Betty Striped Skirt in Yellow

Based in an idyllic, rural village, Thanapara Swallows, near the Ganges River in northwest Bangladesh, was set up to provide opportunities for women after the village was devastated in 1971, when all the adult males were massacred during the war of independence.

Swallows mission is to empower the poor and underprivileged population by eradicating illiteracy, creating health awareness and self-employment, raising awareness among the landless for the rights of land and empowering women by creating economic and social awareness.

As a women's project, even hand weaving, which is normally considered mens' work, is done by women. The natural and azo-free dyed yarns are hand woven into fabrics, then hand embellished with embroidery and tailored. Profits from Fair Trade help cover the running costs of the Swallows school and People Tree started a day care centre for the workers' babies and toddlers in 2007.