For me, sourcing global textiles is about more than collecting beautiful fabric - it is a way to support communities. It is often difficult to find the true origin of a textile, how it was made and by who. I do my best to research the legitimacy of the vendors I work with.
The new African Print Collection is made from 100% cotton fabric with gorgeous African designs. I purchased the fabric from RE:LINK, an e-commerce platform where you can source authentic African products and connect to African owned businesses.
The stars aligned in my search for fair trade textiles because the first shop I discovered was the amazing Colores Del Pueblo. By purchasing this fabric we are supporting the weavers through fair wages and the continuation of cultural traditions.
When I first started making tote bags I lived just a few blocks away from a local discount fabric store. I would often lose hours browsing and examining all of the fabric and materials. Through trial and error, I learned which fabric was most suitable for my tote bags.
I was ready to get started working on my business but I needed help. One day I overheard someone talking about on organization called Black and Brown Founders. Their motto is to start with the resources that you naturally have and bootstrap.
For the past few years I have been selling my hand-made tote bags on Etsy. Working a full-time job, combined with other responsibilities, meant that I was not able to prioritize my shop. This year I decided to channel my efforts into my business.
