Saffron Marigold is committed to the Fair Trade movement: we believe that there is simply no other way to do business. We stand rooted in the belief that quick profits and unscrupulous deals are not the foundations we want to base our business on.
Sound Karma
Saffron Marigold is proud to offer an alternative to mass-produced, quality-compromised linens designed to turn a quick profit at any cost.
Yes, we are a for-profit small business, yet we are also in this for reasons much larger than ourselves. We aim to support artisans and keep the heritage-rich craft of woodblock printing alive. This is what gets us out of bed each morning.
We follow stringent guidelines when selecting our artisans. We only source from those who love what they do, are proud of their work, and pay fair wages to the artisans they employ.
Our vibrant studios are located in Rajasthan, India. We visit the studios in often, and we communicate with our production team regularly. This connection ensures a wonderful ripple effect: steady employment for skilled artisans, economic self-sufficiency for apprentices, and ethically bringing a world of living block printed textiles from Rajasthan, India into your home.
Please enjoy the goods you purchase from our store and knowing that choice makes a positive social impact. Quality goods and good karma–this is our promise to you.
Our fair trade trinity
Saffron Marigold’s commitment to fair trade permeates what we see as a three-part ecosystem.
Customers
Though we’re told we could charge more, we price our products fairly and stay away from gimmicky discounts. We blanket our offerings in a warm cocoon of exceptional customer service. Our customers quickly become enthusiasts and often become our friends–and we wouldn’t have it any other way!
Artisans
Our artisans enjoy regular wages, meaningful creative collaboration, and a happy, healthy work environment. We cover all studio supplies and expenses upfront. We also encourage paid apprenticeships, and we supplement wages in times of crisis (such as during the studio’s temporary shutdown during the COVID-19 global pandemic).
Employees
Stateside, our employees are paid fair market wages and work in a company culture of collaboration and transparency. We offer the flexibility to work from home and encourage taking time to rest, restore, and spend time with family. Each Saffron Marigold employee has a voice: we face every difficulty and triumph together.
Shipping and Discounting
We offer “at cost” shipping. What does that mean? We only charge what it costs us to ship your order from our warehouse in California. In other words, you won’t experience any surcharges from the international duties or handling fees we incur.
Of course, we have the option to mark up our products and reduce shipping costs, which is a common business practice. In the spirit of transparency, which is one of the guiding principles of fair trade practice, we have decided to decline the ‘mark-up’ option.
On occasion, we’ll discount discontinued or overstocked prints, and we may celebrate certain holidays with a sale or free shipping! However, you won’t often see hyped up “flash sales” or universal 20% off coupons here. This is another part of the fair trade system.
From the start, we’ve priced our handcrafted linens reasonably. We can say with confidence that you will not find high-quality block printed textiles elsewhere at the prices we offer.
