Below are examples of fair trade recycled glass beads from Africa. Fair trade recycled glass beads are made by women in Africa and this has been promoted by many countries and individuals in the West for several reasons.
People are promoting the development of the industry making these recycled glass beads because it is a way of empowering women in these countries and developing the economies. The importance of empowered women in a society cannot be overemphasized – the priority of mothers is their society and their families.
Beads from recycled glass are unique in their color, shape, size and texture. This is a great pro for those who like being unique. These beads are unique because the technology used in Africa is not too developed and so there is no risk of duplication and because the material making the beads is recycled from glasses of different colors.
Glass that is improperly disposed of can cause injuries in countries where some of the residents walk without shoes. Glass is not bio-degradable and when it is thrown away, it will be an eye sore for many years. This is especially a problem in Africa where services such as garbage disposal are not readily available. There are very few glass recycling plants in Africa and making recycled glass beads is a great way of getting rid of the glass.
Some people are promoting the industry for commercial purposes. Labor is cheap in Africa and glass is readily available since there are very few recycling plants. These beads are very popular and so anyone who has invested in the industry will make a killing.
Many people interested in fair trade beads will ask; how do I know if beads are fair trade? The truth is that fair trade beads such as those being displayed by the women from Africa photographed below are being duplicated.
There is a lot of money to be made with fair trade beads since some governments such as the United States and some European governments have incentives that guarantee fair trade beads are competitive in their countries. Unscrupulous traders are making their own beads and passing them as fair trade beads.
One way of determining whether beads are fair trade is to look for certification by bodies and agencies charged with supervising and guaranteeing fairness in the trade. Examples of these agencies are the Fair Trade Federation and the TransFair USA. You should therefore ask questions before making a purchase.
You can know whether the beads you are buying are fair trade by looking at the quality. Since beads made in developing countries are handmade due to lack of the relevant technology, each bead is unique. Beads made by unscrupulous traders are usually flawless because the technology used is superior.
To make sure you buy beads that are fair trade, you should only buy from online markets and stores that deal with genuine jewelry and you should always ask for customer testimonials. If someone you know has fair trade beads, ask for recommendations.
The last answer to the question how do I know if beads are fair trade is that you should take the beads to a professional – professionals have tests that they use to check whether jewelry is genuine.
Fair trade beads are made in countries outside the United States and Europe, mostly poor African countries – but why purchase fair trade beads?
Below is a picture of some fair trade beads from Africa.
The greatest reason why you should buy these beads is that they are made by women in developing countries and the aim is to empower these women. Whenever women in a society are empowered, the society thrives because women generally use their earnings for the betterment of their families and the society. Empowering women prevents vices such as prostitution and early marriages.
Fair trade beads are usually made from locally available materials, the most common material being recycled glass. This is a big advantage because most of the developing countries do not have recycling plants.
You should buy fair trade beads because they are of a high quality. Each bead is handmade and you will be guaranteed that no two beads are the same. The beads are very beautiful due to the rich culture of African counties and they are very fashionable.
The price is low since the labor is cheaper than in developed countries and because of incentives by governments.
In the picture below is a group of women in Africa making fair trade beads. The technology might not be as sophisticated as what is in the United States and Europe, but these beads are still very popular. So, the answer to the question; why purchase fair trade beads is that you will be improving the life of someone less fortunate, you will be conserving the environment, and you will get very good beads for your effort.
Below are pictures of fair trade beads from Africa – but what are fair trade beads? You should get the answer to this question before making a purchase so that you can appreciate the product more and to avoid getting conned by unscrupulous traders.
Fair trade beads are made in developing countries and they are sold in developed countries such as the United States and counties in Western Europe.
The beads are brought into developed countries as an initiative by western counties that want to promote the livelihood of people in developing counties. Those involved in the trade are making good money because the labor, although not exploitative since that would defeat the purpose of the whole idea, is still relatively cheap.
The beads are made from different materials depending on the region, the most common material being recycled glass. This means the beads have the advantage of conserving the environment on top of the other advantages. The materials used are usually local materials, making fair trade beads from different places different.
Since technology in countries where fair trade beads are made is not as sophisticated as the technology in developed countries, no two of these beads are the same. This is a big plus to many people because it means whatever they buy is unique.
Fair trade beads are made into pendants, into necklaces, into earring, into clothing accessories, into bracelets, and into rings. Those working on fair trade beads usually have orders from developed countries or middle men stating the quantities required and giving other specifications.
Fairness of the trade is supervised by organizations such as TransFair USA and Fair Trade Federation. That answers your question; what are fair trade beads.
Welcome! This is our new blog on Fair trade beads. We will be writing posts on a weekly basis about fair trade beads, their history, interesting stories, and where to buy them. Fair trade beads are fascinating and fun to work with, because it always feels good to support struggling artisans in other parts of the world.
We hope you enjoy this blog, and feel free to subscribe to it as we will be updating regularly. Thank you!
