These amazing designer rugs are part of a new collaboration between 18 artists and a Fairtrade rug collective in Nepal.
Node is a non-profit business that aims to connect the design community with Fairtrade social projects. Their latest venture, MADE BY NODE, asked 18 artists to each create a rug through a Fairtradeproject in Nepal.
NODE are Chris Haughton and Akshay Sthapit. Chris is a childrens book author and illustrator who has been working in fair trade for the last nine years. He was listed in TIME magazine’s DESIGN 100 for the work he has been doing for fair trade.
In 2010, Chris spent eight months in India and Nepal working with fair trade groups. There, he began developing rugs with a fair trade technical school. He teamed up with Akshay, a Kathmandu-based entrepreneur with a passion for social projects to create Node.
Chris said: “We produce all our rugs with Kumbeshwar Technical School in Kathmandu, Nepal. Kumbeshwar was set up by the Khadgi family who are traditionally from the pode community, the lowest caste in Nepal. In 1983 the Khadgi family created a non-profit technical school to help their caste out of poverty and their work now has now extended to all disadvantaged individuals.
“Their weaving school recruits disadvantaged adults and offers an adult education and support centre. As well as given fair wages, their weavers are taught literacy and skills. With profits from the sales of rugs and crafts they also fund a large school of 260 with well-trained and well-paid teachers, providing students with free books and meals. In addition, they fund an orphanage for 25 children. KTS are a founder member of Fair Trade Nepal and are WFTO accredited.”
The collection launches at the Design Museum Shop at the beginning of March (fair trade fortnight and will be sold exclusively there for three weeks. After that you can buy the rugs from the Node website.
(Templar Publishing)
Each rug is limited editions, measure two square metres and costs £950.
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