Our first rice bag purses were almost entirely from donated materials and gave opportunity to show our students how even overlooked textiles in their homes can be a part of the design process.Â
Summer Napkin Sale
Picnics. BBQs. Lazy breakfasts. It’s summer! And we want you to enjoy it sustainably. While prices are going up almost everywhere, we’re discounting our current napkin styles so you can get a deal this summer AND save money on paper napkin costs. All napkin sets are $4.00 off – no coupon code needed. The only …
Hey! Did You Hear about Organic Cotton?
Recently we’ve received several large shipments of organic cotton fabrics. If you’ve followed our brand for awhile, you know sustainability is part of what we’re all about. We use reclaimed and remnant upholstery fabrics for our bags and design around what is on hand. That’s why our double-zippered Ramble Mini Carpet Bags are smallish. We …
Winter 2021 Collections: Stockings and Purses and Ornaments
Production class has been in full swing this fall! Fatima, Mahvash and Fairbe are all still sewing with us, and we’ve been focused on expanding and refining job skills. This includes learning sewing related vocabulary, fabric pattern names (like polka dot and stripe), and reviewing colors. We’ve also had two new seamstresses join our Tuesday …
Holiday Reads – 2020 Book Roundup
Looking for books on refugee and immigration to read over the holiday break? Yes, that’s a narrow niche, we know. But even if refugee policy isn’t what you think about day and night (like us), these books are great ways to deepen your understanding, especially important in a time of misinformation and fake news. We’ve …
July Program & Production Update
We’re back at the drawing board – again – and are looking for ways to innovate. Can we host a micro-school on production days? How do we make in-person sewing time safe for all? Will the facility we meet at still be able to offer childcare for the babies & toddlers? Can we do sewing sessions over Zoom? So many questions, and we’re currently drowning in the details!
Whatsapp and Klutz kits: April Coronavirus Update
“The World Turned Upside Down” was the name of the tune the British band played as Cornwallis surrendered to George Washington, thus effectively ending the revolutionary war. The politics of the world had been upended and things never returned to the previous status quo. Somehow, this fife and drum tune feels like a rather modern …
January Book Recommendations: Refugees & Immigration
Starting 2020 with a resolution to read more? You’re in good company! Lots of us make plans to add more reading to our schedule in the new year. Reading is so important. It helps us avoid the very narrow talking points that we find in the media, and instead learn to see important issues from …
About Persona Grata Goods: Mentors and Friends
Have you ever tried to learn a language without much help? I have. I worked hard on my Burmese vocabulary and pronunciation, practicing in front of the computer screen and thinking I sounded pretty good! Finally I was brave enough to put my new acquired language skills to work. I tried to say hello to …
Mothers Day Sales All Week
Just in time for Mother’s Day week! It’s our Flash Sale extravaganza. Every day, we’ll feature a different category of fair trade products on deep discount. May 9th Sale All head tie scarves are $3.00 off, even the African print sets. Remember, when you buy, you’re directly supporting our ESL + Sewing program with refugee …