Child labor in hand made rugs decreasing, but not gone yet…

17 Sep 2015
I first learned about child slave labor in Asian rug manufacturing factories about 4 years ago. I was appalled to hear first hand stories of young children forced against their will to weave rugs for long hours in dismal conditions at slave (if any) wages. I vowed then and there to offer only rugs that are certified to be free of child labor.  If inexpensive hand made wood rugs are inexpensive because children were forced to weave them, I want no part in that rug sale.

 

Here is a great recap on the internationally known Good Weave program and my favorite hand made rug suppliers at Azadi rugs in Telluride. Not only are their rugs certified child labor free, their service is excellent and you can trade your rug in at any time for a different style or size! Thanks Azadi, for being a Good Weave Champion. You and your company totally rock.

 

BUSINESS BRIEFS | AZADI Fine Rugs Becomes GoodWeave a Certified Champion
by Watch Staff

 

TELLURIDE – AZADI Fine Rugs in Telluride is proud to announce they have become a champion of the GoodWeave certification label, partnering with the organization to give consumers the power to end child labor through a simple act: demanding certified child-labor-free rugs.
GoodWeave is an internationally acclaimed organization that works to end child labor in the handmade rug industry and offer educational opportunities to children in weaving communities.  They will be holding a GoodWeave celebration event on Thursday, July 25, ,from 4-6 p.m. at their Colorado Avenue location.
Most consumers don’t realize that the carpet-making industry is rife with child labor. April 16 marked the anniversary of the death of Pakistani rug-slave-turned-activist Iqbal Massih who inspired the work of GoodWeave. He was sold into bonded labor at age 4 and chained to a carpet loom until he escaped six years later and began speaking out against the industry. He won the Reebok human rights award in the early 1990s and was killed in 1995 at the age of 11.

 

Since founder and executive director of GoodWeave, U.S.A. Nina Smith launched GoodWeave in 2000 child labor in the industry is down 75 percent.
“Consumers drive their demands for fair labor practices back onto the market.” said Smith. “Through the sale of nearly eight million child-labor free rugs worldwide the number of ‘carpet kids’ has dropped from 1 million to 250,000.”

 

GoodWeave-certified producers comply with an extensive certification standard and undergo monitoring of their facilities. Importers of Good Weave textiles pay a small royalty fee that Good Weave and partner organizations use to educate and rehabilitate former child weavers. The GoodWeave label is the best assurance that no child labor was used in the making of a carpet or rug.

 

“We are honored to take our place with companies globally that have taken a stand for children in weaving communities,” said AZADI Fine Rugs owner David Neishabori.
The celebration at AZADI in Telluride will also include images from the acclaimed Faces of Freedom photography exhibit during the GoodWeave event which offers a look into the heart of that transformation. This traveling photo exhibition, sponsored by GoodWeave and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, takes you behind the looms and inside the carpet factories of South Asia. The stunning images were captured by photo documentarian, filmmaker and human rights educator U. Roberto Romano.

AZADI Fine Rugs is located 217 W. Colorado Avenue. They also have locations in Scottsdale and Sedona, Arizona. For more information about AZADI Fine Rugs call 970/728-4620 or go to www.azadifinerugs.com.

LivingRoom.S

The Inside View on Window Coverings

17 Sep 2015

I believe it is human nature to love a beautiful view.  I search for them wherever I go: on the top of a mountain, at the top of a sandstone cliff on Cedar Mesa Utah, or inside a home.  Beautiful views create good feelings.  One of my latest projects, providing interior design for a new home in Pagosa, was oriented to magnify the beautiful view  of Squaretop Mountain. The owners love this area so much they had June Jurack (a water color painter known in Durango for her whimsical gift cards) paint the view on a label for their home-crafted wine.

Large windows are often installed that showcase incredible views.  However, unless the windows have been well designed with thoughtful planning, those “take your breath away” glories come with a price.  I have worked with numerous  homeowners  who complain that their lovely and large windows either heat the room up too much, or cool it down too much, or the room occupants are blinded with glare.

There is one window covering family that offers many solutions to the issues posed by excess heat, cold or glare. The Duette Architella honeycomb shades by Hunter Douglas were first invented in Broomfield, Colorado over 30 years ago. From its humble beginnings it has grown to be the number one window covering in climates such as ours. The Duette Architella is energy efficient to the maximum!

Five reasons why Duette Architella shades are so popular :

Cold and Hot Climate Benefits;  Duette Architella shades reduces cold, exterior air from entering and  prevents interior air from escaping, and vice versa for the hot climates.

Reduces Energy Consumption; Duette Architella shades are one of only a few that are so insulating they use to qualify for a Federal Tax Credit until they ended the program in 2013.

Environmentally Sensitive; All Duette Architella fabrics are GREENGUARD certified. Select fabrics contain sustainable and recycled content.

Architella Duettes are extremely versatile. They come in hundreds of fabrics and colors, five different headrail systems including  a vertical system for sliding glass doors, and various opacity options from sheer to semi-opaque to blackout.  They are low profile to retain most of the view.

There are numerous other window covering solutions. Most shades are available with  hard wired motorization, which include options for home automation and integrated IPAD apps (for the techy person, tons of info can be provided).  Many types of window shadings are on the market today, including the infamous Silhouette shade, and the new Solera Soft Shades by Hunter Douglas.

Sunscreens are popular in offices and restaurants to retain the view yet cut the glare. Some shades look like drapes but roll up in a low profile such as the Vignette and Roller Shade Collections. For the fabric lover, custom draperies also offer high insulation and glare cutting capabilities.

The need for window coverings tend to be similar for most people; heat, cold, glare, privacy, and aesthetics.  The best options for meeting those needs are varied and complex. To get the most out of your time and money, consult a professional who can assist you with balancing your needs and your budget. You will be glad you did.