Carvings International

Since its inception in 1997, Carvings International has taken an active role in applying Fair Trade principles. Instead of buying from distributors, they work directly with a dozen families living in the West Bank that carve olive wood. The carvers, who work from their houses in Bethlehem, Beit Jala, and Beit Sahour in occupied Palestine, have suffered dramatically since the Israeli military siege on Palestinian villages began in the fall of 2000. Even though Fair Trade has meant a higher standard of living for these families, their overall income has dropped by 85% since the Palestinian Intifada began. As part of the collective punishment policies of the Israeli military on Palestinian civilians, more than 11,000 olive trees have been uprooted and destroyed, the sole source of income for many Palestinian farmers. The olive tree and the prickly pear cactus have traditionally symbolized the spirit of the Palestinian people and their connection to their homeland, a connection that has remained strong, despite occupation and long years of exile and displacement.

Olive wood carvings have been produced for millennia along the shores of the Mediterranean. The branches of olive trees have been the symbol of peace for thousands of years and even monks have carved spoons and bowls from olive wood, both to use and to sell. All carvings made of this hard wood have a varying and smooth grain, making every piece extraordinarily unique. It is very difficult to match the grain of two pieces since the pattern is completely hidden in the heart of the wood. Mediterranean olive wood is heavy, dense and durable with a distinctive red pigment in its grain. These Olive wood carvings come only from the trimmings of olive trees, which is an essential process for healthy and proper growth of the trees, and to promote environmental sustainability. The olive wood is then dried and cured before it is used for carving.

The livelihood and economy Carvings International craftspeople are dependent on the sale of the works they produce. Carvings International is dedicated to insuring that olive wood carvers of the West Bank do not slip into poverty simply because they cannot sell their crafts. The skill of carving olive wood has been passed down for many generations. Carvings International welcomes any of the carver's designs and are constantly encouraging the carvers to reach new limits by providing them with new designs to produce. Although it is customary for many producers to offer samples at no charge, they never accept any samples without paying for them. This is their way of strengthening the relationship with the carvers and ensuring that they are always compensated for their work. Global Exchange carries candlesticks, and vases made in Palestine.