Bead Descriptions
Hill Tribe Silver
(fair-trade standard)
Hill Tribe beads and pendants are created in northern Thailand using traditional methods passed down from generation to generation. Purchasing these Thai beads helps sustain a traditional craft and provides the Hill Tribe people with a reliable source of income. The higher silver content in Hill Tribe silver, 95-99% as compared to 92.5% of sterling silver, allowing for a softer metal that can be shaped into unique designs. No two pieces are exactly alike, emphasizing the handmade nature of these beautiful pieces.
BeadforLife
(fair-trade)
From recycled paper, to beautiful beads, to income for Ugandans, BeadforLife “eradicates poverty, one bead at a time.” These beads are fashioned from colorful recycled paper, such as magazines or posters, which are cut into thin triangles and then skillfully rolled into unique beads of varying sizes and shapes. Profits are invested in Uganda to free the bead-makers and their communities from poverty.
Because no two BeadforLife beads are exactly alike, every Pamba Toto design is composed individually and is one-of-a-kind.
www.BeadforLife.org
Kazuri
(fair-trade)
“Kazuri” means “small and beautiful” in Swahili. Some of these brilliantly-colored, earthy ceramic beads still bear the fingerprints of their creators, single mothers from the largest slum in East Africa. Employment with Kazuri provides an escape from poverty for these women in Nairobi, Kenya.
Bulgarian ceramic beads
Handmade in Bulgaria, each bead is a finely detailed window into the spirit and artistic vision of its creator. Patterns are inspired by a range of global aesthetics from pre-Columbian art to Viking and Celtic designs.
Greek ceramic beads
Greek artist Irene Iosofidou celebrates the brilliant colors of the Mediterrean in each of these hand-made ceramic beads.
Krobo glass beads
(fair-trade)
These beads are hand-crafted in the idyllic Krobo region of Ghana from recycled glass. Artisans employ a centuries-old, traditional process to celebrate the rich history of their communities, while appealing to modern design aesthetics.
Java glass beads
(fair-trade standard)
These brightly colored glass beads are hand-made in Indonesia.
