The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association Accessories Range

Just Trade is a design-led jewellery and accessories brand built around the interests of the people who make our products. Working in collaboration with makers in Peru, Ecuador, India and Vietnam, we believe in a system of trade that prioritises producers, communities and the environment.

This collection has been designed in London by Just Trade Designer, Ruth Conway and handmade by the groups of artisan makers in Peru, Ecuador, India and Vietnam. The keyring is hand crocheted by the women in the Hope Jewellery Project, Lima Peru, who get paid fairly for the part time work that they are able to do from home. The brass jewellery is hand cut and finished by the women from the Flowering Desert Project in rural Tamil Nadu, India. Women in this project are giving training and fairly paid work in a safe, secure environment which also offers free medical and holistic care. The purse is made in a WFTO fair trade production unit in Hanoi, Vietnam which gives training and fairly paid work opportunities to marginalised people in the city and surrounding area. The Tagua Pendant, is hand carved from Tagua, often referred to as vegetable ivory, tagua is a sustainable, environmentally friendly alternative to animal ivory and plastic. It is seed found in the amazon jungle that once dried can be carved and dyed to make jewellery, buttons or small ornaments. Handmade by an artisan co-op situated on the coast in Southern Ecuador.

With retail prices ranging from £12 - £30 and wholesale prices from £4- £10 this range offers an affordable, ethical gift range with wide appeal to the Association's supporter base and gives a healthy margin to the charity to support their vital work.