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Smile Project; A Fair Trade Donation

By Emma Kengatharan

The Smile Project has actively been in existence for the last few years. Initially, it was created so that the products could go to our artisans who would make better utility off the goods, however due to certain situational quandaries, not everyone is looking for concrete commodities. Therefore, we feel that through this year’s charity, we will both vend as well as donate certain goods that may be of use to our producers and their families. 

Usually, we were distributing the products directly to our artisans in different villages, though due to the lockdown restrictions being bestowed upon, we aren’t allowed to visit in person, thus making it a difficult dilemma for us to have a direct contact. We are grateful for the donors who has been so kind with their contribution to our project, we are humbled at your services and hope that you continue to do so whenever possible. 

Though this isn’t entirely a large collective sum, we are simply trying to turn donation into cash in case of any emergencies, where we would be able to provide a fund that would be of great use to our artisans. By finding different ways to support our artisans seems rather plausible through this progression. 

What better ways is there than to find a new home for your pre-loved produces, may that be of articles of clothing or household goods, or even your artistic endeavoured products that you wish to share with us. It is also important to note that the products given to us are by people who wish not to accumulate more than what they need – used and unused goods- therefor, there are products of all categories are expected to be found – a pair of rollerblades are looking for a new owner – perhaps it could be you.    

If you are feeling charitable, you are more than welcome to donate your pre-loved products, and if you are feeling philanthropic then you can purchase a few, which in return helps us gather money for our charity, by providing tangible things to our producers.

Note: The selling of products can be done in the morning by appointment but normal hours for purchasing will be between 1-5 pm.

This is a permanent project that is expected to go be an ongoing one, so if you are looking to revamp your apparels and update it to some new loving clothes, then you know where to find us.

Here’s the link to our Google map.

Thai Tribal Crafts Fair Trade
208 Bumruang Rajd Rd
Tambon Wat Ket
Muang Chiang Mai 50000

Eagerly anticipating on your arrival! 

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The 3F’s to give: Fun, Fair and Fabulous

Photographed and written by: Emma Kengatharan

One response asserts that perhaps the current financial system is noncompliance, cumbersome in economic efficiency, and replenishes natural resources. Fair trade, in this perspective, is a strong tool for highlighting the present system’s inconsistencies. As the Covid-19 predicament on the rise, people are succumbed to the unbearability of social destruction. Consequently, leading to the failures of many individually-found businesses – To whom our heart bleeds for.   

The world of Fair-trade is often criticised on the basic of lack of understanding. Yes, of course, It is simple to condemn, but generating alternatives is considerably more difficult than one would imagine. Numerous endeavours, meanwhile are forming to target the support groups in fair-trade so that of those who are lacking financial aid could overcome the scuffles. It is critical to build a dedicated audience to sustain the platform, with both terms of everyday conservation and utilisation. Of what we strive to achieve here in Thai Tribal Crafts Fair Trade. One of the most significant things we can do on a daily basis to protect these local organisations run based on fair-trade is to purchase locally, being aware of where your monetary supplies go to and who do they benefit. These are all sensible to consider as they seem more fair-minded and impartial. This is commendable and crucially important.  

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Touristing in Chiang Mai: Thai Hill Tribes

As a resident of Chiang Mai, it’s very common to see advertisements for tourist attractions all over the city. The more popular sites are the temples, elephant parks, and the markets. However, we believe that if you really want to learn about Thailand, there’s hardly a better way than to visit the hill tribes’ villages. All the previously mentioned tourist attractions are so famous that one can easily read about them online. These Thai hill tribes have yet to gain social media exposure; visiting their homes will give you insight on their lifestyle and cultures .

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Real life story of Kalaya – Hmong producer

fairtrade-story-kalaya-hmong-producer

There are some specific moments in everyone’s life that may lead to a successful life or leave one in desperate straits. Living in Huay Luak village in the northern part of Thailand as a hill-tribe woman is something that can create great insecurity and instability. A hill tribe woman’s life can involve moving into new communities to search for new possibilities, and often this process has to be repeated again and again. One of the unheard stories of such a woman is about Mrs. Kalaya or Kao (Hmong name) who once lived such a life; today she has turned into a leader of the Hmong Artisans Group and has become a world standard handicrafts producer. Back in 2000, Kalaya was living with her husband in Huay Luak, a Hmong village, where they farmed, planted crops, and did other agriculture. Being farmers, they spent most of their time together farming until the day they met with the most unfortunate event of their lives.

There was one evening when a man approached Kalaya’s husband on his way back home from the farm and asked him to do him a favour. Could he bring a small bag to the village by his car? It is normal for villagers to help each other whenever they are in need. So, he simply accepted, with just the aim of helping a man; it was no problem at all to put the bag in the car. But unfortunately, he didn’t anticipate that the bag would bring him trouble and separate him from his lovely wife, Kalaya. After a few hours of driving, the police stopped the car at a check point for security purposes and found yaba (amphetamines) in the small bag which was given to him by the man. There is no way out, no release, if yaba is found in one’s hand. There is a strong penalty when the drug laws are broken, and Kalaya’s husband was sentenced to 30 years in prison when the judge made his final decision. It was that day that this lovely couple had to part from one another and Kalaya begun to struggle through life with 3 children. Indeed, she tried in many ways to prove the true story about how her husband received the yaba in order to get her husband released from prison. She spent lots of money beyond what she could afford. She sold the farm and land that they owned, but nothing changed; everything was gone and she faced a worse life in Huay Luak village.

In 2003, Kalaya made a decision to start a new life in Lamphun City, twenty kilometers from Chiang Mai. She passed through this dark period of her life by selling flowers, sleeping beside the road just near the market, and earning a small amount of money, just enough to live hand to mouth for her family. On a certain day, Harry (Managing Director of Thai Tribal Crafts) met Kalaya unexpectedly in Lamphun while
he was there on some business issue. Harry learned of the pitiful life of this Hmong woman of one of the hill tribes in northern Thailand. Then he asked if she had some skill in making Hmong traditional handicrafts. He came to find out that she was good at making Hmong Batik. Knowing of the impressive skill of Kalaya, Harry suggested that she return back to Huay Luak and become a TTC producer instead of living in Lamphun in this awful life. He promised that TTC would try its best to provide orders in the future. Kalaya was very pleased to hear this and agreed to do what Harry recommended.

In 2006, Kalaya returned to Huay Luak where she applied herself with strong commitment and began a new life for her family once more. She also became a team leader of the Huay Luak Hmong Producer Group. Today, with training and the dedication of Thai Tribal Crafts Fair Trade, this group has been producing world standard Hmong Batik cloth and getting regular orders through the TTC market channels. Among the thirty thousand Hmong people living in Thailand, the Huay Luak group enjoys living in a village less expensively and is able to preserve the dignity of their hill tribe roots.

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Fair Trade hammock producers with big smiles

We have been exporting and supplying fair trade hammocks to local and overseas markets. But many consumers, including some of our hammock buyers have not seen this great photo with big smiles. The two ladies belong to Mae Muang Noi group, Lahu hill tribes and today, we are proud to present to you. If you are interested to know more about this group (artisans), please contact us.