Fair Trade Fashion and Design

This project is one of design, marketing, and organizational innovation.  It started with extensive market research in the San Francisco Bay Area’s and Santiago’s boutique marketplaces.  I am now implementing an open and inclusive design workshop model with Mapuche weavers, women, from about 22 rural communities in the Araucania region of Chile through the Chol Chol Foundation.  Through drawings and prototyping that will incorporate both the women’s creative input as well as current market demands, we are innovating a contemporary fashion and home product line.  All to be completely hand crafted with 100% natural and sustainable materials using indigenous techniques.

This, paired with market outreach of both our traditional and new lines of products in Santiago and the Bay Area, will hopefully help our fair trade designs succeed as an elegant contemporary fashion brand instead of being confined to the fair-trade-aware market. Contrary to the typical fashion brand model, however, all the proceeds of this venture would go directly to the artisan communities making the products – improving quality of life in the most financially depressed region of Chile while protecting indigenous crafts and community.

Mapuche women dying hand-spun wool in their home with dyes made from local plants.