We are pleased to introduce Dsenyo, a new fair trade line from Malawi. From their website:
Dsenyo, a growing company in the ethical fashion industry, aspires to empower a generation of African women and artisans eager to address the challenges facing their communities.
Dsenyo makes every effort to use low-impact dyes and sustainable fibers like jute, hemp and organic cotton where possible. We reduce waste by composting organic scrap material, and we re-purpose textile remnants for use in other products.
Where is Malawi?
Malawi is a small, densely populated country in Central Africa. It is located at the southern tip of the Great Rift Valley and is bordered by Mozambique, Zambia, and Tanzania. Some facts about Malawi:
- 14 million people
- 14% of the population living with HIV/AIDS
- Life expectancy only 43 yrs
- 80% of the population live as subsistence farmers
- Multi-party democracy since 1994
- Former British protectorate (not colony)
- National languages are Chichewa and English
- 1 in 10 children are expected to die under the age of 5
- Women have six children on average
- Malaria is still the #1 cause of death
- Only 50% of females are literate compared to 76% of males
Hope is written all over Malawi
- Fair Trade offers a real opportunity for marginalized people to get access to resources and viable markets
- Malawian women are creative, extremely hard working and eager to learn new skills
- Gender equality is making progress (Malawi has a female Vice President along with several female Members of Parliament)
- Awareness about how HIV/AIDS is transmitted and how to prevent infection is increasing
- Knowledge about family planning is improving
- Families increasingly value education for their daughters, wanting to send them to school and are only limited by lack of financial resource
Mercantile Highlights 