About CMCC
VMG, OBJECTIVES & STRATEGIES
The Road to Fair Trade of Indigenous Crafts: The CustomMade Crafts Center (CMCC) Experience
The CMCC promotes the fair trade message and seeks to expand the market for fairly traded products in the Philippines and beyond. CMCC seeks a stable income source for artisans, and a venue for their self-expression through traditional art forms.
Through the following strategies, CMCCs ensures fair trade and respect for cultures:
VMG, OBJECTIVES & STRATEGIES
The Road to Fair Trade of Indigenous Crafts: The CustomMade Crafts Center (CMCC) Experience
The CMCC promotes the fair trade message and seeks to expand the market for fairly traded products in the Philippines and beyond. CMCC seeks a stable income source for artisans, and a venue for their self-expression through traditional art forms.
Through the following strategies, CMCCs ensures fair trade and respect for cultures:
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Creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged producers
CMCC, through its creative marketing strategies and continuous product development open up new markets for products of marginalized communities thus increasing opportunities for handicraft producers.
Capacity Building. Continuous trainings provided by CMCC help improve the community's enterprise. Learning opportunities allow rural artisans to access new designs, and to learn the techniques to improve their business.
Better Environment Practices. Indigenous handicrafts marketing is a more environmentally-benign livelihood compared to other extractive industries in rural settings thus resulting in less adverse impacts on forests. The CMCC also promotes eco-friendly practices such as use of natural dyes and sustainable harvesting procedures.
Consumer Education. CMCC strives to improve appreciation and respect for indigenous crafts through its marketing strategy and through its advocacy work. Prominent media features help increase the perceived value and generate interest for the crafts.
Respect for Cultural Identity. Business should not displace the culture of indigenous peoples. CMCC achieves balance by "customizing" crafts to the needs of the consumer, while respecting the lifeways of artisans. CMCC also promotes and supports initiatives to create mechanisms to protect community rights to their designs and creations.
Transparency and Accountability. CMCC’s pricing policy is shared with partners to ensure common understanding. Through constant consultation, costs at different levels are discussed with various stakeholders so there is understanding of investments and risks of each party.
Payment of Fair Price. Fair pricing seeks economic viability while protecting both artisans and consumers. CMCC’s pricing system includes a mark-up for capital build up of partner’s organizations. A premium for cultural sustainability and resource management is added and given back to artisans through services to ensure sustainability of their livelihoods.
Gender Equity. In rural areas, opportunities for women are limited. Handicraft production empowers women by increasing their income and capacity, and highlighting their contribution to household well-being.
Humane Working Conditions. CMCC discourages assembly line work and avoids overburdening producers with unrealistic schedules. It strives to ensure that handicraft production does not interfere with cultural practices or community lifeways.
CustomMade is a partner of the Non-Timber Forest Products Task Force (NTFP-TF)
Copyright © 2010 CustomMade Handcrafted Traditions. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2010 CustomMade Handcrafted Traditions. All rights reserved.