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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does TAMMACHAT mean by "fair trade"?Fair Trade is:
2. Why does TAMMACHAT prefer to buy from groups rather than individual artisans?Because fair trade attempts to accomplish more than a simple exchange of money for goods, it is ideal if the producers are formed into groups that promote safety, health, sustainable production practices, skill acquisition, social benefits and community development. Also, producer groups are best suited to establish and implement fair pricing and quality standards. Most importantly, producer groups help to reduce the vulnerabilities that result from the economic, geographic and social differences between producers and buyers. 3. Is TAMMACHAT a non-profit organization?No. TAMMACHAT Natural Textiles is a registered business partnership that conducts its affairs by fair trade principals. "Fair trade"’ does not mean "charity," "‘not-for-profit" or "volunteer." Fair trade is a way of doing business that has as its heart respect and a liveable wage for all participants, as well as respect and sustainable practices for the environment. 4. Why are TAMMACHAT’s prices so much higher than those one can find in a market in Thailand or Laos?To start, prices vary with the quality and complexity of dyeing and weaving, as well as the quality and quantity of fibres required. TAMMACHAT is committed to supporting the continuation of the artistry that earned Southeast Asian weavers their well-deserved reputation. Whenever possible, we buy textiles made from heritage varieties of village-raised, hand-reeled silk and handspun organic cottons. Yarns are hand-dyed in small batches with organic materials that are locally raised or sustainably gathered. Each textile we select displays fibre qualities, dyeing techniques, weaving expertise and careful finishing seldom seen in markets or street stalls. The next point to consider is that TAMMACHAT has the additional expense of exporting these products to the other side of the world and selling them in Canada: i.e., transportation, communications, customs duties, taxes, registration fees, rent, supplies, utilities, promotion, etc. The price one might pay in a Thai marketplace does not include any of those costs. Last but not least, there are additional costs because TAMMACHAT operates according to fair trade principles. We do not buy from middlemen in markets who may be part of a system that exploits the weaver's economic insecurity and/or a buyer's lack of knowledge. By travelling to villages where the weaving is produced, we can see for ourselves the working conditions and production methods. Also, many of our purchases are from groups that are accredited by IFAT, or are members of a larger organization that is an IFAT member. 5. What is IFAT?IFAT is the International Fair Trade Association. It’s a global network of Fair Trade Organizations that extends the fair trade model beyond the commodities certified by Transfair and the Fairtrade Labelling Organization (FLO). Its members include over 300 Fair Trade Organizations in 70 countries. Its mission is to enable producers to improve their livelihoods and communities through Fair Trade. 6. Is TAMMACHAT a member of IFAT?TAMMACHAT will apply for IFAT accreditation when it completes the IFAT requirement of at least 2 years of fair trade activities. 7. Why do you charge a flat rate for shipping?Because we use a PayPal shopping cart, we can either choose a flat rate for shipping or a percentage of the purchase price. We chose a flat rate of $15.00 because it comes closest to reflecting our costs of mailing a 9" x 12" envelope, weighing up to 500g, within Canada. Canada Post charges $11.99 for this Xpresspost service, which includes up to $100 coverage for loss or damage. Of course, packing materials, taxes and our labour more than eat up the remaining $3.00. Ironically, the same packet delivered to the U.S. costs a little less to mail but requires a little more paperwork on our part. To help those who only want to buy a $14 package of silk squares (see our Silk Squares page), we have set up an Etsy shop so we can offer these lovely squares at a lower shipping cost. 8. How true are the textile colours that I see on my computer?This is always tricky, because every computer is set up to render colours a little differently. We "calibrate" our computer monitor so we can create images that are as close as possible to the actual colours of the weavings. Click on the images in the Online Shop to see a larger view; this will help you get a sense of the colours. If anything, they appear more muted on your screen than they actually are. We think you'll be thrilled with the rich or subtle colours of any piece you order. |
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handcrafted • fairly traded • naturally dyed textiles |
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