Macy's 'Better World' products benefit Cambodian, Indonesian and Rwandan citizens

Macy’s newly expanded Shop for a Better World collection of unique crafts, gifts and home décor items handmade by artisans in Indonesia, Cambodia and Africa, is now available online and in select Macy’s stores. The program, a partnership between Macy’s and Fair Winds Trading, generates income and employment opportunities for the citizens of these countries, providing them with a platform to utilize their traditional skills and craftsmanship. All production takes place in the origin country using only raw materials sourced from the region and employing a large population of women who live in the rural countryside, allowing them to maintain their current residence and avoid the often costly and disruptive process of relocating to cities in search of work.

New Shop for a Better World introductions include a line of luxury travel bags, totes and more made from handwoven Cambodian silks in colors ranging from neutral tans and rich browns to vibrant fuschias and bold indigos. The revitalized silk trade is providing Cambodian women in rural areas with income while keeping a thousand-year-old Cambodian tradition alive.

From Indonesia, home décor and gift items such as hand-carved painted bowls, serving trays, coaster sets and terracotta plates offer a kaleidoscope of colors and sandy finishes. Shop for a Better World helps Indonesian citizens still trying to recover from the 2004 Tsunami disaster put their skills to use in a meaningful way, providing income and an outlet to keep traditions alive.

Four years ago the Rwanda Path to Peace project began to offer a means of income for Rwandan genocide survivors by selling hand-woven baskets exclusively on Macys.com. The graphic designs on the baskets are inspired by traditional Rwandan artwork and culture. Made from sisal, sweetgrass and other natural resources found in Rwanda, the collection has been expanded with bright new colors and bold patterns. Also new from Rwanda, 100% cotton totes, placemats, table runners and napkins, hand-woven and sewn and featuring vivid, indigenous prints and are safely-dyed. Later this year, Shop for a Better World will introduce jewelry handmade by a group of 50 women in Kigali, Rwanda, that features necklaces, bracelets and earrings made with semi-precious stones.

Shop for a Better World products are available online at www.macys.com/betterworld (including a source description along with photo zoom capabilities for viewing product details) and in select Macy’s stores.