SilverChilli

Silverchilli was set up back in 1999, with the desire to break the myth that third world products were of an inferior quality with a charitable label attached. Silverchilli wanted their customers to have a real desire for their artisan products. Setting up at a time when most successful online shops were really grapping the nation's attention, Silverchilli use the power of the web to introduce their Fair Trade Mexican jewellery to people who through their shopping choice could affect the lives of others.

This beautiful range of jewellery is made 925 sterling silver and hosts very contemporary and stylish designs. The products are designed in conjunction with the local silver smiths in Mexico. Silverchilli returns 95% of their profits back into the local communities as well as being involved in a number of other local projects throughout Mexico. They have recently supplied Josue Mirlo's primary school in the suburbs of Mexico City with laptops. The school has also just been awarded a grant to repair its broken classroom furniture as well. Silverchilli has paid for the 220 trees to be planted in Mexico to offset the carbon they contributed to the atmosphere by flying their lovely jewellery all the way from Mexico to the UK. This is a scheme Silverchilli are going to commit to every year.

The fantastic Crisp Packet purses are made in a Mexican prison in the county of Chilpanzingo. Mexican prisons are a very different proposition to the idea we have in the UK about prisons. The prisoners are given hardly any of the basic necessities that we would take for granted, for example: food, toiletries and clothes. They therefore have to learn a skill or trade and sell their products in order to literally survive.The process behind the crisp packet purses is not too complex, but very time consuming and requires a good deal of concentration to ensure that each pattern is as close to being identical as possible. Each purse takes 6 to 8 hours to make. The artisans take a waste product that would end up in a landfill site, and make it into something that is stylish, hard wearing, splash resistant and ethically sound.