From Kenya with Love: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Artisans Behind Your Favorite Fair Trade Goods

At Gitzell Fair Trade, every item in your shop has a story. This month we had the honor of returning to Kenya, home to many of our artisan partners, for a deeply meaningful journey to reconnect, listen, and strengthen our fair trade partnerships. We were proud to travel alongside two of our valued retail partners from Latitudes Fair Trade in Fredericksburg and Warrenton, making this trip a shared journey of learning and growth.

Over the course of a week, we visited the talented hands and creative minds behind many of your customer-favorite fair trade collections, woven baskets, hand-carved birds, wooden spoons, and vibrant patchwork bags. These visits offered an inspiring reminder that fair trade isn’t just a business model, it’s a partnership rooted in respect, transparency, and sustainable development.

🧺 Day 3: Sisal Weaving in Kitui

One of the most meaningful days of our journey was our visit to the sisal weavers of Kitui. Here, over 40 women welcomed us into their workshop and homes, sharing the full process, from sisal extraction to dyeing, twining, and weaving.

The fair trade baskets you know and love begin here, with these women’s hands. Each basket can take hours, or even days, to complete, and no two are exactly alike. These artisans walked us through every step of the process: from extracting the sisal fiber (sourced from cactus plants) to dyeing it, some even using smoke-based techniques, twisting, and hand-weaving.

🛍️ Shop the Sisal Basket Collection

🪵 Day 4: Wood Carving + Patchwork Collectives

In Dandora, we spent the morning with our wood carving artisans, the creators behind our beautifully crafted twisted spoons and batik bone-handled utensils. Every item they produce reflects generations of skill passed down through families. These pieces aren’t just utensils, they’re works of functional art.

We also met with our patchwork makers -  a vibrant team of women who work with up-cycled remnant fabrics to create our beloved patchwork totes, cosmetic bags, and aprons. These colorful, one-of-a-kind items reduce textile waste and provide empowering employment in a safe, creative environment.

🛍️ Explore: Patchwork Collection

🕊️ Day 6: Bird Carving in Naivasha

Next, we journeyed to meet the artisans behind our bird mobiles and bird ornaments. These delicate decorations start as simple blocks of wood, cut, carved, and sanded by hand before being painted in bright, joyful colors.

Watching the carvers at work was incredible. Their artistry is matched only by their commitment to quality and tradition. Your purchases help preserve this craft and provide consistent, fair wages to these artisans.

🤝 Fair Trade is a Business Partnership

Fair trade is not a donation, it’s a value-driven sourcing strategy. It means you’re stocking shelves with purpose, aligning your brand with conscious consumer values, and supporting artisans who are paid fairly and treated with dignity.

Each visit reminded us that successful wholesale relationships start at the source. When you partner with us, you're investing in handcrafted quality, reliable supply chains, and ethical transparency.

💛 Thank You for Being Part of the Movement

This journey was deeply inspiring—and it’s your partnership that makes it all possible. Whether you're a longtime stockist or just beginning to explore fair trade, thank you for helping us grow a more equitable global marketplace, one handcrafted product at a time.

🛍️ Ready to restock or expand your fair trade selection?

Browse our newest Fair Trade Artisan Favorites from Kenya!