Social Impact

 Mehera Shaw Team

Fair Trade Standards

We measure our social impact through direct and indirect benefits for artisan producers and the long-term benefits to producers through the supply chain. 

We are a fair trade, ethical manufacturer based in Jaipur, India and an artisanal lifestyle brand, based in Chapel Hill, NC, USA.  We are guaranteed members of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO number 1047).  All of our products are made in-house using fair labor standards:

• no discrimination
• no forced labor
• payment of a living wage, all staff are full-time salaried employees
• on-time payments to staff and suppliers
• clean and safe working conditions
• no excessive working hours
• no forced overtime
• no child labor 
• pension funds for all staff
• working in a supportive, transparent way throughout the supply chain.

For more information, please see the WFTO 10 standards of fair trade we adhere to outlined below and on the WFTO WEBSITE.

 

Artisan Producer Benefits

• all artisans are hired as full-time, permanent employees
• living wages paid on time to each and every person on our staff
• staff bonuses paid 3 times annually (1/3 monthly salary)
• full medical care benefits to all our full-time employees and their family members through a Government of India incentive program
• emergency loans for education, illness, and family concerns to all staff members. 
• Government of India supported pension funds for all staff 
• paid holiday leaves
• clean drinking water, chai, and lunch breaks
• overtime pay for voluntary overtime work
• non-discriminatory working conditions and right of expression, transparent work contracts, clear advocacy, and work policies
• safe, clean, well-ventilated working conditions
• ongoing skills training for all staff and support for ongoing learning, believing that learning through doing is equally as important as formal education. 

Long-term Impact

• Developing self-discipline and self-reliance.
• Being able to plan more effectively for one’s own and one’s family’s future.
• Having a secure, reliable source of income has proven benefits for the next generation including improved educational opportunities, safer living conditions, and healthier environments.
• Decrease in child marriage for the next generation.
• Decreases societal caste/class-based discrimination and provides greater opportunities for social and economic upward mobility.
• Builds teamwork and clear, open communication.
• Helps each individual feel valued and gain agency—both in the workplace and in their daily lives.

We believe fair trade's inherent message of equity is passed on to the next generation when people work together and see each other as human beings first.  This is a message that can create long-term positive change for humanity.  A culture of empathy and respect is key to the future of humanity; together we all benefit.  

Environmental Impact

• use of GOTS certified cotton whenever possible (approximately 95% of our work with cotton is with certified organic cotton)
• use of handloom textiles in support of decentralized production, India’s artisans, and minimizing our carbon footprint
• use of AZO free, low-impact dyestuff for solid dyeing and printing
• energy-efficient manufacturing whenever possible
• upcycling project using post-production scrap fabric

Social Impact Throughout the Supply Chain

• supporting artisans
• minimizing the supply chain length by removing middlemen and working directly with artisans and suppliers
• supporting decentralized production
• supporting heritage crafts and traditions, and cultural diversity
• providing long-term income security which supports long-term family sustainability and helps make the entire supply chain more sustainable

 For updates on our recent achievements please visit our Fair Trade Report.

The Significance of Fair Trade

"I have also been asked many times to comment on the statistical evidence that fair trade does some good: what 'proof' can we offer?  What 'success stories' and how many lives have been affected?  What I can say, is that though we are small, each person who works with us is affected in a positive way (myself included); each person, by having income stability, can plan for their children's future, for their families.  Gradually, people make different types of decisions based on job security and freedom of thought.  Their children stay in school, finish school and consequently gain more skills.  Our staff are able to afford more of the things in life which enhance their quality of life.  They have better, more secure lives within the structures of their world. We all work in a non-discriminatory environment that promotes respect and appreciation for all.  In this environment, we all learn from each other.  My life has been deeply enriched by learning more about their lives. I believe the same is true for our staff who have learned of other cultures, and other ways of thinking.  Our staff has learned about many other parts of the world and ideas through meetings and conversations with our customers, interns, and buyers. In our system, everyone gradually takes on more responsibility and becomes part of our team. We are greater as a whole than individually, but it is only by each person working for this ideal that we become so.

By making these daily connections between people, and by developing long-lasting relationships based on trust, everyone's life has been positively impacted.  

If we all saw each other as human beings first, fair trade would simply be the norm and, one small step at a time, the world would grow in understanding and human kindness. It is the only way to live and work." — Shari

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