The Global Exchange Online Store continuously strives to strengthen its’ product offerings from artisans of diverse ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds. These NEW handmade Sparrow Ornaments are brought to you in partnership with Sevya, an organization working to provide Indian artisans a sustainable livelihood for their craft.
The ornaments are made by Muslim artisans living in Kashmir, in the foothills of the Himalayas. An entire family is involved in the production of this product and they have been perfecting their craft for generations. They are made from recycled paper which is molded into casts, then polished, sanded, coated with a tree resin and hand-painted.
The weather is extremely harsh in Kashmir and there is no agriculture, so these families rely solely on their handicraft for their livelihood. Kashmir has been a disputed territory since the 1940’s and waves of terrorism have swept the region, as a result tourism has suffered, causing the families to be even more dependent on craft productions to sustain them.