Celebrating Natural Nkuku

 

by Deborah Miarkowska

EcoChic Collection are delighted to be partners with Natural Nkuku who specialise in stylish, hand made, fair trade and eco-friendly journals, photograph albums, frames and homewares.

View our Natural Nkuku range HERE

Let us share the Nkuku Story…

 All of the gorgeous handmade Nkuku  products have been inspired by the traditional skills of artisans throughout Africa and India.

About Nkuku

 

Nkuku was founded by Alistair and  Alex Cooke, after a year travelling and working in Africa and India, meeting artisans, and witnessing their astounding skills but challenging living standards and restricted opportunities. Our objective became to promote and develop the traditional skills of these artisans and bring their work to the UK market through wholesale and retail channels. Whilst promoting fair trade and establishing a business that could provide a lifestyle change for our family and an income for ourselves. Nkuku is socially responsible and is built on the principles of fair trade and equal opportunity.

Nkuku supporting Fair Trade

Nkuku supports fair trade and local community initiatives.

In brief, this means that all of the Nkuku suppliers are paid a decent wage for their work; working conditions are safe and a good standard; no children are exploited. All our products are skilfully created in a positive and pleasant environment. 

Nkuku ensure compliance with this code of conduct by making regular visits to their suppliers and also maintain a close and personal relationship with the artisans themselves, and know that they are very proud of their work and their workforce. Please find a list of our practices and methods of ensuring we meet our fair trade requirements below.

WFTO World Fair Trade Organisation (IFAT)

Nkuku is now a fully fledged member of the WFTO.

Membership of the WFTO is limited to organizations that demonstrate a 100% Fair Trade commitment and apply its 10 Principles of Fair Trade. WFTO members who are monitored against these Principles are listed in the FT100 index of world-leading Fair Trade brands, businesses and organisations. Not just the pioneers of the movement but the innovators of the market.

The World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) is the global representative body of over 350 organisations committed to 100% Fair Trade. The WFTO is the authentic voice of Fair Trade and a guardian of Fair Trade values.

The WFTO operates in 70 countries across 5 regions; Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North American and the Pacific Rim, with elected global and regional boards, to create market access through policy, advocacy, campaigning, marketing and monitoring. It is the only global network whose members represent the Fair Trade chain from production to sale.

WFTO members are organisations differentiated by their 100% Fair Trade commitment to eradicate poverty through sustainable economic development; pioneering social and environmental policy and practice and continual reinvestment in marginalised artisans, farmers and producer communities in some of the most fragile places on earth.

BAFTS

Nkuku is registered by BAFTS (The British Association for Fair Trade Shops) as a fair trade importer. www.bafts.org.uk.

Environment

Nkuku are an environmentally aware company. They endeavour to create products using recycled and natural materials through a hand made process. We consider the environment in everything we do and it has a large impact on the products that we sell. This being said we are under no illusions and are aware that to truly help the environment it is better to reuse things, not waste things and not buy gifts that you don’t really need! Not very good for business! On the positive side, if you are buying a gift then at the very least Nkuku offers a product that has considered the environment. We hope that the items you do purchase will be kept for a lifetime, perhaps storing priceless memories in one of our albums and passing them on to the next generation.

Recycled Materials

Nkuku work with a number of recycled materials:

Cotton Paper

Our photograph albums and journals are handmade from cotton paper. Created from pieces of recycled cotton, this ancient paper making skill has been passed on from generation to generation. The cotton is not grown specifically for papermaking; instead, we collect the cotton left over from the clothing industry. It would otherwise go to waste. The paper is perfect for photograph albums and journals and it is great to think that each sheet has been made by hand.

Wool

Our wool throws are hand made from recycled wool and finished with a soft felt border. The discarded wool garments are collected and all the buttons, zips and poppers removed; leaving only the wool. This wool is then sorted into colours and these colour groups are then ground into a very thin fibre; this fibre is then turned into new wool yarn creating stylish new products to use again and again.

Saris

We use recycled traditional heavy saris; some up to 25 years old to make our heavy sari range. The sari’s come in assortment of rich colours made from luxurious silk threads. This ensures that each album and journal is always unique.

Frames

Our photo frames are, where possible made from natural and recycled materials. Many of our frames are made from recycled aluminium and other light metals, the bone we use is a by product; the natural materials we use are taken through the correct channels and hold all the appropriate certifications; our Sheesham wood is taken from sustainable forests; if paints are used we ensure these meet with EU standards and contain no harmful ingredients.

 Please join us in celebrating the work of Nkuku and view their product ranges HERE.

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