Sol Fair Trade is a company dedicated to importing Brazilian handcrafts with the goal of linking Brazilian artisans and their products to the International market, promoting Brazilian cultural splendor, and contributing to the economic development and sustainability of poor rural and urban communities in Brazil.

The name SOL means “Sun” in Portuguese, and also is an abbreviation for “Solidaridade” or Solidarity, the guiding principle of our business.

Sol Fair Trade sells a variety of Brazilian handcrafts, from Traditional to Contemporary, with all products containing three essential qualities:

• ATTRACTIVE PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THEIR QUALITY AND BEAUTY.

• PRODUCED AND MARKETED IN A SOCIALLY JUST WAY.

• MADE FROM ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE MATERIAL.

In all our transactions with Customers, Producers and Partners, we strive to adhere to the following principles of Fair Trade:

• TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
• PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED PRODUCERS.
• PAYMENT OF A FAIR PRICE
• GENDER EQUITY
• CAPACITY BUILDING
• HEALTHY WORKING CONDITIONS
• ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Ana Paula Sawaya MacArthur is a Brazilian from São Paulo with a background in professional photography and co-founder of OBRAS – the Organization for Brazilian Solidarity. She worked as a photographer for CREN, (Center for Nutritional Education and Recuperation) which combats infant malnutrtion in Brazil and other Latin American countries, where she began her experience working with grassroots communities.

Will MacArthur is from the United States and has a degree in Economics and Ecology and a background in waste reduction and recycling, project coordination and comunity organizing with NGOs. He worked as a community developer for the brazilian NGO, CREN, (Center for Nutritional Education and Recuperation) in União de Vila Nova, one of São Paulo's largest favelas.

We would like to acknowledge the following people and organizations who have helped make our work possible:

• Fernando Pião
• Márcia Borges e Zé Osmar
• Fernanda Marques
• Helene
• Melanie Wyffels
• Robert S. MacArthur
• Dona Alicia, Isaac, Morinha, Nenê, Maria, Edson, Tereza...

Member Fair Trade Federation and Green America