The Vimala Welfare Centre provides desperately needed employment for many women who would otherwise be living on or below the poverty line. Kerala Crafts is an organisation whose primary purpose is to delivery social change and is using a fair trade business as a means to that end. Kerala Crafts is both an importer and a retailer, registered with BAFTS. It is run by volunteers, and gives a unique UK market for quality hand-made items, thus ensuring regular work and a future for the disadvantaged women workers.

The producers’ centre is run by women for women. All are treated equally, with no caste division and no child labour is permitted. The women are paid on a daily basis and enjoy regulated hours with generous breaks, safe, clean working conditions and a happy environment. Many of the women have families, although some of the workers are widows and thus the breadwinners. The centre also provides food, shelter, training, support and encouragement, and we feel more than satisfied that these items of great beauty are not produced in the ugly conditions so often associated with India. By annual visits to the centre, we can guarantee the good working conditions, and have a working relationship built on mutual trust and respect. 

As Kerala Crafts is a fair trade project, it ensures that the women receive a wage which reflects the true cost of production. This in turn, boosts the local community and economy. Women are taught skills tailored to their ability. Each skill is a valuable part of the final product and as such, each member is valued. 

The bags are designed by one very gifted lady, though she is keen however, to ensure that the women workers develop their own creativity. This involves researching new designs for the UK market and sometimes changing or adapting certain features. Some bags, made from palm fibre, are still worked on a traditional handloom. The women feel a sense of pride and confidence in the work they do, and always enjoy to hear feedback on their workmanship.

From preparing and dyeing, to weaving and stitching, the whole production takes place at the welfare centre. The Sunflower bag, for example, takes 2 days to create, after preparation of the fibre. A large dyeing vat takes the prepared banana fibre, using dyes not tested on animals, and then the fibre is left to dry outside in the sun, before being made into a bag.