Artisans are those that are experts in a trade, usually through making things by hand. And a favorite online marketplace, focusing on artisan work, is the company Artisan and Fox. The brand has dedicated their mission to providing an online space where artisan partners from around the world can sell their work of jewelry, home goods and other accessories.

I was able to chat with the brand in the summer of 2018 (check out the post here) on how their online marketplace works as a social enterprise and how they choose their product selection. And this month, I was able to partner with them again to share more on what they continue to do, how they work with artisans and what challenges they are working to overcome this year. Check out the interview below —

the interview—

How were you all started? And why the name... Artisan and Fox?

We first conceived of Artisan & Fox when our founder Jaron was working in Nepal in the summer of 2015 with a non-profit, assisting in earthquake relief. An earthquake has just struck the country, and many artisans were struggling to make ends meet. The artisans’ main source of income were tourists, and after the earthquake, there was none. 

As a stop-gap solution, Jaron created a small online store to help some Nepali silversmiths sell their Himalyan crafts to an international market. The small store ended up being a small success, selling out many of the artisans’ products - which were great quality, and at very reasonable prices. 

Realizing that the lack of market access is a common problem for artisans across the Majority World -- be it due to poor infrastructure, lack of know-how or due to political conflict, we grew Artisan & Fox across the Majority World to showcase the valuable culture embedded in their exemplary craftsmanship.

Since then, we’ve built Artisan & Fox on a human-centered approach with 200+ artisans across 9 countries, providing artisans access to international markets through our online marketplace. We also seek to preserve artisan heritage, by co-creating designs with our artisan partners, informed by the duality of contemporary design and traditional craftsmanship techniques.

The name ‘Artisan & Fox’ highlights our brand themes of worldly craftsmanship, refined curation of artisan goods, and our inquisitive nature to the cultures and countries of the developing world. 

Will you tell us more about the marketplace model and why it works?

Our business model re-defines the modern fashion supply chain, by giving the artisans the upper-hand in the entire product design process. 

Each piece on our marketplace is inspired by the cultural landscapes of the regions in which we work in, the product of a curated approach or 1-to-1 design processes with the makers. This means that many of the goods on our online marketplace are actually designed by the artisans themselves and reflect the culture from where it was made. 

With a fusion of contemporary style and traditional techniques, we ensure that traditional craftsmanship is preserved, while also remaining relevant in today's world.

What's your team like?

We’re a diverse team, dispersed between Singapore and London, but united in our shared passion for transforming retail and improving artisans’ livelihoods around the world. Rebecca and Jaron are part of the London team, while Zee and Judith are based in Singapore. 

How do you get connected to your global artisans?

Artisan  & Fox has connected to our global artisans via connections and partnerships. Over the years, we’ve developed collaborations with artisans in Kenya and Vietnam, as well as partnering with Syrian refugees in Lebanon via Tight-Knit Syria. Our partnerships with artisans in Afghanistan is made possible with the support of Turquoise Mountain - an NGO seeking to revitalize the artisan traditions of Afghanistan. 

What’s something that’s important for customers to know when shopping from you?

We’re a social enterprise :) 

As a social enterprise, we do things that don’t make sense to traditional retailers: our artisan partners are guaranteed 50% of gross proceeds from each sale, and we reinvest the rest into discovering more artisans across the globe and for our social programs. We’re creating long standing impact in artisans communities, by working towards sustainable incomes and inclusive growth for each artisan that we collaborate with.

Since 2020 has been so unexpected - what has been a highlight for Artisan and Fox this year?

One of the highlights of 2020 has been the positive response and support from our online audience to our craftsmanship! We’ve also noticed that there is a greater appreciation for the makers movement in the jewelry and craft industry. 

Alongside the surge in mass-produced goods, there has also been a renewed interest in things that are made by hand. We’ve found that there is a rising demand for items made with a social ethos, and embedded with a story, as people become more socially conscious.

On that same note around this unexpected year, what are current challenges to your artisans and you all as a brand? How are you working to overcome those?

Challenges for artisan: 

Artisan craftsmanship remains the second largest employer in developing countries. It is one of the main sources of income for both men and women craftspeople who seek a sustainable livelihood.

However, these artisans are also some of the most marginalized around the world, lacking independent access to the global market: socially immobile, and often exploited by unscrupulous middlemen.

That’s why we decided to create a business model, centered around independent artisans, small artisan groups, non-profits and local social enterprises.

Challenges for brand: 

Normally, we participate in seasonal pop-ups and markets in London & Singapore. Pop-ups are important for us as they offer the opportunity to showcase our collections to new audiences as well as offer an opportunity to view our products in real life. 2020 has definitely put virtual events on hold - and offered a creative challenge to communicate the beauty of handmade online. 

Last but not least, What does ethical fashion mean to you?

Ethical fashion means understanding the beauty of “made slow.” It means eschewing the mass-produced in favor of the handmade and working towards sustainable incomes for the makers. Ethical fashion is also about creating a fashion life cycle that lasts beyond the seasonality of fast fashion. 

the product—

As seen in images here from Artisan and Fox’s marketplace new arrivals, the HERAT and BALKH collections.

The HERAT Earrings are handcrafted by the artisan Sayed Ayub Sadat and the BALKH Ring is handcrafted by by artisans in the Old City of Kabul, Afghanistan.

Both products are beautifully hand crafted and made from lapis lazuli and gold-plated brass body. The earrings and ring are durable, versatile and tell a story behind the piece you wear each day. And each product points to the artisan partners who created them — you can read more here.

Check out the Artisan and Fox website
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