esme

There are two things everyone should know about Hatti. One is that their bags and other products are simply gorgeous and of great quality. The other is the story behind the company. Hatti is one of Esme’s favourite companies and is a perfect demonstration of how an ethically run business can not only benefit both producers and consumers, but actually change lives and communities for the better. You can read a fuller account of Hatti's history and activities on Hatti's website.

Esme doesn't believe anyone should buy things they don’t really want, but we think that when you see the products, you will want them — and when you can see how your purchase can make a positive difference somewhere in the world, you can appreciate why Esme wants to make ethical shopping easier.

Hatti supports disadvantaged women and survivors of human trafficking (for example, girls sold to foreign circuses) by selling the handbags, children’s bags, accessories and jewellery that they produce to women in the UK and elsewhere.

The company was founded in 2005 by Emma Triplett to support organizations in Nepal struggling to rehabilitate survivors of human trafficking and integrate them back into society. Even if victims escape and return home, their troubles are rarely over. The girls are frequently shunned by society, so that they are unable to lead a normal family life and have difficulty getting jobs due to their backgrounds.

Charities in Nepal train the girls in handicraft skills, in particular sewing and handbag making. Hatti Trading commissions the designs and the products are shipped to England for sale. In fact, many of the girls producing bags for Hatti are no longer employed by charities, but have spun off an independent business that stands on its own feet.

Hatti Trading purchases its products on Fair Trade terms. This means working with marginalized producers and workers to help them move from a position of vulnerability to security and economic self-sufficiency. In the case of Hatti Trading, the company provides an above-market, living wage to the women who make the products. Hatti Trading has been certified as a Fair Trade Importer by The British Association for Fair Trade Shops (BAFTS).