Why FAIR TRADE

What is buying fair-trade? Fair-trade is a system of trade based on a direct relationship and partnership between buyers and producing community. It is a social movement and approach that helps producers in developing countries and promotes sustainability. Fair Trade makes sure that artisans receive a fair price for their products, have direct involvement in the marketplace, and uphold environmental and labor rights standards. This system builds real and last relationships between producers in developing countries and businesses and consumer.

Fair trade is based on dialogue, transparency and respect in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, producers and workers. So the next time you are selecting a product produced overseas take a moment to think about how its made, who its made by, and what kind of impact its making on the environment.

Creating opportunities for disadvantaged producers
Fair trade is an effective strategy for poverty alleviation and sustainable development. Its purpose is to create opportunities for artisans who have been economically disadvantaged or marginalized by the conventional trading system.

Transparency and accountability
Fair trade involves transparent management and commercial relations to deal fairly and respectfully with partners.

Environment
Fair trade actively encourages better environmental practices and the application of responsible and sustainable methods of production.

Capacity building
Fair trade is a means to develop producers’ independence. Fair trade relationships provide continuity, during which producers and their marketing organizations can improve their management skills and their access to new markets.

Payment of a fair price
A fair price in the regional or local context is one that has been agreed through dialogue and participation. It covers not only the costs of production but enables production which is socially just and environmentally sound. It provides fair pay to the producers and takes into account the principle of equal pay for equal work by women and men. Fair traders ensure prompt payment to their partners.

Gender equity
Fair trade means that women’s work is properly valued and rewarded. Women are always paid for their contribution to the production process and are empowered in their organizations.

Working conditions
Fair trade means a safe and healthy working environment for producer

Decorating with Rugs

What is it about rugs that seems so much more personal than selecting other elements for a room? Perhaps it is their singularity, the variations in pattern and color. Maybe it’s the sense of permanence. Rugs are a piece of art and we owe it to ourselves to put something down and feel good about it. Here are some simple pointers on color, pattern, size, and placement.

1. Let the rug lead the room. Its always best to start with the rug, if possible, since it’s the largest focus of the room.

2. When it comes to patterns, diversity rules. If patterns are too similar they compete for your attention and cause confusion. Consider a geometric rug in a room of delicate florals. Or choose similar patterns but vary the scale.

3. Mix textures for visual interest and practicality. A mixture keeps things interesting so the room doesn’t look or feel like a museum. Choose materials wisely.

4. Don’t struggle to fit a rug into a precise color scheme. Using a rug that complements fabrics is always better than trying to match colors exactly. You have to know when to stop decorating and simply allow the room to come together naturally.

5. Consider the room size. Volume eats color and pattern. In a large room, the rug often disappears if its not big enough. Conversely, a vibrant rug can overpower and dominate a small space.

6. Big rooms don’t always mean big rugs. It’s important to mix things up, given that today’s homes have multiple big rooms with multiple functions. Sometimes itss best to use multiple rugs to define separate areas.

7. Think about your furniture placement. We normally suggest that at least the front legs of a sofa or large chairs to be on the rug. As for casegoods, all on or all off. In a dining room, the rug should hold the table and chairs for normal dining (without the extra leaves in the table).

8. Leave a border. In a small room its best to leave a border of the floor exposed- around 6-8 inches. It makes the room feel more spacious. If the room is large, you can leave 12-18 inches.

9. Get creative and go for the layered look. Try putting a fine Tibetan rug atop a less expensive sisal- that way you can use your rug budget for the size you can afford.

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Our outdoor carpets are constructed of the finest UV stabilized fibers and are mold and mildew resistant.

How To Select The Right Area Rug

Area rugs can make such a beautiful contribution to any room and they are often the first thing that catches the eye as you walk into the room. In view of that, doesn't it make sense to select the right area rug for each room of your home?
Of course, area rugs come in almost every size, shape and color combination imaginable, but a lot will depend on what the intended use is for the rug and the budget that you have to work with. Hand made rugs are considered to be of high quality and able to stand up to constant use and heavy wear.
In fact, for most people hand made rugs can be the best solution all around as they offer solid and durable construction and wide choice of styles and patterns at affordable prices. If the rug will be used in a room that is not decorated with fine furniture and accessories, why spend the money for the most expensive rug to put on the floor? On the other hand, if your room is filled with very high quality furnishings, why would you want to put down an area rug that does not fit with it's surroundings?
Hand made area rugs are still considered the best available area rug product and they possess a look and feel that is superior to all machine made rugs. You will find that our handmade rugs use the highest quality Tibetan wool for construction simply because it lasts much longer and stand up to heavier amounts of traffic than most other fibers. Tibetan wool also gets softer the more you walk on it. So pay attention to the material used to make the rug.
The weaving process of a hand made rug can be important too as the more densely the knots are placed together the higher quality of the rug. This is referred to as knots per square inch and our hand made rugs boast a weave density of 100 knots per square inch.
Of course, such high quality hand made area rugs can be expensive, but if used in the correct surroundings and treated as a piece of fine furniture that is cared for properly, they will last for many years and look incredibly beautiful while doing so.
So when you choose an area rug, first determine where it will go and try to match the decor of that room as much as possible, then choose the level of quality that will match your budget, and you will be able to make a wise choice.