Gift for Good
Banyan Tree Gallery conserves the culture and heritage of destinations while sustaining artisans’ livelihoods and skills through gainful employment. Purchases from Banyan Tree Gallery help keep village crafts alive and help conserve ecosystems while creating employment for community craft artisans.
Focusing on 6 core craft techniques: ceramics, wood, metal, textiles, basketry and recyclable products, the sustainability of these craft ecosystems have been identified as important for the region. Partnership selection for foundations and non-profit organisations is based on three stringent categories: conservation, community and cause.
In 2017, community efforts were focussed in Thailand, supporting seven new collaborations with artisans for village crafts and recyclable lifestyle products including palm leaf travel accessories, bamboo baskets, wood and bronze figurines, and handmade scented candles.
Change Beyond Textiles
MATTER
Gallery’s in-house socially motivated brand MATTER has a threefold mission: to foster designer-artisan collaborations, inspire consumers to value provenance and process, and pioneer industry change and sustainability for rural textile communities.
Product write ups connect to artisanal communities, cultural heritage and local issues. In 2017, new artisan community partners were established in Thailand, India and Indonesia. Commitment to environmental sensitivity in 2017 resulted in all shipping using recycled plastic packaging.
– Our Common Thread –
There is an old adage that says an invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place or circumstances. Our red threads pay tribute to this inspiration, speaking to the connection between the artisan partners, designers and customers that form the #mattertribe community.
MATTER reinterprets textile heritage into prints that tell stories of where and why they are made.
