Meet the Makers: Craft & Culture

CRAFT & CULTURE

Meet the Makers

two artisan women smiling while standing outside in front of trees, one handweaving basket, and other holding beautiful baby

Purposeful Impact

We believe that Cultured West can be a force for good and wanted to provide an easy way for you to shop ethically-made homeware and decor. It's not just about the goods we offer, it's about social good. Cultured West is purpose-driven, deeply focused on celebrating craft and culture, and committed to investing in ethical supply chains by partnering with brands that curate responsibly sourced artisan crafted pieces. Our partnerships collectively empower artisans to live a better life through handicraft creation, steady work, and fair living wages.

Fair Trade Impact

The impact of purchasing fair trade items means that every product you buy positively and directly benefits, supports, and empowers the artisans who create them. Nourishment, health, education, and dreams for a bright future. A choice for fair trade is a choice for a better, more equitable world. With every purchase, you are supporting ethical sourcing practices and sustainable livelihoods for the artisans.

Eco-Positive Materials

Materials matter, and Cultured West understands the importance of using eco-positive fibers. Whether it's utilizing natural materials or repurposing upcycled/recycled elements, we remain dedicated to minimizing our ecological footprint. By incorporating these sustainable materials, we offer a guilt-free shopping experience without compromising on style or quality.

By utilizing all-natural, eco-positive fibers sourced from local and renewable resources, each piece carries a unique story rooted in sustainability. The emphasis on upcycled and recycled materials breathes new life into discarded objects, transforming them into stunning home décor pieces. This attention to detail ensures that every item is not only aesthetically pleasing but also contributes to a healthier planet.

ethical brands

Our Partners

Kazi

Kazi empowers artisans in Africa by creating beautiful designs and providing steady work. Their on-trend woven baskets and deco rare handcrafted from sustainable locally native materials and food-safe natural dyes, pairing tradition and modern sensibility for a lifetime of conversation and beauty. Kazi is a Fair Trade Federation member and committed to fair living wages and good working conditions for their artisans. They also proudly carry the Nest Seal of Ethical Transparency, which lets consumers know that their items have been ethically handcrafted in a home.

❖ Fair Trade
❖ Nest Seal
❖ Woman Owned
❖ Artisan Handmade
❖ Sustainable Materials

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woman artisan smiling while holding handwoven baskets that she made

two women artisans smiling while holding handwoven baskets on their heads that they made

Swahili African Modern

Swahili African Modern features modern design through their artisan woven baskets and decor. Their pieces are handcrafted by artisans from the comfort of their villages with locally-harvested, sustainable, natural, and upcycled materials. They are fair trade certified by Fair Trade Federation and pay their artisans well above the living wage .Swahili African Modern helps the women artisans find a more secure market for their products and build greater prosperity in the region.

❖ Fair Trade
❖ Woman Owned
❖ Artisan Handmade
❖ Sustainable Materials

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Korissa

Korissa provides unique, purposeful, and high quality handmade goods that are socially and environmentally responsible to beautifully elevate your space. Bangladesh artisans use heritage crafting techniques and skills passed down from generation to generation to make their woven baskets, planters, and decorative accents, with natural dyes and locally sourced eco-friendly materials. Korissa adheres to fair trade practices and their artisans are compensated well-above fair wages for workers in struggling communities.

❖ Fair Trade
❖ BIPOC Owned
❖ Woman Owned
❖ Artisan Handmade
❖ Sustainable Materials

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woman artisan sitting while handweaving seagrass basket

woman artisan smiling while holding natural fibers that she uses to handweave baskets

Creative Women

Every basket and decor piece Creative Women produces is handwoven by fair trade artisans with locally grown natural fibers native to each product’s region of origin. Creative Women works with fair trade suppliers throughout their supply chain, and is fair trade certified by Fair Trade Federation, which means they pay fair wages to all their artisans while providing safe and healthy working conditions.

❖ Fair Trade
❖ Woman Owned
❖ Artisan Handmade
❖ Sustainable Materials

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Azizi Life

The traditional Rwandan heritage is on full display in every Azizi Life woven piece. All of Azizi Life’s baskets and decor are crafted sustainably with renewable local materials in forty artisan cooperatives across Rwanda. Their beautiful products support the artisans, their families, and the local development of multiple African communities. They are a Fair Trade Federation member and pay fair living wages to the artisans for their expertly crafted pieces.

❖ Fair Trade
❖ BIPOC Owned
❖ Woman Owned
❖ Artisan Handmade
❖ Sustainable Materials

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