At Raices Tejidas, we believe that true sustainability is built on fairness, respect, and a deep appreciation for the people and cultures that create the creations we cherish. Our purpose is to celebrate and uplift the extraordinary talents of Indigenous artisans, pattern makers, and designers, ensuring that every step of the process is rooted in ethical practices and cultural respect.

The creations we offer are not mass-produced or trend-driven products—they are works of art that reflect generations of knowledge, tradition, and skill. Each piece is crafted by hand, using techniques and patterns passed down through families and communities, ensuring that these valuable cultural legacies are preserved and honored.

It’s remarkable how something as simple as fair pay can transform lives, especially for artisans who earn a living through their skilled, hands-on work. For the Indigenous artisans we work with, fair pay is more than just income; it’s a pathway to dignity, autonomy, and the long-term preservation of their culture, language, and traditions in a world that has too often devalued and exploited them.

In Colombia, Indigenous artisans face significant challenges: limited access to fair markets, economic marginalization, and pressure to sell their intricate work for far less than it’s worth. 

Fairtrade changes this story. By allowing artisans to set their own prices, reflecting the true value of their time, skill, and cultural heritage, we ensure they earn what they deserve and encourage artisans to raise their prices.

Because every piece is more than a "product", it’s a testament to resilience, heritage, and creativity. When artisans earn fair pay, they thrive, their communities flourish, and their cultures endure. Making it a priority to ensure every artisan earns what they deserve and that they directly benefit from their creations. It’s an investment into a more equitable future, where Indigenous communities can thrive economically, preserve their culture, and share their artistry with the world on their own terms.

Negotiating for lower prices? That’s not how we do things. We believe in paying artisans what they ask, no bargaining, no haggling, no pressure. Negotiating for lower prices is just plain awkward, rude, and not cool whatsoever!

For Indigenous artisans in Colombia, especially women, negotiating prices often means being forced to accept less than the true value of their work, simply to survive in a system stacked against them. This practice undervalues not only the countless hours of labor and artistry that go into each piece, but also the generations of knowledge, cultural heritage, and community identity embedded in every design. 

When buyers push for lower prices, they reinforce a cycle of economic marginalization that has historically devalued Indigenous knowledge, craft, and culture. It sends a harmful message: that their time, skill, and stories are not worth fair compensation. We reject this exploitative system. We pay artisans what they rightfully ask for, nothing less. And we will pay more if we notice an artisan underselling their work!  We honor their expertise, respect the cultural significance of their work, and ensure that their creations are valued for what they truly are: not just objects, but living expressions of heritage, identity, and resilience.

You might notice that our collections feature a wide variety of unique pieces, many of which are one-of-a-kind. We typically carry just a single quantity of each design, unless it’s a particularly popular style, in which case we may have a few in stock.

This approach is different from most businesses that make multiple copies of the same design. I don’t dictate exactly what the artisans should create. Instead, they lead the way, choosing their own colors, patterns, and designs. This gives them the freedom to express their creativity fully, and it ensures that every piece is as unique as the artisan who made it.

Of course, there are times when I might request a specific style or design, but even then, I encourage artisans to infuse their own vision; choosing colors and patterns that reflect their personal inspiration and cultural heritage. Honestly, this process is so much more fun and rewarding. I know that whatever the artisans create will turn out exquisite because, at the end of the day, they are the true experts.

Even when a piece has a modern or contemporary twist, not necessarily traditional, the artisan’s creativity is something that is deeply respected and we love to showcase. Combining colors, textures, and patterns in a way that feels harmonious is no small task. Every detail, whether it’s the colors of the mountains, the rhythm of the rivers, or the stories woven into the land, comes from the artisans’ surroundings and lived experiences. It’s all deeply interconnected.

This freedom to create isn’t just about making art, it’s about honoring the artisans’ vision, their culture, and their right to tell their own stories through their work; because their creativity is the heart of what makes each piece special.