The original red seed came from the Sandalwood tree, native to Cambodia. Sandalwood trees produce colorless pods that eventually dry up and fall to the ground. But inside these dried pods are beautiful, glossy, red seeds. To our artisans, the red seeds represent the beauty inside of each of us. Our 3 Strands and designated Noble Venture Collections feature products with a red bead or red mark symbolizing our story.
Artisans
Our Beginnings
3 Strands Shop & The Red Seed
Cambodia
In 2011, 3 Strands Shop was founded to work alongside human trafficking survivors and artisans in Cambodia through job training and employment opportunities. Noble Venture/3 Strands Shop helps to provide sustainable jobs for survivors through this partner organization, providing hope, honor and a path toward independence. In addition to providing job opportunities for survivors, through the sale of every product, funds are raised to help empower, equip and employ individuals with a future that is independent, sustainable and full of hope.
Nepal
Nepalese artisans are the creators of our beautiful glass-beaded bracelets, colored by rich cultural heritage. When 3 Strands Shop and Noble Venture first started our work with our Nepal artisans, financial sustainability was challenging for women, families and their communities. The Nepalese artisans you support through your product purchase help provide for their families and most importantly, offer empowerment in their communities. Through sustainable employment, these artisans have pride, prestige and hope for a future that comes with earning a livable wage, and independence. Our Nepal partners are members of the Nest, an organization that is committed to celebrating, uplifting and growing their artisan partners.
Guatemala
Nest artisans from this region create a variety of traditional, handmade Guatemalan crafts, including handbags, accessories, tableware, and home collections, while adhering to Fair Trade practices. Creating opportunities for Guatemalan artisans helps to generate sustainable and viable livelihoods through their craft. New opportunities and ongoing training support provide stability and the chance to earn a livable wage.
Haiti
Our artisan partners in Haiti create beautiful, handcrafted products out of discarded and seemingly unusable materials including metal, cardboard, aluminum, dirt and paper. They breathe beauty back into discarded items that were once considered of no value, just as they build their lives away from exploitation.
The mantra of our Haitian artisans is “many hands make the load light,” and they believe that when the designers, artisans, and consumers work together we can help lighten each other’s load and bring about lasting positive impact. Our partners in Haiti are members of the Nest.
East Africa
Noble Venture works with an independent social enterprise based in East Africa. Through this partnership with a Nest organization, we support the development of local traditional skills providing artisans with a global market for their handmade products and investing in their education. Through this, our artisan partners have been creating employment opportunities and economic development.
Over the years, these artisans have produced collections of jewelry, homeware, bags and accessories for brands right across the world.
23 artisanal groups in Kenya are part of the group creating beautifully handcrafted products, providing work to over 570 artisans. Today, 50 communities in East Africa (Kenya, Uganda) supporting 2,693 artisans are engaged in the work.
THANKS TO YOU!
Together we are putting all of these ideas into practice by creating and providing collections encompassing the following key values.
Safe Materials - We design our jewelry using materials that are safe for our customers, workers and the planet.
Sustainable Design - We use recycled materials and are committed to ethically sourced elements when we design and create our products so they can be easily recycled again with no extra processing and leave a minimal eco footprint.
Ethical Manufacturing - Our partners share our belief that the importance of protecting the dignity and rights of their workers and the local environment is paramount.
Safe Materials - We design our jewelry using materials that are safe for our customers, workers and the planet.
Sustainable Design - We use recycled materials and are committed to ethically sourced elements when we design and create our products so they can be easily recycled again with no extra processing and leave a minimal eco footprint.
Ethical Manufacturing - Our partners share our belief that the importance of protecting the dignity and rights of their workers and the local environment is paramount.