Thumbprint Gallery supports artisans from around the world. This support helps to provide sustainable employment, skill sets and hope to people who if not for this role, would be living in poverty. Each purchase ‘makes a difference’!  While we have many different tales to tell, here are a few stories of the hands that makes these our products.....


Kapula Candles & Ceramics
This family business trains their artisans to make wonderful handcrafted candles and ceramics.  The business began to help employ the local women of the community, many of whom are single mothers. Today 90% of their employees are women who are trained to make these beautiful products, which in turn provides them with sustainable employment. Using traditional methods, these handcrafted candles and ceramics are hand poured, hand painted, and hand packaged!   Kapula is a proud guaranteed member of the WFTO, World Fair Trade Organization.

Godfrey’s Animals
Godfrey started his creative career making animals and cars out of coke cans 15 years ago.  Originally from Zimbabwe, he now has a small team that work with him in his workshop located just outside Cape Town.  Here he designs and makes a range of character animals out of recycled metal, tin, wire and beads – each screaming with personality! 

Original t-bag designs
Starting with a few greeting cards, Original teabag Designs now incorporates their recycled, beautifully hand-painted tea bags into a variety of products.  The tea bags are donated from around the world to make this possible. Once the bags are dried, the tea is removed, the paper is ironed and it becomes a canvas for the local ‘tea bag artists’!  The company provides employment for many who live in the neighboring township and helps them provide for their families.
SoyLites
This small company is committed to consistently craft and deliver product that is influenced by their African roots. All packaging materials, essential oils and other related extras are locally sourced. They love the abundance of choice when it comes to quality African botanical oils, and are constantly experimenting with ideas.  SoyLites not only employs and trains people from the community, but also supports Home of Hope, an orphanage for young girls and child protection services in South Africa.
Silk Road Bazzaar
These products are made by a women-led women-run cooperative call Kork located in the mountainous villages across Kyrgyzstan. During peak season more then 100 women come together to make their famous 'zooties' - the whimsy little animal booties.  Many of these women provide the primary source of income for their families filling them with pride, and they are elevating the status of women in Kyrgyzstan.