Weaving into the Fabric

World Fair Trade Day Saturday 10th May 2025

As World Fair Trade Day approaches it is time to reflect on the Fair Trade way of doing things.  Where the appears to be an avalanche of craziness, World Fair Trade is the day we can celebrate the way we work and in particular we look at the work of our partner supplier in Bangladesh. They are proud members of WFTO

May Harris-Prince has just returned from her travels on behalf of Turtle Bags to meet the women who have been making our seagrass and jute bags and baskets for nearly 20 years.Travelling on boats and tuk-tuks she explored the length and breadth of beautiful rural Bangladesh and met with communities across the country where weaving has been part of the heritage for centuries.

Here May not only discovered the skills and artistry that go into making the bags themselves but the wider picture of how the work improves the socio-economic conditions of the marginalised women. Tarango carries a vision of supporting women through a breadth of projects including savings schemes and offering safe spaces to young women.

May reflects on her journey:

May with the weavers and makers and their families in Dinajpur

Shortly after arriving in central Dhaka I met with the Girls Club. Organised and funded by Tarango, this is a safe space for young women aged 14-20, living in the greater Mirpur slum. The girls were keen to learn about my life in the UK and share a game of Uno with me!

Alongside skill development and creative programmes, they meet each week for self-defence training which I was lucky enough to attend. The prevalence of violence against women in Bangladesh highlights the importance of creating supportive environments where young women can learn to protect themselves both physically and mentally. This was only one of Tarango’s many initiatives aimed at fostering a sense of solidarity, resilience and control over their own safety.

Towards the end of my trip I visited the artisans living in rural communities on the outskirts of Dinajpur – north-eastern Bangladesh. I was welcomed into their homes with a cup of sweet cha and a bag full of jujubes. Here the women are working with jute – a plant celebrated for its biodegradability, low environmental impact and durability.

I was lucky enough to witness the entire process from harvest to yarn production, natural dyeing to weaving with traditional waist looms. Each process is completed entirely by hand and is passed on through the village to undergo various different stages of production. I was captivated not only by the intricate attention to detail, but by the immense sense of pride and determination imbued in each creation.

Woven into the fabric of every bag are the collective histories of women who, after generations of violence and oppression, are reclaiming their voices and standing their ground.

In a world which incentivises mass production and profitability over ethical labour practices and sustainability, it is so important that we listen and honour these women through adopting a mindful approach to our consumption habits.

I left Bangladesh feeling incredibly inspired by Tarango and its women artisans.

Find out more:

If you would like to read more and be a part of the #Businessrevolution

1. Turtle Bags is a proud member of BAFTS take a look at this wonderful community of change makers who are bringing thoughtful, sustainable products to market through Fair Trade supply chains.

2. If you would like to be a part of this movement then there is an opportunity to bring fairer practices into our every day products then take a look at the Shared Interest Society