These are pictures that I took in a handmade paper factory in Jaipur. This family business dates back 400 years to when the artisans made paper purely for the Indian Mughal rulers to inscribe their decrees upon. The area is a big cotton and silk producing area, and the paper is made purely from recycled off cuts of cotton and silk from the surrounding factories. As you approach the factory you pass miles of slums - people existing in little more than mud huts, washing themselves in pools of muddy water. A basic fact of life for millions of Indians.
In the last 5 years under the direction of the two youngest brothers (out of 8) this factory has moved to selling exclusively export quality papers, and has moved from employing a few dozen staff to several hundred in four huge buildings - with another just being built. The standards in the work place are very high, workers are paid well by local standards and were full of smiles and very keen to do a good job. Near to the main factory is a road with a row of modest terrace type housing and a small school with a sign saying "English Medium".
As with many Indian craft products handmade paper is very labour intensive, so every new export customer creates lots of new jobs here. It seemed very obvious to me that your orders for (the right) Indian products directly move people from the slums to jobs to houses and enable children to have an education.
We do as much as we can to ensure we only trade with companies with sound ethics that pay their staff well and do not employ cheap child labour or unethical business practices.
We firmly believe that buying these products will have a positive effect on the employees in the area and the area itself both economically and socially.
You can buy these products with confidence as they are all guaranteed eco-friendly, tree free, handcrafted, acid free, handmade papers and handmade paper products.
If you have any questions or comments please direct them HERE.
We firmly believe that buying these products will have a positive effect on the employees in the area and the area itself both economically and socially.
You can buy these products with confidence as they are all guaranteed eco-
If you have any questions or comments please direct them HERE.
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Tel: (0114) 250 1066 / Fax: (0114) 255 8352
Last Update: 22Jul05