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PRESERVING A 500 YO CRAFT & COMMUNITY
Did you know that a truly well-crafted mochila bag can stand perfectly on its own, a testament to masterful skill and intricate technique?
Did you know that the Wayuu culture has been perfecting this extraordinary "savoir-faire" for over 500 years, with each unique piece often taking five dedicated artisans more than 40 hours to meticulously weave?
For the women of this semi-nomadic matriarchal society, the phrase "to be a woman is to weave" is not just a saying; it is the very essence of their cultural identity, passed down with profound wisdom from generation to generation.
Polished Coconut passionately seeks to protect this community and their savoir-faire : carrying art, history, culture.
OUR PLEDGE
Polished Coconut maintains the highest standards of quality, craftsmanship, ethics, and beauty. We are pioneers or sustainability – one of a small select group to sell socially conscious goods that empower women through fair trade.
Our relationships with women artisans has deepened as we’ve connected them to buyers from around the world and helped to inspire newer and more creative products. Our selections are rooted in tradition, beauty, social consciousness, the preservation of cultural heritage and the empowerment of women.
Because of Polished Coconut’s commitment to cooperative economics, we’ve never strayed far from the ancestral craft. We believe in old-fashioned design sessions under thatched huts and the star-filled night sky. We’ve dug deep to inspire both ourselves and our customers and fill our online boutique with the most exceptional bespoke pieces from across the planet.
Polished Coconut strives to pass along the same style and attributes embodied by the women in my family: strength, hard work, generosity, a down-to-earth attitude, and of course — Always Polished
The Value of Savoir-Faire: Introduce the concept of "savoir-faire" as invaluable, inherited knowledge and skill, specifically highlighting the 500-year-old Wayuu and Zenu traditions. Explain why it's vital to preserve these unique techniques.
Meet Our Artisan Families: Humanize your partnerships. Share that you work directly with over 200 women artisans. Talk about their dedication and skill. You can mention the matriarchal wisdom ("a pushi") and how traditions are passed down.
Our Collaborative Process: Briefly describe how you work together – from design sessions under thatched huts to inspiring new products rooted in tradition.
A Future for Heritage: This is where you bring in the powerful "3rd Generation of Partnership" story. Explain how the financial stability provided through your commitment allows artisan families to invest in their children's education, ensuring the craft (and their future) thrives.
OUR PROCESS
Polished Coconut is part of social movement whose goal is to help producers in developing countries achieve better trading conditions and to promote sustainability. Since inception, my philosophy has encompassed the “big picture” of environmental and cultural preservation through the deployment and promotion of ancestral craft. I offer a wider variety of exceptional handcrafted products which affords a higher probability of appeal to a larger market segment of social conscious consumers.
I am an advocate for the payment of premium pricing to all my suppliers. I extend interest free micro credit loans to the artisans to enable them to purchase high quality primary material. Each purchase of a handmade product contributes to income generation for these artisan communities. Families are fed first, mothers-the breadwinners-can cover expenses, and then finally have access to better quality cotton and weave without pressure about needing to make a bag to support their families. The cog in the wheel of endemic poverty begins to turn. My financial commitment to the artisans has outlasted the fickle trends of fashion and demonstrated to the communities where I am involved as one of a long-term commitment to them and their social and economic development.
