TAMMACHAT Natural Textiles

Women activists defend their communities against gold mine pollution

In its early days, TAMMACHAT Natural Textiles worked with a village group of women weavers in Loei province in Thailand -- Kokkabok Group of Housewives Spinning Local Cotton. Women in a neighbouring village have since been charged for holding a silent, peaceful protest against a gold mining company that was found guilty of contaminating local water sources. This affects all villagers in the area. We are deeply saddened by events yet hope for a good outcome.

Read the July 24, 2017 news release from Fortify Rights.

"Fortify Rights works to prevent and remedy human rights violations. We investigate and document abuses, provide customized technical support to human rights defenders, and press for solutions. We are a non-profit human rights organization based in Southeast Asia and registered in Switzerland and the United States."

Watch a video on Facebook about these women made by Fortify Rights.

Read the July 25, 2017 update from Prachatai English. The women activists face a preliminary hearing on Aug. 11, 2017.

Read Paolo Gianturco's story and interviews in GRANDMOTHER POWER: A Global Phenonmenon. Scroll up in the first link for the start of the section on Environment - Thailand to learn more about how this gold mine has also affected weavers in a neighbouring village. Paola writes on her website:

"The 43 members of the Kokkabok Group of Housewives Spinning Local Cotton, all grandmothers, are determined to stop the gold mining that has poisoned the air, water and earth, and made people sick on the other side of the mountain where they live in Northeastern Thailand. Committed to helping neighboring weavers, they designate a portion of their own income to them, then go to Bangkok to express their concerns to national officials. Local weaver grandmothers tell the whole story in GRANDMOTHER POWER."

Read TAMMACHAT's original post about GRANDMOTHER POWER.

Join us at VIDEA's Fair Trade Fair in Victoria, BC!

Join TAMMACHAT Natural Textiles as we present our naturally dyed, fairly traded handwoven textiles again at the VIDEA Fair Trade Fair in Victoria, BC. You'll find a variety of pieces perfect for gift giving or for yourself. This year we'll feature organic silk SCARVES handcrafted by women artisans in rural Thailand. And you'll find other textile treasures too.

VIDEA's FAIR TRADE FAIR
Saturday, November 26, 2016
10am-4pm
First Metropolitan Church Hall
932 Balmoral Street
Victoria, BC Canada
www.videa.ca

Introducing TAMMACHAT Natural Textiles

TAMMACHAT is a social enterprise (established in 2007) that believes in fair trade -- not charity -- as a model for supporting both artisans in the developing world and consumers who want to shop ethically. Concern for people and the planet before profits drives TAMMACHAT's work. Our fair trade relationships are based on long-term commitment to women's artisan groups, advance payments, fair prices (set by the artisans), and mutual respect and learning.

TAMMACHAT's fairly traded textiles from Thailand and Laos are hand-loomed or hand-stitched, and are -- for the most part -- coloured with sustainably created, beautiful natural dyes. They are made by women farmers, who mostly grow rice, the staple food in this region. The work of creating and dyeing yarns, then weaving them into fabrics for unique products provides additional important income to rural families, and helps sustain communities and traditions.

For more about the women's weaving groups that create these special textiles, visit our Artisans page. And browse through our blog for stories from our annual trips where we have worked for years directly with these artisan groups.

TAMMACHAT joins Fair Trade Fair in Victoria, BC!

We've recently relocated to Victoria, BC, where we're happy to find a great interest in ethical consumption.

Join TAMMACHAT Natural Textiles as we present our handwoven, naturally dyed, fairly traded Thai and Lao textiles for the first time in Victoria. You'll find a variety of pieces perfect for gift giving or for yourself:

cotton & organic silk SCARVES
~ knitting & shoulder BAGS ~ hand-stitched CUSHION COVERS ~ & more

VIDEA's FAIR TRADE FAIR
Saturday, November 28, 2015
10am-4pm
First Metropolitan Church Hall
932 Balmoral Street
Victoria, BC Canada
www.videa.ca

Introducing TAMMACHAT Natural Textiles:

TAMMACHAT's fairly traded textiles from Thailand and Laos are hand-loomed or hand-stitched, and -- for the most part -- are coloured with sustainably created, beautiful natural dyes. They are made by women farmers, who mostly grow rice, the staple food in this region. The work of creating and dyeing yarns, then weaving them into fabrics for unique products provides important income to rural families, and helps sustain communities and traditions.

At the Fair Trade Fair:

Here's a sampling of the handwoven, naturally dyed textiles we'll be offering, along with photos of a couple of our artisan partners in Thailand and Laos. For more about the women's weaving groups that create these special textiles, visit our Artisans page. And browse through our blog for stories from our annual trips where we work directly with these artisans groups.