From Guatemala to Winnipeg

It started two years ago following a visit to Guatemala.

After meeting a woman by the name of Carmentina, a cooperative leader with a Guatemalan artisan group, Ceilidh Moulden and Sarah Cullihall felt drawn to help artisans in the area sell their items.

"We started by selling some of Carmentina's products online. From there we tried to figure out exactly what we should be doing with these different groups, and how we could provide them with online access to the international market," said Moulden.

Moulden says it can be hard to be an artisan in Guatemala, as half of the year they experience extreme rainy weather which makes it difficult for them to keep their businesses open.

"They are unable to have a sustainable source of income," said Moulden.

"During the rainy season, most of the women's husbands are farmers, and so it is really hard for them to actually do any kind of work, or get any type of income. This leads to a number of repercussions, such as not being able to put food on the table, or send their kids to school."

They created an online business about five months ago called Si Fairtrade Fashions, and are now working with 127 artisans and over 7 artisan groups.

They offer a wide variety of items including bags, jewellery and headbands. They also carry two different clothing lines.

"On the tags we tell a little about the artisan groups that we are working with. And then, we also send videos to each of the customers once they have made a purchase from the actual group that they have purchased from," said Moulden.

Moulden adds that each group that they are working with has its own social mission, giving back some of the funds they earn to projects in their own community.

Thanks to an opportunity through the Downtown Biz called Launch it, the Moulden and Cullihall were able to open up a pop up store in November in City Place.

Moulden says the feedback from customers has been great.

"We can vouch for everything that we are doing in Guatemala. We don't have another organization working with us. They can really see that, and the genuineness when we talk to them about each of the different groups we work with. And, they also just love having the video of being able to see the different groups that are making the product that they are buying."

The store will remain open until the end of January.

Moulden and Cullihall hope to open up a permanent storefront in Winnipeg sometime next year.