A.M. Stein

A.M. Stein Art Imports is dedicated to giving art collectors and lovers of indigenous culture an opportunity to purchase unique and extraordinary works of art. The promotion of these works helps to keep alive the highly artistic and accomplished traditions of the Mayan people of Guatemala.

This hand woven blue challah cover with Star of David (15" x 20") is 100% cotton; dry-cleaning recommended.

These Judaica products are made by Mayan women working in cooperatives that are members of the Fair Trade Federation (FTF).

Products can be ordered directly from their website, www.amsteinart.com, or from retailers listed on the website.
Ada Mae Crouse, Owner A.M. Stein Imports 216 Douglas Street Salt Lake City, UT 84102, USA (801) 274-0318 info@amsteinart.com www.amsteinart.com

African Home

African Home offers a range of traditional African products ranging from home décor to functional home ware as well as gifts and accessories, based on the finest aesthetic and artistic traditional workmanship. Marketing these products while developing new products creates work for disadvantaged communities with high levels of unemployment. African Home maintains and practices a strong commitment to environmental awareness. Accordingly, all materials used in their products are consistent with, and promoting of, the sustainability of the natural resources of South Africa. For example, the wood they use is sourced from fallen trees within sustainable forests or driftwood. Many natural and local products are used, such as reeds, weeds, clay, paper and wire.

African Home is a member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO).

This Challah Cover is made of organza with embroidered pockets and beads (15.7 x 19.7 inches). Available also in white with silver. Made by a community project in Cape Town.

For wholesale orders, contact ilana@fairtradejudaica.org.
Claudette Davis +27(0)21-551-1052 +27(0)83-650-1985 claudette@africanhome.co.za www.africanhome.co.za/relijewi.htm

Global Goods Partners

Global Goods Partners is dedicated to alleviating poverty and promoting social justice by strengthening women-led development initiatives for marginalized communities in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. A nonprofit endeavor, Global Goods pursues this mission by partnering with organizations, associations, and cooperatives worldwide that integrate their commitment to community development - specifically, improvements in education, health, women’s rights, and employment opportunities - with socially responsible income-generating enterprises. Global Goods provides its partners with direct access to new markets in the United States, increasing both their revenue and global awareness of their work. Global Goods uses proceeds from product sales to provide technical assistance and grant support to its partners, assisting them in building stronger, more effective programs.

Global Goods is a member of the Fair Trade Federation (FTF) in the U.S.

The Challah Cover is 100% cotton, 19 1/2" x 15" in size, and adorned with a traditional South African printed border and center applique. Red bead work compliments the center design. The covers are made by made by disadvantaged and disabled people from neighboring townships around Cape Town through Community Creations, a project of Ikamva Labantu. Please contact GlobalGoodsPartners for pricing information.

Products can be ordered directly from their website. Individuals or groups interested in fair trade merchandise for fundraising efforts can contact them directly by telephone or e-mail.
115 W 30th Street Suite 400 New York, NY 10001 (212) 461-3647 info@globalgoodspartners.org www.globalgoodspartners.org

Mayan Hands

Mayan Hands is a small fair trade organization that has been working with Mayan weavers since 1989. They work with more than 275 women, organized in groups of 12 to 50 women, living in twelve different communities throughout Guatemala.

Mayan Hands' mission is to assist these women in their quest to raise themselves out of poverty. Working with fair trade, the women can count on a modest, and just as important, a regular income that enables their families to eat better, send their children to school, improve their homes and even save a little. Selling their handwoven textiles at a fair price, the women are gaining control over their lives. In addition to assisting the weavers with technical difficulties, design of new products, credit to buy equipment and raw materials, and simply providing work on a steady basis (our main focus), Mayan Hands purchases school supplies for all of the weavers' school-age children (almost 400).

Mayan Hands is a proud member of the Fair Trade Federation (FTF).

These challah covers are woven by talented Mayan weavers on the ancient backstrap loom (3,000 year old technology). The women weave-in the stars of David while weaving the background cloth. In the full-brocaded challah cover, the blue stars cover the entire cloth; in the smaller challah cover, two rows of brocaded stars are woven in at both ends. Both feature hand-knotted fringe.

Products can be purchased on-line at shop.mayanhands.org or by contacting Mayan Hands directly.
Mary Joan Ferrara-Marsland 9607 Dr. Perry Rd. Suite #114 Ijamsville, MD 21754 Phone:(301) 515-5911 Fax: (240) 436-6453 info@upavim-mayanhands.org www.mayanhands.org

Photos L to R: A. M. Stein, Mayan Hands, Global Goods Partners
Copyright © 2007 - 2010 Ilana Schatz and David Lingren. All rights reserved.