BATIK COTTON SCARF - RED

Batik Cotton Scarf - Red

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: INDIA

These beautiful stoles are made with great quality, soft-to-the-touch cotton. The traditional art used here is “Batik”, where the fabric is treated with wax and then dipped into different colors. The size and style of the stole is perfect to go with any outfit.

The scarf is also available in Brown.

Color: Red
Composition: Cotton
Size: 71″ × 21″

THIS FAIR TRADE PRODUCT IS CRAFTED BY BATIK ARTS:

Our Batik products are made by a cooperative of artisans belonging to an organization called IFFAD, based in Chennai, India. This is a non-profit organization that believes in equality and the development of rural and marginalized artisans through the production and marketing of handmade crafts.

Scarves and other products are made using ‘batik’, a traditional art used to create patterns on fabric using wax and free-hand drawing. The fabric is then dyed and the wax washed off with hot water. Approximately 500 artisans are working on the same craft across several villages. 80% – 90% of the artisans are marginalized women who work hard to earn a living for themselves and their families. Besides the problem of poverty, they also face illiteracy and lack of education, making it hard to market their products efficiently. This makes them depend on middlemen who often take advantage of them.

After they started working as a collective of artisans under IFFAD, who supports fair trade, the artisans were not only getting a fair salary but were also given paid incentives once a year. In addition, the organization also has the support of the E.P.F (Employment Provident Fund) for all the regular staff, which gives them retirement benefits. They also provide scholarships for the children of the artisans through external funding. Handmade Expressions is glad to be supporting IFFAD and the batik artisans, since we are not only supporting the development of marginalized women but also fostering creativity. Our beautiful and detailed batik products are a testament of the artisans’ talent.