Ibu Trade specialises in Eco Gifts, Handmade Gifts & Fair Trade Shopping

Better World Arts

BWA is a truly innovative, ethical and unique business based on collaboration between indigenous designers and Fair Trade producers in Kashmir and Peru. Carolyn Wilson established BWA and the Cross Cultural Projects in 1996 and has since gone on to receive awards and widespread recognition for the high quality of BWA’s creations and for its empowering business model that benefits all producer parties. The indigenous designers actually own the designs, the products featuring their designs as well as a business cash flow through their art centres. For this reason BWA has been referred to as “The Body Shop of Aboriginal Art in Australia”.

The BWA rugs and cushions available at ibu are designed by artists of Kaljiti Arts in the Anangu/Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara lands and Ernabella Arts in central Australia and woven by skilled Kashmiri artisans with the highest quality Kashmiri wool, rayon and silk. The results of this cross-cultural collaboration have to be seen and touched to be believed. They are aesthetically and texturally sumptuous.

The BWA silver jewellery is the result of another cross-cultural collaboration with artisans from Peru using traditional Inca jewellery techniques. This project is in it’s infancy, but it is anticipated that it will be just as successful as the Kashmiri project and bring as many benefits to the Peruvian artisans and the Aboriginal artists, as the current project brings to the participants.

There are three Peruvian artisans working on BWA designs, they include Diego Carbajal, a young Peruvian man, passionate about his work. He has studied sculpture, graphic design, photography and jewellery. Diego uses the ancestral techniques of Peruvian silversmiths and has reached a high level in the application of his craft. He is a young and highly talented artist. Daniel Vilchez is also a talented young artist who studied Sound Engineering. Daniel has developed a lince of earrings and broaches using computer chips and circuits and is expert in the work with German Nickel. Dina Paucar is a recognised and popular artisan from Pisac in Cuzco, a town which has famously preserved the customs of their Inca ancestors. Dina's family are experts in the work of clay and ceramics and their painting on ceramics.

The Cross Cultural Projects give substantial benefits to all the participants in the production process. The goods sold give a steady income to the Aboriginal artists and the Kashmiri and Peruvian artisans who are contributors to the Project. This income is derived from work that is culturally enhancing, giving strength to traditional ways of life and creativity in both communities. Artists who do not regularly sell art work but have produced vital images can participate. The project is inclusive and spreads the income across a broad range of people. There are currently more than 45 artists participating in the project from the Ananagu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands. There are more than 60 Kashmiri artisans involved in producing the rugs and 25 working with the paper mache.

The project has become so successful that it is growing to encompass other art centres. We look forward to BWA’s new projects as everything they do is of the highest quality, original and inspiring in both design and concept.

View BWA's range of rugs, cushion covers and jewellery