$92? I'm not sure that this will sell very well. Just a guess, though.

I'd like to see how much of that 92 dollars goes to the kenyan 7 year old that put it together. On top of that its ugly I don't mean for my first post to be so cynical I've been reading for I think 2 months now and I like almost everything.. but this really seems like a farce to me.

Hi. I'm Paul, the owner/buyer for Branch, the online store that carries this item. I wanted to reply to Mike's comment about the Kenyan 7-year-old.

A year ago, upon seeing this product, I would probably have thought exactly the same thing.

That was before I started a retail business committed to actually doing a good thing, rather than perpetrating the mistreatment of workers (and the planet).

As it happens, this product is one of many that we carry from a supplier called Dwelling, who are members of the Aid to Artisans Market Makers. This is a non-profit organization comprised of socially responsible businesses that provide a link between artisans and the marketplace.

AAMM is dedicated to creating long-term economic opportunities for craftspeople in Africa and Haiti, and their goal is to expand throughout many other locations around the world. This organization personally monitors for safe, dignified and healthy working conditions, and their commitment is to the welfare of artisans, to respecting and sustaining the environment and to promoting and practicing fair and open trade ethics and principles.

The result is that by purchasing these handcrafted products (which come at a variety of price-points), buyers are helping to create income and ultimately a better life for these artisans and their families.

You can find out more about this company at http://dwellingllc.svwh.net/enterframe.html

My name is Sarah Johnstone and I help to manage kenana Knitters, the group that makes this knit octopus and over another two hundred product ranges. We utilise the skills of over 204 female and 4 male knitters and buy wool on a weekly basis from over 550 spinners. Not only are the knitters paid fairly, and directly twice a day by myself and colleague Paddy, but we also provide free monthly family planning, homoeopathic, HIV and VCT clinics, free worming programme, library, savings scheme and free computer lessons and free daily adult literacy classes. Our profits at the end of the year are distributed to the knitters on a pro rata basis. We knit a crochet a variety of accessories and gifts at a range of prices and we work with fair trade distributors throughout the world whose main concern is that the artisans are paid a fair wage and are working in a healthy environment and are given access to welfare facilities.
Mike we would love to show you round some time. You would be hard pushed to find a seven year old here, unless they are playing on the playground toys we have here at the workshop - available to keep the children occupied while their parents work.
Check us out on www.kenanaknitters.com