The Made By Node Exhibition at Design Museum for Fairtrade Fortnight

Made by Node was created by Chris Haughton, a designer and illustrator and also an author of popular childrens books such as 'A bit Lost' with his lovely owl character (see below) which incidently was the first image for the first rug sample![[posterous-content:pid___2]]

[[posterous-content:pid___3]]Chris and his business partner Akshay, work with Kumbeshwar Technical School, who we work with for AURA QUE handknitted banana yarn scarves.  Having visited the producer group with People Tree, Chris set about working with their Rug Weaving Unit to improve the way they interpreted designs and connect them with new illustrators and designers, so Made by Node was born![[posterous-content:pid___4]]

I am really excited about this project, as the rugs are really beautiful and creates work for a small department within Kumbeshwar, a very well organised and positive organisation run by the lovely Khadgi family. THe rugs are beautifully designed and made, and with such a positive story behind them, and such variety of designs, the collective will definately get a positive response, starting with the cover of Creative Review and some great UK press for the project!

[[posterous-content:pid___5]]

Take a look at their website - the video is really beautiful, and only two minutes long, and shows how the rugs are made in Nepal.

http://www.madebynode.com/

[[posterous-content:pid___6]]

See most of the rug designs by 18 different artists below in the picture gallery:

[[posterous-content:pid___0]]

Beatrice Alemagna | Sanna Annukka | Lesley Barnes | Petra Borner | Chamo | Benji Davies | Chris Haughton | Clayton Junior | Jon Klassen | Micah Lidberg | Joe Magee | Geoff McFetridge | Neasden Control Centre | Patternity | Serge Seidlitz | Marcroy Smith | Kevin Waldron | Donna Wilson

Posted via email from AURA QUE

Visiting the Divine Chocolate Pop-up Shop for Fairtrade Fortnight!

[[posterous-content:pid___0]]

At the weekend I managed to pop into the Divine Chocolate pop up shop in Monmouth Street, Covent Garden - with such combinations as Toffee & Sea Salt, how could I resist!![[posterous-content:pid___5]]

I loved the window display with all different divine chocolate bars suspended from the ceiling, it looks fab! I love the patterns and colours of the packaging, they looks so beautiful, its a shame to open! Of course we tried the free samples :) and stock up on choclate for presents, though me and my sister couldnt help tucking into the toffee/sea salt bar - hhmmmm!

[[posterous-content:pid___3]]

Divine chocolate is made by cocoa farmers in Ghana, who own 45% of the company. and as Divine says 'you can be sure our chocolate's made with pride' because of this! The chocolate is certified fairtrade with the fairtrade symbol on the packaging. They say its a challenge to compete with the big boys in the chocolate industry, but after trying their amazing flavours, I definately prefer to choose Divine!

[[posterous-content:pid___2]]

Here is the Divine Chocolate event calendar for the rest of the week:

[[posterous-content:pid___1]][[posterous-content:pid___6]]

Posted via email from AURA QUE

AURA QUE in Fairtrade Supporters Booklet for hometown Holmfirth, West Yorkshire

Growing up in Holmfirth, in West Yorkshire, may be a sharp contrast to the chaos of Kathmandu and the city brights of London, but I have been lucky to have much support from not only friends and family at home, but local businesses and mentors who have helped me establish and develop my business over the years.

So I am realy pleased to be part of the Holme Valley Fairtrade Supporters Group brochure which promotes local businesses, including AURA QUE but also promoting our fairtrade friends and other local businesses:

Fair & Funky, who provide fantastic creative and educational workshops for community groups and children across West Yorkshire, promoting fairtrade and recycling ethos.  https://twitter.com/fair_funky

Bolling Coffee who produce Grumpy Mule Fairtrade coffee from beans sourced from fair trade and small cooperative farming units far and wide. https://twitter.com/GrumpyMule

and the Fair Traders Cooperative, a local boutique for food, fashion and gifts from fairtrade sources, or recycled concepts or local companies - they even stock AURA QUE products! https://twitter.com/FairTradersCoop

Posted via email from AURA QUE

Buy Fair Trade for 2013 and support producers in developing countries like Nepal!!

Fair Trade Fortnight is upon us for 2013!! Please support by promoting the fair trade message and buying fair trade products that help give producers and farmers in developing countries a fair wage for their work, allowing them to support their families for a better future!

This short video by Fair Trader Foundation UK describes what fair trade is and how you can do your bit to help!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8vlbXDOXUU&feature=player_embedded&noredirect=1

See the full gallery on Posterous

Here at AURA QUE, we have launched a small Twitter competition where you can follow and retweet with a hashtag for #fairtradefortnight to win one of our popular TARA Hobo's in Grey or Black Leather with handknitted banana yarn fibre! Winner to be picked by Sunday 3rd March 2013 from all new followers!

