MADE51, supporting refugees through craftsmanship
Published on 7 October 2022
Tuareg leatherwork, Rwandan weaving and Syrian embroidery. These are not only traditional skilled crafts that are integral to each country’s cultural heritage, but crafts that the MADE51 brand is helping to keep alive by employing refugees, enabling them to regain their economic independence. The MADE51 platform is an initiative launched by the United Nations Refugee Agency within the framework of the 1951 Geneva Convention relating to the status of refugees. It retails artisan wares that have been handcrafted by refugees, providing them with a source of income.
One hundred million refugees have fled war, persecution and environmental disasters worldwide, with each individual having their own unique story and having walked their own path. Take Parween, for example, who lives in India. She fled Afghanistan, along with two million of her compatriots. “Life as a refugee is extremely stressful. If you have the opportunity to do something with your hands, even something very modest, it calms your mind. Working for a few hours alongside my friends helps me feel less anxious. Having this economic activity has given me hope. The hope of being able to offer my daughters an education and give them a better life.” Parween embroiders and crochets items for one of the thirty firms that have signed a partnership with MADE51, a global brand created by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). For anyone who has had to leave their country behind, finding employment is absolutely vital. A job can provide not just an income, but a sense of dignity, too. It also promotes better integration in the refugee’s newly adopted country. Migrants may be forced to leave all their possessions behind, but what they can bring with them is their unique skills and talent. MADE51 exhibited at Maison&Objet for the very first time this September. The brand chose to showcase its “Holiday Collection”, a series of Christmas decorations to be hung from the tree or around the home, all handcrafted by refugees from war-torn zones. We had a chat with Christine Gent, MADE51’s Fairtrade expert, who explained how the whole system works.
How is the UNHCR’s MADE51 initiative organised?
CG: “It came to our attention that right across the world, refugees have a habit of getting together to make handcrafted objects. The United Nations’ teams identify them, and then we organise the next steps. We source local firms in the host countries that are capable of putting together an offer based on the refugees’ expertise, and we sign a partnership with them.
How do you choose the partner firms?
They are socially-minded structures with strong ethical principles. They must be capable of handling everything from marketing and production to commercialisation, digital technology and environmental standards. All our products are governed by a charter: they must have a unique and original design, and must reflect the culture and expertise of the individuals who make them. Each item is crafted from traditional materials, and is tailored to the global market. We work in partnership with the World Fair Trade Organisation, who ensure that the firms we choose meet all the necessary compliance criteria.
This is your first time at Maison&Objet. What are you presenting?
We are on the lookout for retailers to sell our products in Europe. We already have a foothold in the USA, Asia and the United Kingdom. MADE51’s partner firms produce decorative accessories for the home, along with gifts and collections for special occasions, such as Mother’s Day. At Maison&Objet, we are presenting our “Holiday Collection”, which is a range of Christmas decorations. It features 21 decorations that were all handmade by refugees in 13 different countries. This one-of-a-kind collection from all around the world celebrates hope and solidarity, and the decorations make simple and highly meaningful gifts.
It seems that every single item has a story to tell?
Yes. The Touareg refugees have made embossed metal decorations, whilst those from Afghanistan have sewn and embroidered snow panthers, which symbolise bravery and beauty. We also have beaded circles created by refugees from Sudan, whilst Syrian refugees living in Lebanon have embroidered butterflies. There’s this little jacaranda wood bird, too, that symbolises peace, hand-carved by Congolese refugees in Kenya. 85% of our artisans are women. This initiative provides work for 2,700 refugees across 23 different countries in partnership with 30 socially-minded firms, and we estimate that it benefits some 15,000 people in all if we include the refugees’ children and families. We are keen for people to see these populations in a positive light, because even though they have very little, they can nonetheless make an active contribution to their host countries’ prosperity.
By Caroline Tossan
Illustration ©Sarah Bouillaud