Saffron Winds was established in July 2005 and is an ethical and fair trade retailer specialising in beautiful hand crafted products made in Cambodia.
Our business evolved from the core vision to make a fundamental difference to help people in Cambodia. Cambodia is truly a 3rd world country and its people have endured horrific hardships and much of the population live in extreme poverty.
Saffron Winds is unique in specialising their works in Cambodia and by spreading their hand made production across an extensive range of producer groups. This special approach benefits a large range of disadvantaged people including land mine victims, people with disabilities, very poor villagers, and helping to train teenagers from very poor families so that they can learn a valuable life skill to make a sustainable living.
Recognised as one of the leading pioneers in working with recycled textiles and making them into contemporary (and practical) accessories, gifts and home wares. The materials that we work with include recycled rice & recycled fish bags, recycled paper and reused nets.
Our silk range is simply beautiful and the quality of our hand woven and hand made silks are exceptional. We control the full weaving and production process from start to finish using azo-free dyes.
With your support, we are all contributing to help these wonderful people build a future for themselves by providing them with a livelihood and hope for the future. By buying from Saffron Winds, you are helping to make a difference in this world – bridging the gap between those who have, and those who have not.
Throughout the year, Saffron Winds also attends retail events selling our unique, fair trade handicrafts. To find out more, please visit our Events.
Our suppliers
We actively work with a wide range of fair trade organisations in Cambodia. Saffron Winds does source from other geographic regions, but it is only 5% of our product range, given our commitment to Cambodia. Many of our organisations are recognised by the International Fair Trade Association (IFAT).
Eco Crafts, Cambodia - established by Kim Hong in 2009 to assist extremely poor communities in Phnom Penh to better their family income. The individuals that Kim works with are those who normally make their only income by begging and live in shanty developments close to the airport. Their living conditions are very poor and this is a very special community initiative that has a massive direct benefit for all those that are involved in the paper necklace production. The recycled paper/poster stock are sourced from local recycling agents in Phnom Penh.
Ecocrafts is not IFAT registered, however, Saffron Winds can assure you that Ecocrafts adheres to the highest of fair trade principles.
Goel Community, Cambodia - is a Christian-based community development organisation established in 2006. Their core mission is to train very poor communities in the Takeo province the traditional craft of making natural dyes from plants and vegetables. This skill set was lost during the war years therefore the training is having far reaching benefits and, principally, rural weavers are able to make a sustainable living. Goel's cotton and silk natural dye textiles are selected and are made up by either their own sewing team or in conjunction with Village Works Songkhem (one of our main fair trade producer groups), who has worked closely with Goel since its inception.
KNN Cambodia Arts and Crafts (KNN), Cambodia - was founded in 2002 and aims to support and renovate Cambodia’s traditional arts and crafts. They provide job opportunities for poor Cambodians living in rural areas, as well as, people with disabilities. They pay a fair price for raw materials and are deeply committed to helping these talented artisans to improve their living standards.
National Centre of Disabled Persons (NCDP), Cambodia - a non-profit organisation set-up by the Cambodian Government to train and develop people with disabilities. The effects of long-term war, landmines, disease, accidents and poverty have all contributed to the large numbers of disabled people in Cambodia. As a group, they are some of the most economically deprived and socially isolated, therefore NCDP has invested in numerous programs to help and support these truly remarkable people. All handicrafts are made by people with disabilities, who all receive a fair salary.
Peace Handicrafts and Silks, Cambodia – is an independent co-operative of landmine and polio disabled persons, which contributes to social development by providing training and employment. With such training, their artisans become self-supporting. Peace was awarded the 2004 UNESCO “Seal of Excellence” for Handicraft Products.
Rajana Association, Cambodia – is an income generation and skills training project that provides employment for many young Cambodians, rural and urban poor and small producer groups. The core focus is to provide life-long skills and to provide an income for them and their families. Their products are made by combining Khmer skills and contemporary design.
Village Works Songkhem, Cambodia - Songkhem (meaning hope) is an income generating project established by the Girls’ Brigade Singapore. Its sole focus is to create employment, create skills and provide a livelihood to women and young people in Cambodia – their efforts are concentrated in the provinces where the villagers are struggling to make a sustainable living, and who desperately need the help to improve their lives. Every cent earned by Songkhem goes back to the villagers, who make the handicrafts. In Songkhem’s own words ‘this employment helps them to be independent...the additional income generated from these works help to improve the welfare and livelihood of these people’. Songkhem’s workers are known as ‘shining eyes’ as each worker makes the handicrafts with passion and pride.
Y Development Cooperation, Thailand – founded by the YMCA to help poor villagers from Northern Thailand to market their handicrafts internationally. In return, the villagers are able to make a livelihood with the achievable aim of building a future for their families. Vocational training is given to the villagers to help them develop and improve their skills. All export profits are ploughed back into the YMCA’s rural development program and shared with the producers to help benefit their wider communities.
If you have any questions, or would like to find out more information, please contact us.