This World Fair Trade Day, Kibébé calls for A Business Revolution.
“A Business Revolution is refusing to accept the way it’s always been.”
Working towards status as an enterprise guaranteed by the World Fair Organization, Kibébé tells us how they do things differently.
How Kibébé Impacts People and the Planet
At Kibébé, we create handcrafted baby products, accessories, and décor using African print textiles and upcycled materials intentionally reducing textile waste while preserving cultural identity. But beyond products, our impact lies in people. We provide dignified employment to
refugee and Malawian artisans, many of whom have faced severe hardship. Their income
supports education, food security, and housing for their families. Our production is rooted in ethical sourcing, minimal waste, and environmental mindfulness, proving that small-scale
enterprises can tread lightly on the planet while uplifting people.
Working Towards the 10 Principles of Fair Trade
Kibébé embodies the 10 Principles of Fair Trade in everything we do. We pay fair wages, provide safe working conditions, promote non-discrimination, and ensure transparency. We reinvest part of our profits into artisan welfare through programs like our Artisan Meal Program
and farming initiative. We uphold respect for the environment by using recycled paper for packaging and reusing fabric offcuts to make new products. Our work also preserves traditional
skills while building capacity through ongoing training.
Kibébé as a Business for Positive Change
Our model combines social entrepreneurship with sustainability. As both a social enterprise in Malawi and a 501(c)(3) non-profit in the U.S., we channel profits into artisan support and community development. By centring refugee and marginalized artisans in leadership roles, we
are redefining what inclusive, regenerative business can look like. Every product we sell tells a story of resilience and transformation.
Changes Seen in Our Workforce and Community
Since 2017, we’ve seen artisans move from dependence to empowerment. Children of our
artisans are now attending school consistently, homes are being built, and hope is being
restored. The sense of pride, purpose, and financial independence among our artisans is palpable. Our wider community has also benefited through vocational training provided by our sister organization, There is Hope, to which we give 10% of our annual profits. Our artisans are
also able to set up their own businesses to further their economic independence. Some
examples we have seen are: pharmacies, farming, and clothing shops.
The Fair Trade Movement and the #BusinessRevolution
Absolutely we believe the global Fair Trade movement is not only capable of driving a
#BusinessRevolution, but it’s already happening. The shift from exploitative, profit-driven models to businesses that prioritize people and the planet is essential. Fair Trade Enterprises like ours are proof that ethical, inclusive, and sustainable business is not only viable, but vital.
Renee Marcolus, Kibébé, 10 May 2025
