|
||||||||||||||||||
 |
From: Bryanna (NewVeggies.vegsource.com)
My cousin's partner runs a Ten Thousand Villages store in Vancouver, BC. Here is something from their website at : "Ten Thousand Villages provides vital, fair income to Third World people by marketing their handicrafts and telling their stories in North America. Ten Thousand Villages works with artisans who would otherwise be unemployed or underemployed, providing sustainable income through fair trade. This income helps pay for food, education, health care and housing. Thousands of volunteers in Canada and the United States work with Ten Thousand Villages in their home communities. Ten Thousand Villages is a nonprofit program of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), the relief and development agency of Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches in North America. Ten Thousand Villages has been working around the world since 1946." Anyway, I bought some face cream from her and it is amazing and the price was very reasonable. I would like to recommend it to people looking for natural, vegan cosmetics (no animal testing, no animal products) that are also fair trade-- what a bonus! Check out the link below this post for 10 Thousand Villages stores near you in North America. Here is some information I gathered about the cosmetics (there is a description of each), their company and the distributor: RASA FAIR TRADE HERBAL COSMETICS http://www.sashaworld.com/bazaar/bzpackaging.htm "The word 'Rasa' means the mind's response, the feeling of vitality and the sensibility to a certain 'taste', the spice of life. Our range takes its name from the classical emotions of Sanskrit literature, feelings that are very 'Indian'. This is why Rasa was born. Sasha established a trust called Ruro Agro Services Association in 1991. Rasa is a range of body and hair care products and spices formulated from age-old ayurvedic remedies and recipes designed for contemporary living. It takes over three years of special training before a woman can blend a Rasa product. This is because choosing the right herbs and blending them in precise proportions for maximum effect requires very special skills and knowledge. Rasa identifies women from underprivileged communities and trains them in technical and managerial skills to enable them to set up efficient production units for agro based products. We provide all the required inputs from production and managerial skill training, identification of raw material sources and material management to costing, quality control, maintenance of accounts, group management, and marketing support. Rasa also has an active Research and Development cell for the purpose of identifying and developing new products and upgrading the existing range, so that the entire process is a dynamic one, relying on constant interaction. our rasa of quality Presently Rasa works with two groups, one producing herbal hair and body care products and the other natural spices. Professional consultants who are experts in their field have trained the women. This is vital, especially in the case of herbal skincare products where the demand for skill is higher and the competition greater. And our commitment has paid dividends - products have already been test marketed both in India and overseas and are finding acceptance as is evidenced by regular orders. The range of Rasa products are marketed through Sasha. Retaining its trademark emphasis on naturally-inspired products using traditional recipes, Sasha brings to you a series of products that offer a holistic approach to contemporary living." http://www.sashaworld.com/bazaar/bzrasaskin.htm "The Nourishing Rasa - We have sourced the purest essential oils, crushed herbs, and herbal and botanical extracts providing luxurious, holistic skincare treatments. Benefits: Apricot Oil moisturizes the skin. Vegetative Glycerin acts on the skin to make it smooth supple and wrinkle free. Extracts of herbal ingredients like Sandalwood, Vetiver, Indian Berberry, Eaglewood, Holy Basil, Turmeric and Aniseed tone the skin, and protect it from harmful, atmospheric contamination. Neem is a powerful antiseptic that helps heal minor skin infections. Benefits: Apricot Oil preserves the softness and smoothness of the skin and also moistens it. Vegetative Glycerin, a natural humitant keeps the skin well moisturized. Extracts of Red Sandal, Withania, Vetiver, Eaglewood, Holy Basil, Licorice and Chiretta tone the skin, exert antibacterial action and protect it from atmospheric contamination. Neem is a powerful antiseptic agent and prevents skin infection. Intensive Care Cream This powerful combination of precious oils and herbal extracts is blended to revive fatigued and mature skin. Benefits: Olive Oil, Apricot Oil, Sesame Oil, Sunflower Oil provide natural essential nutrients, making the skin soft, elastic, smooth, firm, and protect it from environmental pollution hazards. They clear dead accumulated cells from the surface of the skin making it radiant. Sandalwood dust deodorizes and controls spots and blemishes on the skin, and provides additional protection from harmful UV rays and other atmospheric contaminants. Turmeric Powder acts as an antiseptic and makes the complexion fairer. Extract of herbal ingredients such as Indian Madder, Eaglewood, Red Sandal, Holy Basil and Neem lighten blemishes and freckles of the skin and improve skin texture. Neem - A