This roomy cotton tote is a little special as instead of a zip it closes with a drawstring. Made of handwoven cotton it is one of MESH's best sellers. It is big enough for shopping, college and beach or pool use and in this classic navy and white colour is very stylish for holidays.

Size: 50cm wide, 40cm tall 6 cm deep, strap 69cm

Care: Wash by hand as needed.

FOB Price:
US$ 10.54
Euro: 9.54
GBP 8.53

Made in Bethany Leprosy Colony, S. India

BETHANY WEAVES -
Bethany Weaves is a weaving unit in Bethany Leprosy Colony in S. India where wonderful bags are woven and stitched and then exported around the world. Using traditional navar looms the women weave strips of brightly coloured cotton which are then stitched into bags. The unit has been functioning providing work in the colony for about 40 years. In the last decade the weavers have mostly been the daughters and daughters-in-law of the original leprosy affected colony members.

In 2017-18 MESH assisted the women to be trained to add leather trims to their bags thereby increasing and refining their range.

Watch| Bethany Bag Ballet

To see some more data about Bethany weaves and their recent achievements click here

Impact



This is Evangeline, one of the tailors in Bethany she says about her earnings:-
“I use my earnings to meet household costs and especially for anything my daughters might need. My husband and I don’t like taking loans from money lenders. I am a member of a women’s savings group and have been able to apply for a group loan three times. I have repaid each time and using that money along with the housing grant from the Government House Building Programme we have been able to build a new house with slightly larger rooms and an added balcony.”
and about quality and speed:-
“I am not the fastest tailor but then I make less mistakes then the very fast ones and since quality is important it means I don’t have to unpick and re-stitch as much as other people. I like sewing and enjoy the atmosphere learning new things, increasing my knowledge and skills all the time.”

Read more about Evangeline here