Hathay Bunano is a non-profit organization in Bangladesh, which produces contemporary handmade soft toys for babies and children under the brand name Pebble.
History of Hathay Bunano and Pebble
When Samantha Morshed and her family moved to Bangladesh in 2004, she was impressed by the vibrancy and energy of the country. It is colourful and exciting on the one hand, on the other hand busy and chaotic. Also, Bangladesh is a place, rather a country of incredible poverty and at the same time of people who are so strong and resilient regardless of what life throws at them.
Samantha realized that it was morally necessary for her to engage with her limited skills for the people on site. With her love to craft, she created the connection to the local culture. The women in Bangladesh are skilled at making beautiful things as a part of their historical heritage. So it wasn't such a great leap to teach some knitting and crochet skills and start to make handmade soft toys; against the background of a more sustainable and flexible employment for disadvantaged women living in the countryside. So the foundation for Hathay Bunano Proshikon Society (HBPS) was laid.
Today Hathay Bunano founder Samantha Morshed and Golum may employ more than 3,500 women at more than 32 locations. A broad-based distribution network ensures that the handmade Pebble products distributed around the globe bring joy to other people and provide a livelihood for the people in Bangladesh.
In 2009 Samantha Morshed was awarded with the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for her considerable work for Hathay Bunano.
Pebble: Eco toys and organic fashion for kids
It all started with the design and manual production of fruit and vegetable rattles. Today Pebble has an extensive repertoire of baby and children's toys, colourful and funny accessories and organic fashion for kids. The assortment ranges from stuffed animals and dolls through mobile and rattles to hats and blankets. For all soft toys organic cotton is used according to Organic Exchange 100 Standard (OE 100). The faces of dolls and stuffed animals are designed adorably and friendly. Like the wonderful wide range of colours of Pebble products every toy quasi sends out energy and zest for life.
Fair Trade and Non-Profit
Because Hathay Bunano is a non-profit organization, surpluses are used each month for the organization and training of new seamstresses. Hathay Bunano, a so called social business, creates a sustainable and equitable working environment. Fair payment and flexible working hours now allow over 6,000 people to improve their living conditions. Hathay Bunano Proshikon Society (HBPS) is a member of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO).
Let yourself be captivated by the colourful, cuddly and cute toys from Pebble. So you do not only give away handmade and unique eco toys beyond conventional mass production, but also support Hathay Bunano, the Fair Trade company, that creates jobs for the rural population in Bangladesh.