One Mango Tree is the latest fashion brand working with artisans abroad to make a difference. The label’s clothes, handbags, and other accessories are handcrafted by women living in Northern Uganda.
One Mango Tree founder Halle Butvin traveled to Africa in 2006, and was amazed to find many women were trained as tailors through international aid programs, but had no outlet for their skills. And so the business was born.
Today One Mango Tree employs almost forty women who receive fair wages for their services. Additionally profits from the label’s fashion items provide financial literacy and English language classes for the employee’s African communities.
The organization really has thought of everything. It supplies bicycles for the women to commute to the One Mango Tree building, which offers on-site daycare for any young children.
As the label grows, there is increased emphasis on eco-friendly materials. The latest crop of purses is crafted from organic cotton grown in the fields of Northern Uganda.
With ethnic fashion still right on trend, it seems smart to invest in a genuine tribal purse like one from One Mango Tree, rather than a high end designer imitation, doesn’t it?
