soft scarves and colorful bags. Even others craft candles by hand using resources they find in the forest around them. All our artisans are women who share a common ability to overcome societal norms that would keep them and their families steeped in poverty. Instead they use their talents and drive to put food on the table, send their children to school, and ensure their children have bright futures.
It all started when a career in international relief and development combined with a love for travel has brought me repeatedly into contact with incredibly gifted, hard-working women making gorgeous handcrafted items. I gathered samples over a few years throughout far-flung places such as Guatemala, Thailand and Argentina, wondering how I could bring their incredible products to market.
The dreams and ideas all came together in 2006 when I co-founded Bambootique with my friend and then co-worker, Tammy Teske. We worked for the same health NGO and shared a deep desire to make a lasting difference in the lives of women, especially through economic empowerment. Tammy is now focusing full-time on her international health work while Bambootique has become my principal pursuit.
As a mother myself I want my children to grow up in a world that offers all little girls and boys the same opportunities my girls have. Each bead, bag or bauble you purchase from Bambootique directly empowers a mother, daughter, sister, grandma or auntie to provide for her family. Perhaps even more importantly, each purchase offers a sense of dignity, pride and hope in a world where so many women face nothing more than fear and uncertainty.
Thank you for joining with me to make a difference for so many. Enjoy the beautiful items you find on my site and please tell your friends about Bambootique.
"He has shown you...what is good and what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."Micah 6:8 (NIV)
Our Vision
Because of our passion for a just world, we will bring hope to vulnerable women through fair wages and preservation of their cultural heritage. We will engage members of our community in this effort, both as customers and informed agents of social change.
Our Mission
The mission of Bambootique is to offer economic opportunities to artisans worldwide, mainly women, by providing them access to the North American market through a fair trade boutique. Community education is incorporated into all aspects of the business so that the company serves as both a viable business and a vehicle of social awareness.
What is fair trade?
As members of the Fair Trade Federation and Green America, we adhere to the principles of fair trade as outlined by the Fair Trade Federation.
According to the FTF, fair trade criteria include:
Paying fair wages in local context
Supporting participatory workplaces
Ensuring environmental sustainability
Supplying financial and technical support
Respecting cultural identity
Offering public accountability
Educating consumers
The bottom line of fair trade is that the artisan is the main beneficiary of each sale, not a middleman or wholesaler. Fair trade is a way to shop ethically and ensures a direct connection between artisans and our customers.
At Bambootique the beauty of women comes to you in the form of their handiwork!
