News & Publications

29 Nov 2010

Wellingtonians – be prepared to indulge in a new range of exclusive high end homewares available now at the Trade Aid Wellington store, cnr Victoria & Blair Streets. The Trade Aid Gallery range showcases the skills of our fair trade artisan partners, exclusive to our Wellington store for a limited time only. The range includes Vietnamese ceramics, bamboo furniture from the Philippines, textiles from India and Cambodia amongst many others.

The pieces shown in the photograph (right) feature in the Gallery range, such as the beautiful hanging chair. This chair is made by artisans working with Dhaka Handicrafts in Bangladesh, from hogla rope (a thick leaf grass like plant). Hogla grows in the river or marshland mostly in southern parts of Bangladesh. Firstly Hogla leaves are cut and dried in the sun then Hogla rope is created by hand weaving, and after making the iron frame, the Hogla rope is woven around the frame to give the finished product. It takes two people, three eight hour days to make one hanging chair. The hogla rope weavers live in the village. The weavers of the final product are mostly men living near the hogla basket centre. Previously many worked on farms, but with better wages they can afford food, clothing and their children's education.

The Gallery range is not available through our online shop.