Recycled Materials
Fair Trade is all about sustainability, and at Handmade Expressions we always work on improving our processes and minimizing our environmental impact. All of our artisan groups understand the benefits of recycling, as more waste means higher costs. Three of our groups pride themselves on producing functional and stylish products made almost entirely from recycled materials.

All of the products made by Eco Friendly Papers contain tree-free paper, made from recycled cotton rags. The Vishwakarma group uses scraps recycled from the Indian textile industry (usually excess material from saris, a traditional Indian dress) to make its unique and beautiful Color Splash bags. The Very Special Arts group makes bags and and pouches as environmentally friendly as they are unique: They weave bags out of old video and cassette tapes.
This is a paper bag
This eco-friendly bag is made entirely of local newspapers in India. Lined with cardboard, it is sturdy and can serve as a great give-away or promotional bag. These are handcrafted by artisans who work for a school in India that teaches mentally and physically challenged students various crafts. These bags...
Color Splash "V" Bag
Please note: This item is out of stock until late March
This stylish bag has a broad should strap the opening creats a “V”. It is made from recycled embroidered patches that were collected from the textile industry. Each bag has a unifying red yarn but the recycled fabrics make...
Color Splash Square Bag
A beautiful and stylish bag with a broad shoulder strap. It is made from recycled embroidered patches from recycled sarees. The shoulder strap has a small pouch for a mobile phone. The inside is lined with cloth and contains zipped pockets. The difference between this one and the Color Splash...
Recycled Tape Folding Bag
These are very special products, made from recycled plastic and music tapes. They are lined with cloth inside. Comes as an assortment of colors. The bag itself can be folded into a small, zipped container, which is also the base of the bag when unfolded. Therefore, it’s easy to carry...
Recycled Video Tape Totes
These tote bags are made from recycled video tapes and cotton yarn. They come in two colors: green and rust.
The bags are handcrafted by young, underprivileged adults with special needs. They belong to an organization that makes sure they get the vocational education needed to survive in the world....
Recycled Video Tape Passport Bags
These sling bags are made from recycled video tape and cotton yarn. They have a thin shoulder strap for hanging.
The bags are handcrafted by young, underprivileged adults with special needs. They belong to an organization that makes sure they get the vocational education needed to survive in the world....
Very Special Bag - Cosmetic Case
These are very special products, made from recycled plastic and music tapes. They are lined with cloth inside, and close with a zipper.
They are made in a school that teaches vocational skills to children with disabilities. The project focuses on bringing out the creative skills in these special artists...
Small Recycled Pouches
NEW!!
Sets of 10 gift pouches. They come in assorted colors and designs. Idea for gifting jewelry.
These are fair trade items made in India. The artisans that make them are compensated fairly for their work. They are also given development help to help their communities rise above poverty.
...Recycled Gift Pouches
Gift pouches that come as a set of 4 assorted pieces. Made by recycling waste patches from the apparel industry. Ideal for wrapping small gift items like jewelry.
Color: Assorted
Composition: Cotton
Size: 7″ × 9″
Min Order Qty: 3 sets (12 bags)
Gift Wrapping Paper
Please note: This item is out of stock until late March
This beautiful and colorful paper is made from recycled waste cotton. Each sheet is printed with different floral patterns. It comes in packs of 15 printed sheets.
This is fair trade gift wrapping paper. It is made by artisans...
Embroidered Gift Tags
These gift tags are made of recycled waste cotton and come in sets of 5. They have different base colors and have embroidered designs on them. They come with a ribbon to tie to a gift.
These are Fair Trade tags handmade by artisans in India. The artisans are compensated...
Printed Gift Tags
These gift tags are made of recycled cotton, making them 100% tree-free. They come in sets of 6 tags, each one printed with different designs. They come with a ribbon to attach to a gift.
This is a Fair Trade product made by artisans in India. The artisans are compensated...
Jot a Thought Box
This box contains 100 colored sheets made of recycled cotton. This means that they are 100% tree-free.
This is a Fair Trade product made by artisans in India. The artisans are compensated fairly for their work, and are given development help to help their communities rise above poverty.
Composition: Recycled...
Large Eco Friendly Gift Bags
NEW DESIGNS!!
These colorful gift bags are made of recycled cotton rags, making them 100% tree free! These gift bags come in sets of 3, each a different color and design and perfect for any occasion.
The Earthworks Gift Bags (BAG 224) comes with a black,...
Small Eco Friendly Gift Bags
Set of 5 gift bags with beautiful assorted prints. These are made from recycled cotton rags, therefore they are 100% tree free and environmentally friendly. They come with a little tag.
Artisans who work on these bags benefit from fair trade practices. They receive a living wage and are able...
Bloom Box Printed Boxes
This beautiful box is made of recycled cotton rags from the textile industry. It is made through a handmade process by artisans in Rajasthan, India. This art has been passed down over generations. These boxes are embellished with floral prints.
The artisans who work on these boxes receive a living...
