Excerpts provided by Handcrafting Justice. Visit their website here.

Recycled Handbags- Philippines

Reuse and recycle takes a twist at the Alay Kapwa Coop. Located in the slums of Manila, Philippines, and using everything from recycled potato chip bags, juice boxes and telephone directories, this network of families has created an alternative income stream for themselves, using materials that would otherwise be trash.

In addition to this income-generating project, the Alay Kapwa Coop supports families through a holistic set of services, from daycare, health and nutrition programs and rice subsidies, to crisis and disaster recovery, and educational support.

From Scraps of Sari Silk- Thailand

Our partners at the Regina Center in Nongkhai, Thailand know that one person’s discarded sari is another person’s treasure. Using scraps from old silk sari’s, these artisans create patch-work bags of all shapes, sizes and color schemes, showcasing the indigenous weaving patterns of the Isan region. Pitsamai has been working on these recycled silk bags for 5 years, to supplement her husband’s small, irregular salary. Her income from the bags allows her to support her family and keep her 2 children in school.

Another eco-friendly material used at the Regina Center is hemp, which is grown, harvested and sewn into bags by women such as Oie, whose husband’s work as a poorly-paid laborer on building sites takes him away from home for long periods of time. Oie has been able to care for her family through these times, supporting her 3 young children. Visit our website to see more silk and hemp products.

Art of Nature and Spirit- Mexico

Beeswax, wood pieces, dried gourds, glass beads, colored thread. Raw materials from the natural world, art reflecting the spiritual world.

For those familiar with Huichol art, thinking of it as eco-art may not be the first connection that comes to mind. But the majority of materials used by our Huichol partners in Tepic, Mexico come from their natural environment. And the themes of their art could not be more reflective of that world - the celestial world, the harvest season, the dynamic between humans and animals, fire and water.

For a community that has struggled with poverty for generations, the Huichol people are rich in artistic traditions and ecological awareness. Their teachings say there is a mirror between our hearts and everything in the universe, which is developed and nurtured in their artwork. The Huichol lifestyle helps to conserve and protect their natural resources and biologically-diverse ecosystems. Additionally, income generated from their artwork helps to fund greenhouse projects, supporting the nutritional needs and the future of their community.