Located in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, this weaving cooperative has mastered the ancient art of Beni Ourain rugs. Meticulously hand-knotted from local sheep’s wool, their rugs are staples of Moroccan culture.

To uphold the integrity of these woven masterpieces, this group only uses the highest-quality wool. Since most of the materials available in local markets contain harmful chemicals, these women have (quite literally) taken matters into their own hands. From shearing and cleaning the wool to spinning and dyeing the yarn, they ensure every step meets their standards.

To aid in this labor intensive process, The Citizenry has provided commercial-grade burners and steel drums. With this additional equipment, the weavers can increase their cleaning and dyeing batch sizes, speed up drying time, and ultimately, reduce their costs (savings they will keep). An added bonus: this investment also benefits the environment by reducing the amount of chemical waste in the dyeing process.

Nestled in the Mourne Mountains of Northern Ireland, this third-generation workshop carries on the tradition of hand-looming tweed textiles. This craft is learned through years of practice - in fact, it can take decades to earn the title of "Master Weaver."

To ensure this workshop has the resources to train the next generation, we've added another loom to their space that will give apprentices the ability to practice their weaving skills without the time constraints of loom availability. This loom will help fast-track training and education programs, allowing more weavers to become masters and keep this legacy alive.

Located in Oaxaca, Mexico, this group of fourteen women creates intricate weavings inspired by the geometric patterns and bold colors used by the Zapotec tribes of the region. So they can make even more of these beautiful pieces, we have provided two new sewing machines for their workshop. With the additional income generated from using the new machines, these women have been able to update their homes with doors and concrete flooring, provide new uniforms for their children, and even cover medical costs.

Located in a rural village in Uganda, this group of women has mastered the art of basket weaving. Using hand-dyed palm and banana leaves, this craft is not only an additional source of income, but also a preservation of culture in the region. To sustain their work, we’ve provided new sewing needles that will help improve their productivity and increase each woman’s earning power.

We’ve partnered with a group of ten artisans who relocated from a poverty-stricken area of Peru to a community outside Lima. They combined their skills in natural dyes, loom construction, and weaving to organize their own artisan cooperative with the dream of creating a more sustainable life. For our first grant, we worked with Green Design Link, one of our on-the-ground partners, to provide much-needed business training, including financial and production planning, for the group.