Madagascar Crafters Learn the Tricks of Trade

A working loom and alluring color are fundamental to weaving a beautiful cloth or basket.

In Madagascar, a large island off the coast of southern Africa, crafters travel to workshops in the capital city of Antananarivo to coax one-of-a-kind products from well-aged looms. Intricately patterned shoulder bags, baskets of every shape and size, and picture-perfect handbags are among the creations readied for market here.

These are works of art. Each paints a picture of a culture, the rich tradition of a people.

Yet when the work is done, these artisans, most of them women, have few opportunities to market their handiwork outside of their communities.

Through a partnership supported by the CRS Fair Trade Fund, CRS’ Work of Human Hands program gives artisans like these an opportunity to learn how to reap the benefits of what they sew. In August, two dozen eager embroiderers and weavers received five days of training that put them on the path to improving their products and earning income from their many hours of meticulous work.

“It was exciting to watch the basket makers look at a design concept, understand the basket structure and begin to create their own version of the concept,” says Kerry Evans, a trainer with A Greater Gift, CRS' partner in the Work of Human Hands program. Kerry traveled across two continents to help inspire the groups with new concepts.

“They kept saying that they couldn’t believe that I had come so far to help them,” she says, adding, “After our trend and color workshops, they were able to look at products in a different light.”

Learning to Reap What They Sew
In the tightly huddled classroom atmosphere, the textile workers were taught a range of product development skills, including new weaving techniques and pattern design. When she noticed that the crafters lacked knowledge on designing patterns, Kerry created a guide book that illustrated weaving patterns. “It opened a whole new window of possibilities,” says Kerry. “We spent a lot of time on how to use and read this pattern book, which they referred to as their ‘bible.’ ”

The training also took them to a large gallery in the capital to conduct market research on popular color schemes, pricing and marketing, giving the artisans a more global perspective. “I had to marvel at the eagerness of each group to learn about not only the market and color trends, but also the business aspect and fair trade,” says Kerry.

One of the poorest countries in the world, Madagascar’s annual per capita income is the equivalent of only $240. Some of the crafters are the poorest of the poor, according to CRS staff here. One of the goals of CRS Fair Trade programming is to foster direct marketing among small craft vendors and farmers in underserved countries.

Though the artisans seemed shy at the start of the workshops, Kerry says, they ended the week enthusiastic. Kerry described them as “so thankful for CRS and A Greater Gift for giving them this opportunity to make a better life for themselves and their families.”

A Greater Gift is a program of SERRV International, which received a grant from the CRS Fair Trade Fund through Work of Human Hands. The CRS Fair Trade Fund is made possible by the sale of fair trade products, including chocolate, coffee and crafts.

Now is the time to shop for your holiday gifts through Work of Human Hands (http://www.crsfairtrade.org/work_of_human_hands/index.htm).

You can also make a direct, secure online donation to the CRS Fair Trade Fund (http://www.crsfairtrade.org/fair_trade/donate.htm)