Working with local craftspeople from impoverished areas around the world to create contemporary design not only helps the local communities, but also helps keep traditional crafts techniques alive. The following products help to generate an income for communities in some of the world’s poorest areas and bring local crafts to the global stage. 

Piet Hein Eek for Fair Trade Originals: Dutch designer Piet Hein Eek created a series of baskets, bowls, and trays for Fair Trade Originals. The pieces were made in Vietnam by craftsmen working in a family-owned workshop using palm wood slabs and according to fair trade principles. fairtrade.nl

Masters Collection by Arzu Studio Hope and Coalesse: Arzu Studio Hope is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization that was founded to empower Afghan women by providing fair-labor, artisan-based employment. Their most recent project is a limited-edition collection of rugs designed by six renowned architects and produced by Coalesse. The collection includes Arabesque 1 and Arabesque 2 by Michael Graves shown here. www.arzustudiohope.org

Superheroes by Glimpt: To make their Superheroes collection, Swedish studio Glimpt worked with plastic weavers in Ho Chi Minh City in southern Vietnam. The pieces are made from dyed seagrass. www.glimpt.se

Bow bins by Cordula Kehrer for Areaware: The Aeta people of the Philippines use traditional basket weaving techniques to fuse discarded plastic bins with sustainably harvested wicker to create these intriguiung waste paper bins by German designer Cordula Kehrer for Areaware. areaware.com

Bamboo Diamond by Pepe Heykoop: This sustainable Bamboo lampshade by Pepe Heykoop is made by local craftsmen from the slums of Mumbai as part of an income generating project run through the Tiny Miracles Foundation. www.pepeheykoop.nl