Episode 29 Creating a Gift Brand that supports artisans and heritage - Ethiqana with Arshad Khalid

Most of us still purchase gifts from time to time, even during a cost of living crisis and an environmental crisis.

So how can we turn this to good effect and ensure that the gifts we choose are helping to ensure positive outcomes for the people who made them and the planet?

Growing up in India Arshad Khalid was struck by the differences between artisan created item and their cheaper, plastic counterparts.  Even as a child he could see that there needed to be a way of supporting artisans to bring their products to a wider market so they could preserve the heritage crafts they use, earn sufficient income for quality of life and also contribute to environmental concerns through use of sustainable materials and the creation of quality, long lasting products.

In this episode Where Does It Come From? host Jo Salter chats with Arshad Khalid.  As founder of social enterprise clothing and textiles brand Where Does It Come From? Jo has a keen interest in the same drivers as Arshad - fair trade, sustainability and heritage craft.

Arshad is a social entrepreneur & a fairtrade proponent passionate about sustainable development. He spent more than 21 years in the field of IT before launching Ethiqana - a social enterprise focused on preserving earth friendly, nearly extinct crafts through sustainable livelihoods. Arshad was featured in the Social Entrepreneur Index 2022 and will also be speaking at the BAFTS Conference in Birmingham later this year.

Links:

Where Does It Come From? - https://www.wheredoesitcomefrom.co.uk

Ethiqana - https://www.ethiqana.com

Ebay for Change - https://www.ebay.co.uk/b/eBay-for-Change/bn_7117727277

For Ethiqana social media search on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Linkedin using @ethiqana

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