Wood-free Wood Log Box
This box is 100% tree-free, since it’s made by recycling cotton rags. The result is a rich paper product that is sturdy. The design on the top is made by rolling this tree-free paper and chopping it up into slices that look like wood.
This is a handmade product done...
Winter Bloom Boxes
These paper boxes are made of recycled cotton. They are adorned with colorful, floral prints. They come in sets of 2 boxes, a big one and a small one.
These are fair trade boxes made by artisans in India. The artisans are compensated fairly for their work, they work under...
Sun N Swirl Boxes
These paper boxes are made of recycled cotton. They are adorned with colorful, circular prints. They come in sets of 2 boxes, a big one and a small one.
These are fair trade boxes made by artisans in India. The artisans are compensated fairly for their work, they work under...
World Journal
Please note: This item is out of stock until late March
This refillable journal has a world map embossed on the cover. The leather used to create the cover is also “cruelty-free”, which means that it came from animals that died naturally.
This is a fair trade item handcrafted by...
BE Yourself Journal
Hand embossed journal with inspirational wording such as “BE yourself, BE happy, BE positive” and the like. The cover is made of cruelty-free leather, which comes from animals that died naturally. They come from an area in Rajasthan, India, that is strictly vegetarian, and animals are great assets around the...
Peace Emboss Journal
This is a sustainable journal. The leather cover is made of cruelty free leather (comes from animals that died naturally) and is embellished with a hand embossed peace sign. The paper inside is blank, acid-free and made of recycled cotton paper. The leather cover can be refilled with a new...
Bound in Leather Journals
This is a collection of fair trade and environmentally friendly leather bound journals made in Rajasthan, India. The leather is embellished with hand embossing and an elastic band secures the flap. All the Leather used is “Cruelty Free”, which means leather obtained from naturally dead animals. Livestock has a lot...
Life comes to Leather
A new range of handcrafted leather journals. The leather is dyed into various colors and then the journal is enriched by debossing beautiful patterns on them.
All the paper used in the journals is 100% tree-free, made by recycling cotton rags from the textile industry.
All the...
Mirage Journals
Cruelty free leather journals with detailed artwork in the shape of flowers. Small mirrors and colored leather pieces are beautifully put together to get this mesmerizing effect.
This is a fair trade item handmade by artisans in India. These artisans have been practicing the art of paper making for generations....
Tree free inserts
Recycling is the mantra!
These are tree free inserts to reuse the leather covers of your journals. Most of our leather journals come with pockets where the blank paper diary is inserted. Thus, you can use your precious leather journals for years.
Sizes:
INS 103 (4″ × 6″)
Hay in Sunshine Journal
Soft bound journals with embroidery and colored pages inside. This thick journal is made from recycled cotton waste, meaning that the paper is 100% tree-free and eco-friendly.
Artisans in Jaipur, in the state of Rajasthan, India, are able to practice the art of paper making thanks to fair trade practices....
Jot a Thought journals - Embroidered
Trendy, small sized journals to carry your thoughts. A soft bound, compact book to write notes, reminders, shopping lists etc. Entire journal is handmade and embellished with beautiful embroidery.
Artisans in Jaipur, in the state of Rajasthan, India, make these journals using traditional skills. Fair trade has opened international markets...
Jot a thought Journals - Printed
These intricately designed journals are screen printed with unique floral designs. Hard bound and compact, these journals are great for notes, reminders and shopping lists.
Artisans from a cooperative called Eco Friendly Papers in Jaipur, in the state of Rajasthan, India, make these journals using traditional skills. Fair trade has...
Pocket books - Embroidered (sets of 3)
Small, beautiful piece of art to carry your thoughts around. These pocket books come as a set of three journals in assorted patterns and colors. Wonderful patterns are embroidered on handmade, recycled cotton rag papers.
These are Fair Trade items made by artisans in India. The paper is made of...
Pocket books - Printed
Please note: This item is out of stock until late March
Small, beautiful piece of art in which to carry your thoughts around. These pocket books come as a set of three journals in assorted patterns and colors.
These are fair trade items, handcrafted by artisans in India. The paper...
Toy Garden
Soft bound journals with animal designs appliquéd and embroidery on the cover. The entire journal is made of recycled cotton rags, making it 100% tree-free and environmentally friendly. They come in 2 sizes: large (8″×8″) and small (6″×6″).
This journal is made by artisans in Jaipur, a city in the...
Wood Log Journal
Wood free – wood log Journals. These beautiful journals are made by an innovative concept; where sheets of paper are rolled and then chopped into slices to give a wooden effect. The entire journal is 100% tree-free and environment friendly, handmade by skilled artisans in India from cotton rag paper....
Traditional Dolls
These dolls are dressed and decorated in the traditional daily attire of the women from the rural region of north western India. Every small detail is taken into account from their hairstyle, to jewelry to the fabric embellishments. They are filled with recycled/scrap cloth. Come in assorted colors.
These are...









































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Member of Fair Trade Federation