powerful antiseptic helps heal skin disorders. Natural Sandalwood Oil is used as perfume and Lemon Oil deodorizes, cleanses and removes excessive oiliness of the skin without disturbing the skin's natural acid mantle. Bamboo milk Facial Cleanser This is a nourishing cleanser for oily to normal skin types to make the skin clear, smooth and restore brightness of complexion. Benefits: Herbal extracts such as Henna Leaf, Evolvulus Alsinoides, Eclipta, Emblic Myrobalan, Indian Soapnut and Neem, cleanse and condition the hair leaving it soft & silky. This shampoo prevents dandruff and scaling of the scalp, promotes luxuriant hair growth and controls premature graying. Natural Henna Oil is used as a perfume. Citrus Shampoo (For Oily Hair) Benefits: Extract of Indian Spikenard, Licorice, Linseed, Indian Soap nut, and Neem thoroughly cleanse and condition the hair, making it smooth and supple and enhancing growth. Lemongrass Oil and Orange Oil removes excessive oil without disturbing the natural acid mantle and protects it from environment pollution. Shikakai - Amla Shampoo (For Normal Hair) Benefits: Herbal extracts of Shikakai, Embolic Myrobalan, Licorice, Indian Soap nut and Neem used in the shampoo clean the scalp and hair, provide essential nutrients to the hair root to enhance, luxurious growth of hair and prevent hair loss. Natural Amla Oil is used for fragrance. Sandal Massage and Body Oil (For dry skin) Benefits: Olive oil and sesame oil have an emollient action on the skin making it soft, smooth and wrinkle-free. They clear dead cells and make the skin radiant. Sandal, Withania, Holy basil, Vetiver and Neem deodorize, disinfect and heal minor skin disorders and tone up the skin. Natural Sandalwood Oil, apart from its function as a perfume, protects the skin from UV rays and controls spots and blackheads, thus improving the skin texture. Citrus Massage and Body Oil (For Oily Skin) Benefits: Lemon Oil and Lemongrass Oil are powerful astringents that thoroughly cleanse and remove excessive oil, without disturbing the skin's natural acid mantle and counteract both bacterial and fungal infections. A blend of Olive Oil, Sesame Oil and herbal ingredients such as Leucus Caphatotes, withania, Eaglewood and Neem reinforce this oil's qualities and vitalize and alleviate minor skin disorders and remove pain. Narcissus Massage and Body Oil (For Normal Skin) Benefits: Withania, Vetiver, Chiretta, Eaglewood and Neem tone the skin, improve blood circulation and heal minor skin infections. Olive Oil and Sesame Oil preserve the skin's glow and have an exfoliating action. Tuberose Oil is used to perfume this oil and makes the skin soft and smooth. Herbal Massage Oil Especially beneficial for sufferers from arthritis and gout. Bringharaj - Amla Hair Oil The Oil nourishes the scalp and hair. Benefits: Herbal ingredients present in this Oil such as Eclipta, Emblic Myrobalan, Indian Spikenard, Linseed, Liquorice and Neem stimulate luxurious hair growth, prevents hair loss and premature graying. Vitamin E protects the scalp from harmful UV rays and atmospheric pollutants. Natural Amla Oil nourishes and cleanses the hair. Coco - Amla Hair Oil Coconut Oil is an excellent nourishing and moisturizing oil for both scalp and hair. Benefits: A combination of herbal ingredients such as Henna, Emblic Myrobalan, Eclipta, Evolvulus alsinoides, Beleric Myrobalan, Licorice, Holy Basil and Neem replenish the nutrients of the scalp and hair, which are lost due to over exposure to sunlight and atmospheric pollution. The oil controls scaling and dandruff, enhances hair growth, prevents hair loss and premature graying. " http://www.aidtoartisans.org/artisans/artisan.php?a_id=44 Sasha Association for Craft Producers At Sasha, producer groups are actively involved in the total marketing process - from the pricing of the product to the nature of the Sasha shop, and thus the role that Sasha will play in their lives. By establishing alternative trade practices and emphasizing group participation, Sasha encourages small producer groups to take the first step towards independence - the exploration of market possibilities within their own environment. Sasha is a founding member of the Fair Trade Forum in India which includes all the IFAT members of the region. Initially, Sasha only exported craft to other nonprofit organizations, but eventually this dependence on overseas markets increased the vulnerability of producer groups and reliance on Sasha. To address this problem Sasha opened a domestic retail outlet in Calcutta in October 1981. More information is available at www.sashaworld.com. From an article about Sasha: http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2003/05/08/stories/2003050800950200.htm "A range of herbal beauty products from Rasa (Ruro Agro Services Association), a trust launched by Sasha, in 1991. Its range includes a bamboo milk facial cleanser, an intensive care cream which contains eaglewood, olive oil, neem, deodar and basil, and a hand and body lotion derived from apricot oil, red sandal, vetiver and licorice, among other ingredients. It also has a range of gourmet spices, including Vegetable Kebab Masala and Murgh Musallam. Like other groups affiliated to Sasha, Rasa is committed to fair trade practices and ecologically sustainable development. That explains its common ground with Anvil from Kolkata, with its sleek wrought iron candleholders and photo-frames."
|
