Since its founding, Las Cruces-Chiapas Connection has been guided by the principles of Fair Trade.

 

* Paying a fair wage in the local context: working directly with the weavers, and bypassing the middlemen, we are able to offer the weavers a better return for their work. The artisans in the cooperatives we work with set their own prices for their work.
* Providing equal employment opportunities for all people, particularly the most disadvantaged. Many of the weavers are monolingual and illiterate, because when they were children only boys were sent to school. This limits greatly their possibilities of obtaining an income.
* Offering opportunities for creativity, individual recognition, and
* Providing scholarship opportunities to women and their children, both to go to high school and college as well as to develop their weaving skills and designs.
* Engaging in environmentally sustainable practices.
* Being open to public accountability.
* Providing healthy and safe working conditions within the local context. Maya women incorporate weaving to their daily activities of watching their children, caring for domestic animals, cooking, washing, etc. They work in their homes in an environment where they feel safe and can continue their traditional Mayan way of living. Respect for cultural traditions is a central aspect of our philosophy. Cooperative groups offer a positive alternative to large-scale manufacturing and sweatshops conditions, in which the artisans have full control over the production and sale of their work.
* Building long-term relationships. We have worked with Tsobol Antzetik (Women United) for over 15 years, and have developed a relationship with the women and families with whom we work.
* Providing financial and technical assistance to producers whenever possible with money fundraised for projects designed to sustain, support and encourage women's work.

 

This information was adapted from Mayan Hands.