About Revy Fair Trade

Revy Fair Trade was founded on the beliefs that all people deserve to be treated fairly, poverty should not be a death sentence, and our planet can sustain us if we care for it. 

 

Our Fair Trade Principles:

 

All workers have the right of association to form their own co-op, receive a living wage, and work without fear of abuse or their own safety. Economic justice and social justice cannot be separated.


Revy Fair Trade promises each co-op:

  • A fair price with cash advances and prompt payments
  • Collaboration on designs and production methods
  • Transparency by sharing costs and pricing
  • Long term relationships with job security

As a member of the Fair Trade Federation, we uphold the following principles: 

FTF Fair Trade Principles

 

    Our Charitable Causes

    By partnering with the Byonabyangu Childcare Foundation in the Buyende District of Uganda, we are able to provide residents of poverty-stricken rural villages opportunities for education, healthcare, entrepreneurship, and clean water. Revy provides this foundation a broader platform for fundraising, and passes on 100% of collected funds earmarked for charitable causes.

    Our Artisans

    The people of El Salvador are among the most generous and determined you'll find anywhere. Emerging from a civil war, they are striving to improve their daily lives and rebuild their ravaged country. Revy works with individuals and co-ops to help them earn a living wage and provide a brighter future for themselves and their children.

     

    Alabi Recycling Crew

    Alabi Recycling

    Located in Santa Ana less than an hour from the capital, Alabi Recycling works with found scrap materials. Mario Alabi designs our popular inner-tube belts, wallets, and bags. The inner-tubes are found tossed aside in abundance, the by-product of El Salvador’s common "taxi" trucks that navigate the very rough mountain roads and whose inner-tubes need regular patching -- until they can’t be patched. Mario drives around in his motorcycle with sidecar and gathers them up, bringing them back to his workshop: an industrial washing machine and sewing machines. Once working solo, he now employs a small crew to convert the found rubber scrap into functional and durable accessories. This project both helps the environment and provides jobs in the community. 

     

    Alma de Añil

    Alma de Añil means “Alma of the Indigo,” aptly named for the proprietor and her favorite dye material. Indigo was one of the major crops in El Salvador before the introduction of artificial dyes in the late 19th century when the entire economy began to collapse and switch to coffee. Today, there's a resurgence in indigo, and Alma’s business is one of the leaders, growing organic indigo on a farm outside Santa Ana, then harvesting and processing the indigo to brew the distinctive blue dye. Utilizing techniques that date back to pre-Spanish occupation, the indigo artisans dye textiles into exciting and beautiful patterns. Alma de Añil employs members of 10 families to tend the indigo crops and complete the crafting process, and provides them with gardening space on the farm for their own food crops as well. 

     

    Las Tinecas

    Las Tinecas is the chosen name for the women of this co-op who live in the crowded city of San Martín, a gang-ridden close suburb of the capital city, San Salvador. Some of the women in this co-op are ex-gang members who are now working hard to support their children and provide them with a better life. Their community’s main “road” is an abandoned railroad line. Dirt and grass cover the old rails, and their dirt-floor homes are made of translucent fiberglass or steel panels, supported by poles cut from surrounding trees. They take pride in their homes and their work; over the ten years Revy has known them, several children from the community have completed high school -- not a small feat in El Salvador, where education beyond the eighth grade is not free.

     

    Taller Jaragua

    Taller Jaraguá

    Located in the town of Tonacatepeque, not far from the growing capital of San Salvador, is the Taller Jaraguá. Working primarily with coconuts to create jewelry, they purchase all of their materials from other local family businesses to create a thriving economic community. Taller Jaraguá's mission goes well beyond earning a living wage: Education is one of their main objectives, and proceeds from their sales have enabled them to build a library with donated books. Classes are held in the alleyways of their urban location while still preserving their culture and dignity.

     

    Taller la Familia

    Taller la Familia

    Alejandra Henríquez of Ilobasco, ES founded Taller la Familia or "Family Workshop" in 2013, named in honor of her love for family as a daughter, wife and mother. When she was a young mother, a neighbor invited her to join a clay miniatures class with business training, and this was "the beginning of a great passion." Since then, Alejandra has dedicated herself to preserving this traditional art form, drawing upon her creativity to add new innovations. Her small workshop provides employment and supports the local economy in her community of Ilobasco.

    Our Founding Story

    Revy was founded in 2009 after a chance encounter between our founder, Ron Ober, and a non-profit organization seeking a way into the American market. Ron was a recently retired entrepreneur, working as a human rights volunteer in Cleveland, Ohio when he connected with CRISPAZ (Christians for Peace in El Salvador) and caught wind of their dilemma: craftspeople in El Salvador wanted to sell their wares in the U.S., but weren’t sure how or where to start. Ron stepped up, offering his unique skill set as a way to get things rolling, and was quickly captivated by the inspiring stories of people striving against adversity to improve their circumstances and elevate their communities. Ron founded Revy Fair Trade shortly thereafter to act as a reliable partner in their endeavors.

    For more than a decade, Ron and Mary Ober have worked closely with artisans in El Salvador to bring their creations to fair-minded shoppers. When Ron passed away in November 2019 following a battle with cancer, Mary felt compelled to continue his legacy with Revy Fair Trade.