Transform Lives in Madagascar with Silk and Raffia

here is a saying in Maroantsetra, "if you don't work in the rain, you won't get anything done". We are certainly learning the meaning of that sentiment this spring. As Madagascar emerges from a particularly active cyclone season and heads directly into the orographic (topography-induced) rainy season, the team can't seem to catch a dry day. 

Despite the weather and a challenging political climate, however, we are proud to say that this spring has been one of the busiest and most productive to date. Following an ambitious set of silk orders during cyclone season, the team prepped for a series of visitors, each with a different set of skills to help our project grow. 

The first was Safidy A.....?, a renouned Malagasy photo journalist who came to document the project and highlight the lives, culture, impact and struggle of the farmers and artisans working with our project. You can find a sampling of his beautiful, artistic prints below. We will post his full photo essay on our website soon. 

Linda Cortright, founder and editor of Wild Fibers magazine also spent a few days with the project. During her stay, she interviewed team members and artisans about the project in preparation for a magazine article that she will write this year. Having worked all over the world with unique artisan groups, she brings a valuable perspective on how our project fits into the global market. 

Finally, Docey Lewis, our design consultant and marketing advisor arrived to take the team to the next level and prepare products for the NY NOW gift show. The workshop ran for two weeks and produced tremendous results,  reinvigorating the team with new skills and new momentum. It is something the whole team looks forward to every year and it is the single most valuable resource for learning new skills and refining our craft. 

None of this would be possible without your support! Already this year, we were able to move into a new office, have our third project workshop with Docey Lewis, send orders to Canada, New York and Salt Lake City, and access new sources of cocoons and raffia.

THANK YOU!