African Textile Woman's Empowerment Project "Creating Recycled Treasures" -Lucy & Herman Bigham

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In This Issue Quick Links About Tosheka Textiles News from Tosheka Textiles Recycled Treasures Ambiente Trade Show Quick Links Los Angeles Times Article  Philadelphia Tribune Article Ventures Africa Article 12/12 Ventures Africa Article 7/12 Philadelphia Inquirer   About Tosheka Textiles:   Tosheka Textiles, Ltd. is a  USA / Kenyan based social entrepreneurial firm that has extensive experience in commercial and community based textile production. We specialize in "green textiles" utilizing recycled, natural fibers and dyes to produce textile and textile related products. The proliferation and disposal of plastic bags is a huge environmental problem and polluting nuisance to cities and rural environments causing health hazards and deaths to children and animals. They are consumed daily by the public with no effective means of being disposed. Join Our Mailing List Forward to a Friend Stay Connected

February, 2013 News from Tosheka Textiles Dear Supporters,   Hi! I am Lucy Lau Bigham, a textile surface designer with extensive experience in community development for the economically challenged. A year ago my husband and I started a social enterprise and a project titled "Recycled Treasures"that addresses the proliferation and inadequate disposal of plastic bags.  WE HAVE TRAINED 180 women/artisans from urban and rural low-income communities in Kenya. These producers are now engaged in making in making HIGH FASHION BAGS OUT OF CLEAN USED PLASTIC BAGS utilizing their traditional weaving and knitting skills . We have initiated a collection program for the bags with the 3 major supermarkets in Kenya, who have provided us with the opportunity to sell in their 75 mega stores. Currently we have bags retailing in 15 of these stores. Our efforts can provide an income of $25 a week for people who earn less than a dollar a day. Our business has been published in the University of Penn of Pennsylvania Wharton Small Business Development Center as one of their "Success Stories". Recycled Treasures We are please to share our "Creating Recycled Treasures" project back ground with you and look forward to your support.    Our "Recycled Treasures" Project was recently covered in the LA Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer and other Kenyan media. On behalf of all the artisan communities we work with, my husband and I, appreciate this opportunity to share our project and plans. Our project provides support for improving the environment, health and providing sustainable incomes for hundreds of people in rural communities.   Visit our online shop in our website  www.toshekadesigns.com  for purchases of these unique one of a kind bags! Ambiente Trade Show 2013 Tosheka Textiles was just chosen by the Women's Enterprise Fund (WEF) / Export Promotion Council (EPC) as a winner in the National Business competition for the most innovative business. We have been awarded primary funding to participate in The Ambiente Trade Show in Frankfort Germany Feb. 15th - 19th - to represent our product line . The Ambiente Trade Show, with over 4,500 exhibitors is an unrivaled overview of the world market in terms of breadth and depth. As the biggest and most international order platform, it attracts around 140,000 trade visitors a year who come toAmbiente to compile their assortments.  There you will find the best ideas, the most creative impulses, the most exciting new international exhibitors with all the latest products and trends.