Crafty Dreams

Discussions about sustainability of crafts always feature "bridging the gap between maker and the market" as one solution. It means a harmonious relationship and close association between the artisans and market representatives - designers, craft entrepreneurs and marketing groups, where both sides comprehend each other's world. But it needs to be ensured that such associations will be fair to the artisans in social,economic and cultural aspects.
'Transparency' is a major factor in ensuring a fair deal for the artisans. They have the right to know the market price of their product and how it will be packaged and displayed. It would also help to educate them on the additional effort for packaging, marketing and transporting their work to the urban market. At the other end of the spectrum, the consumers have the right to know if the product was made in fair conditions and the whether the artist received a fair reward.
Enforcing such guidelines is a huge task. Agencies such as the Fair Trade Federation and Ten Thousand Villages will go a long way in making this a reality. These organizations provide detailed principles for fair trade and certify organizations that continuously adhere to these principles. However, none of these efforts will bear fruit unless each of us make informed decisions about our purchase and encourage 'fair trade' products. Let there be a tomorrow when 'fair trade' labels are the norm, not the highlight.