Maison Bengal

Maison Bengal

Maison Bengal was established in 2004 by it’s founder, Sheenah Day in order to help fight poverty in Bangladesh, working particularly with mothers and young women.

Having lived and worked in Dakah for a number of years, Sheenah developed an admiration for the traditional hand weaving and artisan basket making skills she found in the poorest areas she visited, and decided to create a fairtrade company, championing local makers and providing work and financial independence to local women .

The baskets and bags are made using locally grown natural materials such as jute and a sea grass called hogla. They feature traditional designs and are practical, sturdy and hard wearing. They are ethical, fair trade and always hand made, each featuring details unique to their maker.

As a direct result of Maison Bengal’s presence as an employer in local areas, parents can afford to send their children to school for longer and can afford items such as school uniforms, books, pens and shoes.
This is especially important for girls, who are often overlooked in favour of giving boys an education.

Maison Bengal works especially closely with mothers and young women to provide them with flexible employment and financial freedom. They have partnered with 3 local fair trade enterprises in Bangladesh to identify communities most in need, and offer work to the women in their own homes, meaning they can work around caring for their own families. Each community uses weaving techniques and materials from their local area. Today, Maison Bengal works with over 5,000 women in Bangladesh.