Fair
trade
The Loyal Workshop is a certified World Fair Trade Enterprise. We work hard to uphold the principles of Fair Trade as well as providing extra social support to our staff.
Fairtrade certified —
What makes us an ethical,
freedom business?
We exist to bring freedom, dignity and restoration to women enslaved in the sex industry through holistic care and by creating a working community that crafts high quality, eco-friendly, leather goods.
In 2019 we became members of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO). This means our practices are externally audited and approved by the WFTO community. We work hard to uphold the following Fair Trade Principles.
Winners of —
Common Objective
Leadership Award
We are Common Objective Leadership Award 2022 Winners. The CO Leadership Awards celebrate ambition for, and commitment to, great business practices that transform lives—and solve environmental challenges. These are areas which we are constantly seeking to lead and improve in as a business!
We love to —
We also place special emphasis
on these areas:
01 —
Exit Support
Becoming free from slavery is a complex journey. We take a holistic approach of supporting her as she fights for her freedom. Our support includes: Informal counselling, group therapy, legal advice, debt reconsolidation, spiritual formation, budgeting support, addiction support and regular health checkups.
02 —
Education
Educating women is the future of development. We provide 6 months of maths, English and Bangla classes. We also work with our artisans to ensure their children are going to and staying in school.
03 —
100% of Profits Reinvested
All profits are reinvested back into the business and the community to enable us to offer freedom to more women.
Our Supply Chain
Leather tanneries are a major global polluter. Many tanneries dump chemicals and employ child labour. As an ethical business we didn’t think we had a future with leather goods. Until we discovered an Eco-Friendly Fair-Trade tanner right here in Kolkata. Sheong Shi Tannery was working with us for seven years but unfortunately closed in 2021. Since then we have established a relationship with another incredible tannery.
our leather supplier —
Shee Sen Tannery is led by Kenneth Liao.
Shee Sen is a leather tannery located just down the road in the Kolkata's government regulated leather complex.
Shee Sen Tannery is Leather Working Group Certified and Gold Rated. This means that they have obtained the highest possible score on environmental categories like water, waste management, energy use and emissions.
Locally sourced materials —
We aim to source
our other materials locally too.
By doing this we support the local economy, decrease the strain on global resources and keep the supply chain nice and simple. With some suppliers, we can walk to their place and order materials over a cup of chai. From the hands of our suppliers, through our artisans hands, to yours.
Finding the right materials from solid suppliers and staying true to ethical business practices takes a massive commitment. But we don’t have the word loyal in our name for nothing.
Your role —
Support Fair Trade
Play a part in our mission to uphold fair trade standards across the board.
