Slavery in the handmade carpet industry exists, and often involves violent exploitation of children. Please watch the videos and read the reports below.
The statements in this artwork are correct and directed to the consumer – who is usually in the so-called developed world and has no idea of the exploitation that is in the beautiful carpet they are about the buy. Why would you buy a product for you home that is so full of pain?
The Good News!
Please check out GOODWEAVE.org Goodweave is a remarkable global organization taking effective actions to eliminate slavery in handmade carpets. You may not realize it, but the beautiful handmade rugs you see in stores and in homes may have been made by slaves – including child slaves. Look for the GOODWEAVE label to ensure that your carpet is ethically sourced. You might be surprised to learn how many mainstream retail stores and designers now carry GOODWEAVE carpets in both US and EU.
REPORT: In Most Extensive Study To Date, FXB Fellow Documents Widespread Exploitative Labor Practices In India’s handmade Carpet Sector.
India’s Handmade Carpets Sold in Many Major U.S. Retail Chains
FXB CENTER FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS: HARVARD UNIVERSITY, January 2014
Download the full report here Tainted Carpets
“U.S. and Western consumers must become more aware of the atrocious conditions under which their carpets are woven,” said Siddharth Kara, the report’s author. “Those conditions must then be improved in a way that does not cause any ill effects to local populations.”
http://fxb.harvard.edu/tainted-carpets-report/