Respecting traditions
Promoting craftsmanship
Conserving resources
Meeting needs
WHO WE ARE & WHAT WE DO
CustomMade Crafts Center, Inc. (CMCC) is a sustainable social enterprise that connects modern-day lifetyles with indigenous life ways. CMCC partners and sources out products from indigenous and rural communities and markets them to contemporary consumers through mainstream and alternative channels. In developing quality products, CMCC works with community artisans to develop their craft and build their capacities, making sure that in the process their age-old customs and traditions are kept alive.
CMCC as the marketing arm of Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange Program (NTFP-EP) was informally launched in 2003 (and spin off and became a legal entity in 2008), as an initiative to expand the market for indigenous and rural crafts in order to create a regular source of livelihood for the forest dependent communities and a venue for the continuation of their traditional crafts. CMCC through continuous product development and market linking, finds new niches, uses and applications for the traditional products and skills, thus creating a steady demand for it.
CMCC promotes indigenous artistry and its enduring relevance to present time. It also advocates fare trade and environment friendly procedures on raw materials gathering. Pricing system is likewise guided by the principles of protecting both the rights of the artisans and consumers while maintaining economic viability.
Generated income is reverted back to partner communities through services such as continuous marketing, product development, promotion and sales activities.
BACKGROUND AND HISTORY
The organization behind the project is the Non-Timber Forest Products Task Force. It is a network of organizations working with upland and rural communities on issues of land tenure, resource management and livelihoods. In its effort to conserve forests, the organization works to improve livelihoods of forest and upland dwellers through the promotion of non-timber forest products as a source of income.
The network established the crafts center to provide a more active marketing strategy to the partner's handicrafts enterprise. It carries out product development, promotional and sales activities. It also provides skills and quality improvement trainings for the artisans.
Our core set of artisans and producers include the Mangyan of Mindoro through Mangyan Mission, Palaw'anon and Tagbanua of Palawan through Nagkakaisang Tribu ng Palawan, (NATRIPAL), Higaonon of Bukidnon thorugh Father Vincent Cullen Tulugan Learning and Development Center (FVCTLDC), and the rural artsians of Negros through Broad Initiatives for Negros Development (BIND). The larger circle of partner artisans include the T'boli of Lake Sebu and the weavers of Bolinao, Pangasinan.
Vision, Mission, Values & Objectives
A greener and more responsible consumer market[1]
To be a prime mover in marketing fairly traded, handcrafted[2] products from community based NTFP enterprises (CBNE), especially products from indigenous communities
The values of CMCC can best be summed up with these lines:
For the next five years, the objectives of CMCC are defined as follows:
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To sustain the profitability and sustainability of the Custom Made Crafts Center
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To support the profitability and sustainability of CBNEs
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To strengthen the domestic market for CMCC products.
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To improve CMCC share in international markets
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To ensure regular compliance of CMCC and partner suppliers[3] to fair trade standards
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To be active in strengthening the fair trade movement in the Philippines
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To elevate the position of indigenous crafts in the consumer market
[1] CMCC board members and staff wanted to describe a vision of society that they envisioned; and one to which CMCC’s actions contribute to. The term “green” was used and not only “forests” as CMCC contributes not only to forest conservation but also ecological balance. The term “responsible” is used to mean a fairer, more socially conscious consumer base. A “consumer market” is expressed as this is the market we would like to influence, not only the current market that already purchases sustainable or indigenous items
[2] Handcrafted is used to include all community, small producer products not only including crafts but also handmade soap, etc
[3] Partner suppliers include community producers, sub contractors, suppliers of various materials (bottles, paper,glass,etc)
VISION 2016-2020
MISSION
VALUES
Respecting traditions
Promoting craftsmanship
Conserving resources
Meeting needs
OBJECTIVES
PARTNERS
FUNDERS
