Two Artisan Guild Members Earn Nest Seal of Ethical Handcraft
Starfish Project and Jaipur Living are the latest businesses to receive the consumer-facing certification
Jaipur Living and Starfish Project are the latest businesses in Nest’s Ethical Handcraft program to earn our Seal of Ethical Handcraft, the hallmark of home-based ethical production which awards supply chain transparency and accountability. Both artisan businesses from the Nest Guild were assessed against the Nest’s Ethical Compliance Standards for Homes and Small Workshops and demonstrated a commitment to the Standards’ five core principles which protect the rights of handworkers across the globe. This achievement now allows access to the Nest Seal of Ethical Handcraft, a result of months of training, dedication and hard work alongside Nest.
“Our partnership with Nest and the Nest Seal that we recently earned, has allowed us to take on several new substantial sales partnerships which help to provide employment and training for over 60 women escaping exploitation,” says Jenny McGee, Founder & CEO of Starfish Project.
A member of Nest’s Artisan Accelerator’s 2019 cohort, Starfish Project helps exploited women and girls experience freedom, establish independence and develop careers through a craft-based employment program. Starfish empowers participants to continue their education and achieve their dreams, while earning a living producing fine, handcrafted jewelry under their label. All of the revenue from each purchase is reinvested into Starfish’s programming to reach and support more women as they work to achieve their important socially-minded mission.
Jaipur Living, a member of Nest’s Steering Committee, works with over 6,000 rug weavers, knotters and yarn spinners throughout Rajasthan, India, to produce fine rugs, pillows and home decor. In total, Jaipur Living works with more than 40,000 weavers across the country, providing their artisans with an opportunity to earn a sustainable living while reviving a dying age-old artform.
Jaipur Living has developed a unique technology-based system to optimize supply chain transparency and efficiencies. Field staff are recruited from among the artisan communities they work with and are equipped with a mobile-based app to track production, wages, and supply chain mapping. This innovative system improves efficiency and transparency throughout the production process.
“We are honored to be a part of the Nest Steering Committee and to have earned the Nest Seal of Ethical Handcraft. The work Nest is pioneering very much aligns with our own mission and values of supporting women artisans, protecting the art of hand knot weaving and paving the way for the next generation of artisans. We look forward to advancing our work with Nest to help create global solutions and innovative programs that will continue to provide more awareness, social consciousness and economic growth to our artisans, as well as all who work outside the four-wall factory,” said Asha Chaudhary, President of Jaipur Living.
The first consumer-facing mark created for production taking place in homes and small workshops, the Nest Seal of Ethical Handcraft is a symbol of assurance letting consumers know that the items they are purchasing have been ethically made under transparent business practices that respect and promote workers’ wellbeing. Jaipur Living and Starfish Project will now be able to leverage the Nest Seal at point of sale, as the result of both of their compliance assessments. The Nest Seal confirms their commitments to workers’ rights and business transparency, evidenced through strong wage setting and record keeping practices.
Jaipur Living and Starfish Project are joining hand-production enterprises across seven countries that have earned the Nest Seal through the concerted efforts they have made to steward more socially responsible and economically sustainable relationships with more than 11,000 artisans across the globe, collectively.
“Starfish is the first Artisan Accelerator business to be certified through Nest’s Ethical Handcraft program,” says Sara Otto, Nest’s Senior Director of Compliance & European Lead. “Like the vast majority of artisan businesses in Nest’s Guild, Starfish is a social enterprise founded with the purpose of supporting a community of workers through economic opportunity and a lot of the practices outlined in Nest’s Standards are already a core part of the business’ mission. While brands have traditionally initiated enrollment of their suppliers’ participation in the Ethical Handcraft program as a component of the Accelerator cohort, the program gives businesses like Starfish the opportunity to enroll independently, driven by their own commitments to ethical production. Additionally, the program provides the tools and resources needed to effectively demonstrate compliance with these social practices and leverage this to increase market viability and competitive advantage.”
To date, the Nest Seal appears on over 400 products and across 2000+ retail stores, including Target and West Elm.