Add color and beauty to your dinner table with this naturally dyed Tablecloth. This tablecloth is hand-made in India using an ancient old technique called "block printing" with natural dyes of Indigo, Pomegranate, Palm Sugar and other minerals.
Hand block printing is practiced in over 20 regions in India. The process involves great creativity and skill. The first stage involves a block maker who carves intricate designs by hand onto teak wood. Once the block design has been completed, a master crafts person dips the block into a tray of dye and then presses firmly with skilled precision onto stretched fabric. Prints are layered over prints to create the detailed, colorful piece.
These tablecloths are 100% cotton and are machine washable under 65 degrees. It is recommended to wash separately for the first 3 washes and use a delicate detergent to maintain colors. Fits a rectangle table.
Country of Origin: India
DIMENSIONS: 60" x 90 THIS TABLECLOTH IS ORANGE WITH GREEN BORDERS
PLEASE MAKE NOTE OF MEASUREMENTS. E-MAIL OR CALL US IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT SIZE OR CONDITION.
THIS PRODUCT WAS CREATED BY:
THE DASTKAR RANTHAMBHORE PROJECT.
In 1989 the Dastkar Ranthambhore Project was founded to help with the displacement of villages in the creation of a national tiger reserve. Dastakar currently works with over 75 craft groups, making high quality hand-made textiles, as well as other handicraft items.
Currently this project is completely self-sustaining through the sales of their crafts. They no longer receive any funding and their sales are stable. It provides income and employment to women in communities that were equally isolated and threatened. Today, 360 women from 4 villages are part of the Dastkar Project, doing quilting, patchwork, block printing, bandini and sequin embroidery - all based on traditional local skills that had been nearly abandoned.
This organization helps to organize a self help group that provides women with micro-loans. This micro-loan program is unique in that the women loan money to each other, successfully acting as their own bank. Money is paid back within 6 months but each month they pay an interest rate. New groups that are receiving loans can borrow up to 5,000 RPS ($111) and older groups can receive up to 10,000 RPS ($222). First time loans are given for health reasons. The women started this banking system to meet group needs.
Twelve years ago a young woman burnt herself to death in Sherpur Village where the Dastkar Ranthambhore Project resides. The reason why Dhapu killed herself was because of economics. Her newly widowed sister-in-law and 3 children were coming to live with her, and the family had no mans in which to support and sustain them. Barely able to put together a dowry for her own 12 year old daughter Indira, how could she provide for three other children - all girls too?
Today, Indira and her cousin Pinky are happily married and the widowed sister-in-law and her daughters are working - and earning- through the Dastkar Ranthambhore Project that brought them new hope to women in the dry villages surrounding the Ranthambhore Park.
WHAT IS FAIR TRADE?
Fair Trade means an equitable and fair partnership between global marketers and producers in Asia, Africa, Latin America and other parts of the world. A fair trade partnership works to provide low-income artisans and farmers with a living wage for their work.
WHO BENEFITS FROM FAIR TRADE?
The Fair Trade system benefits over 800,000 farmers organized into cooperatives and unions in 48 countries. Fair Trade has helped farmers provide for their families' basic needs and invest in community development. However, these farmers are still selling most of their crop outside of the Fair Trade system because not enough companies are buying at Fair Trade prices.
FAIR TRADE CRITERIA:
1. Paying a fair wage in the local context
2. Offering employees opportunities for advancement
3. Engaging in environmentally sustainable practices
4. Being open to public accountability
5. Building long-term trade relationships
6. Providing healthy and safe working conditions in the local context
7. Providing financial and technical assistance to producers whenever possible
8. Ensuring that there is no abuse of child labor
