Thai Tribal Crafts and Fair Trade Advocacy

Running a good business is important in order to provide more jobs for our artisans so that they can make extra income for their families as well as increase sales for the company to strengthen its business operations for the long term. To do so, the TTC has a policy of training producers in how to do business so that they will have the capability to exit the circle of poverty and reach new economic levels. At the same time, as a World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) certified member, advocating Fair Trade and bringing awareness to our stake holders and others in the community are among our highest priorities.


To extend the impact or our mission of helping the needy people as well, as the above-mentioned role, we believe that by working as a network, there will be more effective results. Therefore, we have the following objectives for working with our 11 cooperative partners:

1. Trading together: Promoting joint trade opportunities by using the facilities and technology available to TTC such as online sales through the website and offline by selling together at TTC’s shops.

2. Do capacity building together: All the partners will send their representatives to do capacity building together through training programs in management, product development, marketing, and financial management. Moreover, TTC will provide market trends and new product development ideas to its cooperative partners.

3. Promoting Fair Trade together: We believe that by working together as a network, we will be more effective in our Fair Trade promotion. This will be achieved through opening joint shops with some of our partners, such as the Chiang Mai Fair Trade Shop (jointly with Lanna Café), the Mae Sot Fair Trade Shop (jointly with WEAVE) and the Chiang Rai Fair Trade Shop Chiang Rai (jointly with the Akha Craft Center). These new shops not only benefit these partners, but open up greater opportunities for others in their geographic areas who are committed to Fair Trade and helping the underprivileged to have outlets for their products on a consignment basis. Those being assisted through these programs include those working with refugees, AIDS victims, young women at risk, and poor ethnic families in remote areas along the Thai-Burma border. By expanding the number of shops we have, and branching out into new geographic areas, we increase the exposure to Fair Trade exponentially.

TTC has had good discussions and completed a successful project with Chiang Mai University where a session in Fair Trade has been offered as one of the pieces of its international business curriculum since 2009. In addition, TTC also meets many international students during their study tours and conducts interchanges on the nature of the fair trade business and their ideas for promoting fair trade in Thailand and abroad.

TTC has also been getting more involved in eco-tourism by offering fair trade tours since late 2009. More fair trade tours are being developed and scheduled for 2010. By implementing all the objectives mentioned above, TTC believes its role in the fair trade business will benefit people in need as well as educate more people about fair trade, thereby helping to create fair and just business practices and a brighter tomorrow.