Maker profile … Pashom eco-friendly Christmas decorations
Sick of tacky plastic? There is a way to make an ethical choice for your Christmas decorations this year.
Discover how below.
If you’re concerned about new Christmas decorations adding to landfill and possibly being made overseas by workers in poor conditions, there’s a range you can choose from which make a positive difference in the world.
Pashom is a social enterprise in Kathmandu, Nepal which makes super-cute and stylish felt toys and Christmas decorations. They are dedicated to supporting cottage craft in Nepal and empowering women to become self-sufficient in their communities.
Australian founder Fiona Chadwick first visited Nepal in 2002 where she was captivated by the beauty, colour and quality of the hand-crafted products made by fair trade and cottage craft producers and was deeply moved by the courage and resilience of the women artisans.
Pashom’s artisans work in a happy, fair, and dignified environment where they work from 9am to 5pm, are paid above award wages and receive benefits including annual leave, sick pay and a yearly bonus. Women with young children at home who cannot travel daily to the workshop are able to take the raw materials to their homes and work in their own time.
Pashom’s team of 35 artisans come from various regions of Nepal and India and from mixed socio-economic backgrounds, and many are single mothers. Pashom provides them with the security of fulltime employment and a respectful and supportive workplace.
Pashom also donates a percentage of profit to the continuing education of their artisans’ children.
Fiona says that says that the women are very proud of their work and the love and pride imbued in their products can truly be felt. Nepal and its women inspire her year after year to design and create products that will ignite the imagination of children and the young at heart.
Hill Street is proud to stock Pashom’s Christmas decoration range which includes cute Australian animals, beach and surfing Santa and Mrs Claus, Christmas and surfie koalas, and a felt nativity set complete with manger, wise men and a swaddled baby Jesus. Each character has a unique personality, and they all have happy smiles, much like the artisan women in Nepal who created them.
Visit Hill Street Home in Devonport, West Hobart and Sandy Bay to see the range.
