Handmade by Friendship Bridge® Accepted into the Fair Trade Federation

LAKEWOOD, COLO.: Handmade by Friendship Bridge®, a local nonprofit program that creates economic opportunities for impoverished artisan women in Guatemala, is now verified by the Fair Trade Federation. 

From a small store built within the nonprofit’s Lakewood office, customers can purchase gift items including scarves, handbags, beaded jewelry, and home decor items. Sale of the products, whether in-store or online, help rural Guatemalan women overcome poverty and thrive in their home country, so they don’t have to make the difficult and dangerous decision to migrate.

The Fair Trade Federation certification was awarded after an extensive application process, in which Handmade by Friendship Bridge® had to demonstrate their commitment to and practice of Fair Trade Federation principles, including paying fairly, respecting cultural identity of the items’ creators, supporting safe and empowering working conditions, and cultivating new market opportunities.

In the past year, Handmade by Friendship Bridge® has been especially focused on cultivating new market opportunities for its economically and socially marginalized clients through in-depth business training courses. 

“Due to poverty, many Handmade by Friendship Bridge® clients had to drop out of school at an early age to work and help support their families. While this means they became highly skilled at weaving, sewing, beading, and the creation of other handicrafts, without education, they often lack the knowledge for how to operate successful businesses,” explained Sussan Hrozek, Senior Coordinator of Handmade by Friendship Bridge. “This can be a hindrance to artisans when it comes to increasing product sales in an international market, which in turn could affect their ability to support their families well.”

To combat this, Handmade by Friendship Bridge® staff in Guatemala works closely with the artisans to identify areas in which they are most in need of professional development, including financial planning, meeting production deadlines, and uniform measurements and sizing.

Hrozek said that the certification will mean more international sales opportunities for Guatemalan artisans. “While we have always been committed to our Guatemala artisans receiving fair pay, more economic opportunities, and business training, being a member of the Fair Trade Federation would give confidence to a greater number of buyers, which will in turn create more economic opportunities for impoverished Guatemalan artisans.”

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The Fair Trade Federation is a trade association of fair trade enterprises fully committed to equitable and sustainable trading partnerships. We strengthen and support our members in order to grow the global movement of trade that values the health of the planet, and the labor, dignity, and equality of all people. Learn more at fairtradefederation.org.

About Handmade by Friendship Bridge®: 

Handmade by Friendship Bridge® is a program of the nonprofit social enterprise Friendship Bridge with a global network of supporters. It provides economic opportunities for low income artisans in Guatemala to reach larger markets in which they can sell their handmade products. Learn more at www.friendshipbridge.org, click “Shop.”