From hand to hand: a gift with impact

By: Carlos Díaz

The December holidays are approaching. Without a doubt, a time that inspires us to share dreams, hopes and love with our family, friends, as well as the people we love. One of the most common expressions of this Christmas spirit is to give a gift that expresses the happiness of having these people in our lives.

What do we consider when choosing a gift? The criteria can be various, from price to its originality, without neglecting quality, as well as design or innovation. On this occasion we want to share a significant criterion: the impact.

Have you ever wondered how far the impact of our investment reaches in each purchase we make? Who benefits? What changes do the imply? Does it improve the life or economy of any  community? At a time when commercial and mercantilist logic seems obvious, it is important to stop and think about it. This line is more transparent in the trade of artisan products made by women and men who, with great mastery, design and produce looms, huipils, shoes, herbal products and even organic food. By consuming their products, the money invested allows:

1. Promote the family and local economy of artisans. In other words, money circulates in a community achieving the acquisition of goods and services that improve the living conditions not only of the artisans, but of an entire community.
2.  Promote and preserve the craft tradition, as well as the culture itself, of the artisan communities. By consuming their design and products we strengthen this economic activity, promoting younger generations to learn the textile, herbal or production art that is inherited from the first inhabitants of the ethnic groups to which they belong. By not doing so, we increase the probability that these knowledge and practices will disappear over the year.
3. Guarantee original and high quality products. By becoming a sustainable economic activity for the artisans, they can focus on the design, preparation, elaboration and innovation of their textile, herbal or organic food offer, thus offering quality, originality and even the personalization of their products. This allows consumers to obtain unique products.

Therefore, with each peso that we invest in an artisan product – either for our consumption or as a gift – we are being part of a value chain that generates real impacts in the lives of artisans and communities, as well as in our culture itself. We always advise approaching the artisans and producers directly, or alternatively, the CSOs that have direct, fair and participatory work with groups of artisans and producers. Currently, there is a high profit plagiarism and abuse of brands that offer artisan products that do not really generate a benefit for the artisan communities.

“Let’s be careful and don’t stop consuming what is truly made in Mexico!”