Celebrating International Women’s Day, The Big Issue Shop has brought together a range of female-led brands that are also making a social impact in Hackney, India, Bangladesh, Swaziand and beyond. Why not treat yourself, a friend or family – knowing you are also making a difference.
From vibrant, handmade jewellery by Quazi and Daughters of the Ganges, to children’s toys and scented candles by From Babies With Love and Best Years. Or perhaps you are on the look out for Damsel & Daughter‘s beautiful handmade leather purses?
- Damsel & Daughter are a socially conscious craft label that design and create in Hackney, London. Proceeds go to providing feminine care for disadvantaged women.
- Daughters of the Ganges is a socially conscious brand bringing you handcrafted and ethically created fair trade products from India. They work with female artisans and give all their artisans the opportunity to earn fair wages, lead dignified lives and have financial independence. It is their belief that investing in the development of women would result in gender equality, eradication of poverty, women empowerment and most importantly the development of communities in general.
- Pebble toys are hand made by a fair trade cooperative which creates fairly paid and flexible jobs in rural Bangladesh. Providing flexible jobs in the villages means the women do not have to leave their kids and parents to move in to the sweatshops of Dhaka to find work.
- Based in Swaziland, all of Quazi’s products are hand made by female artisans who earn a living wage. Quazi believe that craftsmanship and ethical production could prove to be a vital economic sector for Africa. We want to change the perception of recycled materials by developing innovative techniques combined with locally sourced environmentally friendly or recycled materials.
- From Babies with Love make sure that every penny of profit from their unique, ethically sourced designs go to support abandoned children around the world. From Babies with Love want to make a difference. And with every order that you place, you are too.
- Street Art supports talented, marginalised individuals by providing an outlet for creative expression. At least half of the profit from each sales goes to the artist.