Nkuku Fairtrade gifts from Boudoir Babe Fair Trade Gift Range

Boudoir Babe is exited (yup really exited) and we just had to let you know that we now stock a range of fantastic fairtrade gifts; photo albums and notebooks by Nkuku.

All Nkuku’s products are Eco-friendly, handmade and fairtrade. They are made using age old traditional techniques by skilled artisans in Africa and India. These skills combine extremely well with the contemporary designs, natural materials and sustainable methods of production.

Nkuku photo albums and notebooks are available in a range of different designs and sizes. All have acid free cotton fibre pages which are handmade from cotton rag left over from the clothing industry; the albums benefit from acid free interleaves and are supplied in a recycled paper cotton box which make them and ideal gift.

The leather for the albums and notebooks is all hand-dyed using tree bark and natural vegetable extracts. It is then left to dry in the sun, which brings out the lovely rich colours.

The Kubu Album makes a lovely gift for him with its dark brown leather cover, hand torn pages and simple leather tie to keep it closed.

If you are looking for a gift for her then look no further than the Recycled Sari Album. These albums are beautiful and made from recycled sari's which can be up to twenty years old.

These albums and notebooks are are also great for sketching, oil painting, pastels, stamp collecting or as rather posh scrap books.

By buying one of these items you will be supporting fair trade and community initiatives in India and Africa. The artisans are paid a decent wage for their work. Working conditions are safe and a good standard and no children are exploited.

A word or two about how East of India gifts began

Whilst on a year travelling the world in 1989 John Ayris and Anne Spratling came across a family of highly talented artisans who were making the most charming products from paper wood and other natural materials found in and around their village. Siezing the opportunity laid before them both sides got down to some friendly bargaining, a small collection was bought, an idea sown and a promising relationship begun.

East of India was born when the Princes Trust provided a small loan in 1991.

Today those original artisans are still producing fabulous items for East of India, only now they employ other family members and friends to keep up with the demand. Thanks to you for your support in buying their wonderful gifts they are able to work together as family units and earn a living using traditional skills passed down from generations before them

East of India design all their own products, producing exclusivity and a cohesive look over the whole range. All products are designed around the extensive skills of the artisans making them and are the result of the close working relationship. East of India gifts are now also handmade in Britain as well as in other countries around the world.

East of India are based in Folkestone, Kent. Their team has evolved and grown since 1991. Whilst many of the original staff have been there from the early days, they and the newer team members believe in what they are doing and respond with energy and enthusiasm to the ever changing requirements of the small business that is East of India.