INTERVIEW GOODWEAVE Out of the Loop The GoodWeave foundation has rescued thousands of children from the rug


weaving looms. Sarah Robinson caught up with, Executive Director, Nina Smith to find out more.


This year marks a significant milestone for GoodWeave as it’s your 20th anniversary and founder Kailash Satyarthi won the Nobel Peace Prize last year. Could you tell me a little about why the GoodWeave foundation started and how it has developed?


GoodWeave was founded in 1994 by 2014 Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi, then Chairman of the South Asian Coalition on Child Servitude. After many years of rescuing Indian children from bonded labour in the carpet industry, only to see them replaced by others, Satyarthi wanted to create a market incentive for manufacturers to stop exploiting children on an industry-wide basis.


The first carpets bearing the organisation’s label were exported from India. GoodWeave International has grown to include field operations and offices in India, Nepal and Afghanistan, and marketing presence in North America and Europe. Today GoodWeave’s market share covers nearly 6% of handmade rugs produced and traded globally, major brands, such as The Otto Group in Germany, Harrods in the UK and Target in the U.S. sell certified rugs. We’re currently conducting a feasibility study for China, and our work has also expanded into new sectors with a two year old pilot to tackle child labour and forced and bonded labour in the brick kilns of Nepal and soon apparel in India, artisan products from 12 countries and more. Our aim is to stop child labour in the carpet industry by 2020 when we reach 15% market share, and by them to be positioned to reach many of the 168million other children toiling in the global economy.


How many children has GoodWeave helped so far?


GoodWeave has directly rescued more than 3,600 children, educated more than 12,500 children and deterred the employment of many more. It has helped to build awareness by shining a spotlight on child labour, the hidden tragedy of the carpet industry. Though there is much more work to be done, GoodWeave’s efforts are making it more difficult for looms to profit by selling luxury goods made by exploited children. Check out our short film, Stand with Sanju, made about a rescued carpet weaver in Nepal.


I read that since the inception of GoodWeave there has been a drop in carpet kids from 1million to 250,000,


26 | Summer 2015 Tomorrow’s Retail Floors


©U. Roberto Romano.


Through the hidden alleys of Kathmandu, Drona, GoodWeave’s 19 year veteran inspector in Nepal, will go as far as it takes to end child labour.


how is this measured?


The number of children exploited on South Asian looms is estimated to


have dropped from 1million to 250,000 since GoodWeave began. By GoodWeave’s very existence, many, many children are kept out of the workforce, as evidenced by this dramatic and sustained reduction in child labour. This is due to direct participation in the GoodWeave certification programme, as well as increased awareness and self-regulation by many other producers.


The organisation was not designed to have to save children one-by-one, rather to put a system in place that saves them from ever being exploited. The data points you have referenced came from a compilation of reports from the U.S. Department of Labor, UNICEF and others. Now we have begun to deploy mobile technology to survey supply chains for incidence.


What can flooring retailers and interior designers do to get on board?


For interior designers, we suggest they introduce their clients to rug brands that are licensed by GoodWeave. The GoodWeave label has a unique number that can be traced back through the supply chain down to the producer who wove it. This gives clients the best assurance that they are purchasing a beautiful rug with a beautiful story and builds their loyalty.


Retailers may source certified GoodWeave rugs through the brands listed on our website here. Showrooms and retailers sourcing directly from India, Nepal or Afghanistan may contact our team to learn how to become licensed by GoodWeave.


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