See our twitter feed: http://twitter.com/auraque

Posted via email from AURA QUE

From first sample to fairly traded production - LILA Handbag

With Fairtrade Fortnight just around the corner, I wanted to show the time and effort that goes into producing each AURA QUE design.  With the initial designs put together in the UK, I then work with Kumar in the sampling unit at the leather factory in Kathmandu, to get the pattern correct, make changes and develop the bags into the final samples.

Here you can see Kumar working on the initial idea for LILA - our large weekender handbag - we work on the patterns together, making changes as we go along.  This way, we can make sure the proportions are correct and the look is as desired.  We also check that the making process is possible for a production, with minimal quality control issues and challenges without compromising on the design.

LILA weekender is available with handknitted banana yarn panels or all in leather, currently priced at £95 from our AURA QUE online boutique - click here: http://shop.auraque.com/products

Posted via email from AURA QUE

WFTO reports about fair trade producer group in Nepal!

Article on the World Fair Trade Organisation WFTO website about one of our producer groups Kumbeshwar Technical School who handknit all our banana yarn scarves and accessories

http://www.wfto.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1898&Itemid=314

Article as found on WFTO website:

“Equal Opportunity for All” at the Kumbeshwar Technical School (KTS), Nepal

13 February 2013

The history of Kumbeshwar Technical School (KTS) and its relationship with the local community dates back to 1983 when Siddhi Bahadur Khadgi, Founder Chairman, discovered a certain group of people living in unhealthy and poor conditions on the north side of the Kumbeshwar temple in Patan, Nepal. Referred to as the untouchables or “Podee” in Nepali, they were classified under the lowest ranking caste, also known as Sudra. Due to such social discrimination, they were often shunned and considered as bad luck by the general population. Their role in the community is to clean the streets of Patan before dawn when people are still asleep. It is believed that any person who caught a glimpse of the “Podees” would face immediate bad luck. Fellow country man Kiran Khadgi was eager to help this marginalized group. Khadgi studied how to work with “podees” in order to help them. He and his family took the challenge by first establishing a day care center for children and offering them washing facilities, clothes and food. Their work was soon appreciated and supported by the Douglas Memorial Old Missionary Evangelism, who helped the family organize a 6-month adult literacy program. Following the adult literacy program, the adults were asked about what they would like to be taught as a life-skill. Their unanimous decision was to learn hand knitting and carpet weaving. Therefore, the Khadgi family opened the doors of their home, which served as a training center. With help from foreign volunteers, they started to develop design and partnerships with Fair Trade Organizations and export their handicrafts in 1985. Please see link to read rest of the article...

Posted via email from AURA QUE

Happy Valentines Day from AURA QUE!!

Wishing you all a Happy Valentines Day from AURA QUE!

Here is a cute heart felted purse from one of our suppliers!

Even in Kathmandu, gifts of flowers, chocolates and musical cards are given to loved ones to celebrate the western tradition of Valentines Day!

Posted via email from AURA QUE

Ten years on from my first visit to Nepal!

Well how is this to make me feel old? Its ten years this month since I first lived in Nepal for five months before art college in 2003.  I was based in the Terai southern region of the country, in a rural village with two other English girls, Kate and Hannah, teaching conversational English classes at the local school!

That was when I realised that I loved the people and the country Nepal, but teaching languages was not my calling! Especially with classes of up to 60 kids! We managed to have fun doing various word games, making activities, outdoor games and English conversation, to liven up the kids' school day - as in rural government schools, education and learning generally consisted of chanting phrases unfortunately.

Anyway, here are some pictures I have dug out from that trip, in the school and at the Nepali family house we lodged in the local area. Brought back lots of good memories for me!!

Posted via email from AURA QUE

Making our patchwork leather bags to minimise our leather wastage!

Here is on of our producers, Bagarwati in the factory, placing our leather patchwork pieces together in our diamond pattern for our current range of leather bags. 

Some times it is hard to find uses for all the smaller pieces of leather after cutting out all pieces, so it is great to work with these on these patchwork designs!

ESTA Satchel - priced at £59

ALINA Tote with inside zip closure - priced at £69

SHANTI Clutch with detachable braided leather strap - priced at £39

MENKU Handbag with zip closure - priced at £59

Its like a puzzle getting the right colours in the right order for the pattern! We also used some leftover scraps of a lovely dark gold leather we found, to jazz up our black leather versions!

Posted via email from AURA QUE

Our sample maker Kumar wears our VELA Neck Scarf in Nepali winter!

Kumar, who helps me with all leather samples, pictured here in our geometric patterned VELA Neck scarf - keeping him warm from the Nepali winter, which is supposed to be even colder this year!

Our VELA Neckscarves are reduced from £29 to £22 for our SALE - check out our online boutique:

http://shop.auraque.com/products

Posted via email from AURA QUE