Tribal Textiles employs local artisans to uplift rural Zambian community

On the edge of the beautiful South Luangwa National Park in Zambia, social enterprise  Tribal Textiles  has made significant strides in uplifting a small rural community with eco-friendly and ethically crafted textiles. The company, which is now in its 30th year, is one of the biggest employers in the remote area and follows a corporate social responsibility strategy that provides sustainable employment and reinvests a percentage of the profits back into local community and conservation initiatives. Developed for minimal environmental impact from sourcing to production, Tribal Textiles’ home decor pieces are handmade at their workshop in  Zambia  and shipped around the world with a portion of shipping costs donated to supporting children at the local Hanada orphanage.  With 86 local Zambians currently employed, Tribal Textiles offers a wide variety of handmade home decor pieces and accessories from pillowcases and tablecloths to face masks and aprons. All products use locally sourced and sustainable materials with  waste repurposed  wherever possible. The hand-painted textiles are inspired by Africa’s vibrant heritage and culture and combine traditional Batik techniques with contemporary compositions and bold colors.  According to the company, all employees receive a fair monthly wage with annual paid leave, sick pay, bereavement pay, a housing and travel allowance as well as other benefits such as daily breakfasts and lunches and access to free HIV screenings. By providing sustainable and stable employment in a job-scarce area, Tribal Textiles is also able to help reduce the rates of poaching and  deforestation  in the wildlife-rich region. Related: Orkidstudio’s 10 Handpicked UK Students Build a Zambian Community Center in Just Seven Weeks Five percent of every Tribal Textiles purchase is reinvested into local community and  conservation  initiatives, including Conservation South Luangwa, Zambian Carnivore Programme, BirdWatch Zambia, and Bio Carbon Partners as well as the Malimba School, Hanada Orphanage & Chipembele Education Trust and the Luangwa Artisan Collective. The local artisans have also helped supply the community with approximately 35,000 hand-sewn face masks.  + Tribal Textiles Images via Tribal Textiles

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Tribal Textiles employs local artisans to uplift rural Zambian community

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