Fair Trade Pan Pipes

A traditional South American instrument recreated in young bamboo. The artists have created an intricate etched design to the wood. A scale of 12 notes is bound together with bamboo and twine. It is played by blowing across the top of the note to create a haunting, flute like sound. 

Please note this is a real musical instrument (e.g. not a toy) from a range produced in Indonesia by local artists, communities and craftsmen. All raw materials are sustainable and legal.

http://www.arushafairtrade.com/men/134-pan-pipes.html

Meditation Chimes

8 highly polished steel bars are suspended above a sustainable mahogany wood platform. When the keys are struck with the included beater they create a light, crisp tone that continues to resonate well after the note has been played. The full octave of notes allows melodies to be played on the instrument.

Our range of instruments are produced in Indonesia by local artists, communities and craftsmen. Producers represent the five main religions and both male and female craftsmen are employed through the various stages of the production process. This helps to further maintain a social balance in these areas. 

Producers are allowed to dictate prices and these prices are above local averages.   In return they supply high quality products and there is an attention to detail that surpasses products made under factory or other mass-production conditions. This rewards the high quality craftsmen and encourages other importers to work with the high quality artists above other producers.  Child labour is not used but the part-time training of older youths is encouraged. These trainees remain in education and they receive a full wage for the time that they spend working. This will ensure that they have a career to follow upon leaving school (if they choose to do so) and will help to sustain the community for successive generations.

All raw materials are sustainable and legal. No poached or endangered woods are  used. No toxic or harmful materials are to be used in the production process and any waste created must be disposed of in an ecologically sound manner.

Available in our online store

Carved Coconut Karimba

This coconut karimba is also known as an Mbira. A highly polished, half coconut shell is used to create a sound chamber that amplifies the 7 notes suspended above. This wonderfull instrument is carved with a gecko design.  It costs €18.90.  


Our range of instruments are produced in Indonesia by local artists, communities and craftsmen. Producers represent the five main religions and both male and female craftsmen are employed through the various stages of the production process. This helps to further maintain a social balance in these areas. 

A – Z Guide to a Fair Trade Christmas – N is for Nativity Set

One of our Fair Trade Nativity Set would certainly be a talking point in your home this Christmas.  Our set from Madagascar depicts very tall elegant figurines beautifully hand carved.  While the set from Peru contains a llama instead of a sheep.  Or choose a set from Indonesia where the hand painted characters are wearing native Indonesian dress.

They come in different sizes so you can choose which would be most suitable for you Christmas Crib scene.  You can purchase them online and prices start at less than €20.

A – Z Guide to a Fair Trade Christmas – M is for Music

One of the reasons we decided to do this A-Z of Christmas on our blog was to let people know about the wide variety of fair trade goods there are available.  One thing I don’t think people would associate with Fair Trade is musical instruments.  We have a range of percussion instruments, from a lovely Gecko Clacker for little hands to a full size Jammer Djembe.

They are all made in Indonesia by local artists, communities and craftsmen. Producers represent the five main religions and both male and female craftsmen are employed through the various stages of the production process. This helps to 

further maintain a social balance in these areas. Producers are allowed to dictate prices and these prices are above local averages. 

A – Z Guide to a Fair Trade Christmas – I is for Indonesia

Indonesia has seen great turmoil in recent years, having faced the Asian financial crisis, the fall of President Suharto after 32 years in office, the first free elections since the 1960s, the loss of East Timor, independence demands from restive provinces, bloody ethnic and religious conflict and a devastating tsunami.

There are a number of brilliant fair trade projects operating in Indonesia, usually supplementing the income of subsistence farmers.  This lovely nativity set, made by Pekerti, is guaranteed to be a talking point in any home this Christmas, the bright hand- painted colours on these six wooden figures are inspired by the Dayak traditional dress.  Pekerti (Indonesian People's Folk-Art and Handicraft Foundation), is a social development agency formed in Jakarta, 1975. Its mandate is to supplement the incomes of subsistence farmers and rural people through the development and sale of traditional fair trade crafts and folks art.  Pekerti trains and gives assistance to the producers to market domestically. They also give services in marketing, especially in export marketing, which cannot be done by the producers themselves. Pekerti also gives the producers an advanced payment for the producers and also a credit scheme for investment.

                     

Our range of musical instruments is also produced in Indonesia by local artists, communities and craftsmen. Producers represent the five main religions and both male and female craftsmen are employed through the various stages of the production process. This helps to further maintain a social balance in these areas. Producers are allowed to dictate prices and these prices are above local averages.   In return they supply high quality products and there is an attention to detail that surpasses products made under factory or other mass-production conditions. This rewards the high quality craftsmen and encourages other importers to work with the high quality artists above other producers. 

 Child labour is not used but the part-time training of older youths is encouraged. These trainees remain in education and they receive a full wage for the time that they spend working. This will ensure that they have a career to follow upon leaving school (if they choose to do so) and will help to sustain the community for successive generations.  All raw materials are sustainable and legal. No poached or endangered woods are used. No toxic or harmful materials are to be used in the production process and any waste created must be disposed of in an ecologically sound manner.