Mbare is pleased to announce our new relationship with Tintsaba!  The remarkable women of Tintsaba create beautiful handmade products centered on the use of sisal, a sustainable natural weed that grows wild in Swaziland.  We are now offering some of their lidded sisal baskets, and will soon be carrying a selection of their handmade jewelry.

In addition to being impressed by the beauty of their products, we are inspired by their commitment to service, teamwork, respect for the earth, and the holistic wellbeing of rural women in Swaziland.  Tintsaba was created in 1985 by Sheila Freemantle with the purpose of improving the lives of the women in her community.  The small business that started with 12 women has to date worked with and trained more than 890 women, and their products have won numerous awards for outstanding quality and excellence.  

Tintsaba provides the environment and the training that enables women to become Master Weavers, Silversmiths or Managers.  A woman working as a producer – usually a semi-literate basket maker - is offered the opportunity to move into finer, gallery/master weaver products.  These highly skilled artisans then become jewelers, silversmiths and skills trainers, guaranteeing a continuous cycle of training and development for all the producers.  Tintsaba has also developed numerous social programs to support women in their individual development.  Ranging from mobile health clinics, HIV awareness workshops, literacy programs, and additional job training outside of their department, Tintsaba provides each woman the opportunity to evolve and have a long term sustainable career.

In October 2011, Tintsaba was awarded a Be Fair For Her Award in Brussels.  According to the Jury that chose them, they wanted to “reward Tintsaba for its holistic approach, which includes business and social support.  Thanks to its innovative production model, which generates high quality products, Tintsaba is a source of inspiration for other entrepreneurs.”

Congratulations, Tintsaba, and here's another example of the beautiful craftsmanship of the Tintsaba women: