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Maison Bengal

Maison Bengal

Fair trade products from Bangladesh

  • Bags
    • Extra Large Jute Bags
    • Hand woven jute bags
    • Jute Macrame Chelsea Bags
    • Jute Macrame Fringe Bags
    • Jute Poresh Bags
    • Jute Tote Bags
    • Macrame jute bags
  • Baskets
    • Jute baskets
    • Hogla baskets
  • Cotton appliqué
    • Glasses cases
    • Cotton appliqué Bags
  • Seating
    • Jute seating
    • Hogla
  • Tableware
  • Floor mats
    • Jute floor mats
    • Hogla floor mats
  • Dog baskets
    • Hogla dog baskets

Newsletters and blog

COP26 and Bangladesh

Sheenagh Day · November 4, 2021 ·

COP26 Conference 31 October 2021 – 12 November 2021

Bangladesh is widely recognised as one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to the impact of global warming. Situated between the snow peaks of the Himalayas to the North and the Bay of Bengal to the South, the country is criss-crossed with a myriad of rivers ranging from the smallest waterways to the formidable Ganges. Most of the country is less than ten metres above sea level and almost ten percent is below one metre.

Many of the areas in which Maison Bengal and our partner organisations work are already experiencing some of the severe effects due to climate change. Sea level rise is causing salination of wells and agricultural land and extreme weather events such as cyclones are happening with ever greater frequency and intensity. Storm surges are destroying coastal defences and the monsoon rains are becoming erratic and more extreme.

The communities with which we work show enormous courage and resilience in adapting to the impacts these events have on agriculture, water and food security, health and shelter. However, they now need assistance from the developed world on a scale that is commensurate with the existential threat.

The world’s attention is currently focused on the COP26 climate summit deliberations, and the desperate urgency for world leaders to agree on a plan of action. People talk of the world being at “one minute before midnight” in its effort to save humanity from the worst effects of climate change. Bangladesh can already hear midnight chiming. Time has run out for words alone, Bangladesh’s future depends on crucial commitments for immediate action decided within the COP26 conference.

Here below are a number of photographs that demonstrate the degree to which the most threatening effects of climate change are already impacting the daily lives of the communities that we work with.

  • Severe flooding in South West Bangladesh
  • Distribution of clean drinking water to local communities
  • Cyclone damage at artisans’ house
  • Road collapses due to riverbank erosion after heavy monsoon
  • Disruption to transportation causing communities to be cut off from vital supplies

Fairtrade Fortnight 2021

Sheenagh Day · February 25, 2021 ·

22nd February – 7th March 2021

During this period, Maison Bengal will donate £10 from every SRMB bag purchased through our website, back to the artisans in Bangladesh who make them, to support Fairtrade Fortnight 2021.

Fairtrade Fortnight is an annual campaign aimed to celebrate and raise awareness of all the producers and workers who live in various developing countries, such as Bangladesh. Its purpose is to help educate people on how their choice in buying more ethical and sustainable products really has a huge impact on so many families around the world. Now more than ever, as the world still struggles with the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic, we can discover the many ways of supporting the more vulnerable communities on the planet we all share.

  • Small round macrame bag
    Small round macrame bag
    £40.00
    Add to basket

SMR X MB

Sheenagh Day · February 4, 2021 ·

We were absolutely delighted when Gautam at SMR Days approached us last year with ideas for a collaboration. The Marlo bag and the Buddy bag were inspired by the travels of the SMR founders, recalling the warm and inviting tones of sun, sea and sand around the world. They are wonderfully stylish, versatile and relaxed, and available exclusively from SMR Days Website.

We are also thrilled to announce that they have generously offered to donate all profits from the sales of these two bags in the month of February to the women who work with us in Bangladesh, and the communities we support.

  • SMR Days Buddy Bag Sand
  • SMR Days Leather Tags
  • SMR Days Buddy Bag Fruit
  • SMR Days Marlo Bag sunset


December newsletter

Sheenagh Day · December 10, 2020 ·

As 2020 draws to a close, the whole Maison Bengal team would like to express our deepest gratitude to you all, friends, stockists and internet clients around the world for your support this year more than ever. Your loyalty and generosity have kept the business safely afloat and enabled us to place orders with our suppliers throughout the year without interruption. We were also able to respond immediately to calls for help from our partner NGOs in providing emergency funds to help feed over 2,000 families in Bangladesh this spring when they needed it most, during their very strict lockdown. Solidarity with our partners is the fundamental principle to our business and is we believe the bedrock to sustainability.
All of us, irrespective of where we live have been very seriously impacted by the restrictions imposed by Covid-19, and the fall-out from the pandemic has exposed the many vulnerabilities intrinsic to our way of life. Whether it is in business (fast fashion in particular and the cancellation of millions of dollars worth of garment orders) or health or society in general, women have also tended to suffer disproportionately. A recent UN report estimates that the pandemic will push 47 million more women and girls globally below the poverty line, reducing decades of progress to eradicate extreme poverty.
In our small way, Maison Bengal is determined to address this trend by providing regular work and a decent wage to as many young women we can in Bangladesh. We aim to build resilience in the communities we work in, through employment and fair wages which help improve the education of the next generation and fosters empowerment of both mothers and children. Our local partner NGOs are on the ground and are ideally placed to identify the communities with the greatest need, and provide training to new artisans over and above the 5,000 we currently work with. As we approach a new year, we look forward to designing new products, working with our existing stockists around the world and fulfilling some exciting new collaborations which hopefully will bring heightened visibility to our brand and philosophy. There are many challenges ahead, continued delays with sea freight and production until a vaccine is available to all, and of course Brexit which will inevitably cause its fair share of disruptions, which is why your continued support is so valuable to us.
Thank you again, wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

New in – pick n’mix jute macramé sustainable placemats

Sheenagh Day · June 28, 2020 ·

New in - pick n’mix jute macramé sustainable placemats
New in – pick n’mix jute macramé sustainable placemats tableware diningroom jute handmade fairtrade povertyalleviation sdgs outside alfrescodining

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