In partnership with public and private sector collaborators, including artisan business leaders themselves, Nest’s programs are bringing radical transparency, data-driven development, and fair market access to a fragmented industry, unlocking handwork’s unmet potential to improve our world.
Programs
Nest Guild & Connect
Artisan is far from niche! The Nest Guild connects more than 1,500+ artisan businesses across over 100 countries with exciting growth opportunities.
Nest Sourcing
Nest Sourcing is a radically transparent program designed to connect global handworkers to exciting market access opportunities across the retail landscape.
Summits & Convening
Each year, a select group of artisan leaders make the journey of a lifetime to New York City for industry immersion and leadership development.
Artisan Accelerator
Nest’s intensive 360-degree integrated support puts artisan businesses on an expedited path to growth.
Makers United
The craft-based cottage industry has potential to create new opportunities for makers currently operating outside the mainstream US economy.
Professional Fellowships & Employee Engagement
Nest’s network of professional fellows are bringing targeted, high-impact and scalable consulting to an ever-growing handworker population.
Nest and Madewell Hometown Heroes Collective
Together in 2019, Madewell and Nest launched the Hometown Heroes Collective. Since then, the program has featured more than 70 makers on Madewell’s online marketplace and has given them meaningful support to help them grow their businesses.
Did You Know?
While we often think of fashion and furniture being produced in factories, 20-60% of garment production alone is estimated to take place outside the four-walled factory, where it is mostly women who apply embellishments like beading and embroidery from home.
Statistic taken from Lucy Siegle's 2008 book, To Die For
Nearly nine out of 10 consumers are willing to take action to reward a brand for its authenticity (Cohn & Wolf). A study from YouGov and the Global Poverty Project revealed that 74% of consumers surveyed would pay an extra 5% for their clothes if there was a guarantee workers were being paid fairly and working in safe conditions.
Statistic taken from Lucy Siegle's 2008 book, To Die For
The World Bank estimates industry for global exports in handcrafted is estimated to be at least $34B in size and growing, with craft employment serving as the 2nd largest employer for women in emerging economies, after only agriculture.
Statistic taken from Lucy Siegle's 2008 book, To Die For
Data Driven
Nest’s data-driven capacity building programs map directly to the most pressing needs faced by today’s handworker economy. By combining grassroots support with macro-scale solutions, Nest is driving sustainable change on the global scale.
Our Data-Driven Approach