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
Artisan & Maker Guild
Artisan is far from niche! The Nest Guild connects more than 1,500+ artisan businesses across over 100 countries with exciting growth opportunities.
Makers United
The craft-based cottage industry has potential to create new opportunities for makers currently operating outside the mainstream US economy.
Gee's Bend and the Gullah
Through our work with the Gee’s Bend Quilters and the Gullah basket weavers of South Carolina’s Lowcountry, Nest, in partnership with Etsy, is providing storied craft communities with the business support and technical know-how so that our country’s most talented artisans can thrive as entrepreneurs.
Artisan Accelerator
Nest’s intensive 360-degree integrated support puts artisan businesses on an expedited path to growth.
Nest Sourcing
Nest Sourcing is a radically transparent program designed to connect global handworkers to exciting market access opportunities across the retail landscape.
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