inspiration & tips | tulsi crafts

The missing women of India & Bangladesh

31 January, 2018 31 January, 2018

Inspired by an article in The Guardian about missing women in India, I’d like to share some thoughts with you about the position of women in India & Bangladesh. If you’ve been following our journey, you’ve probably heard me talking about all kinds of abuse many women in these countries endure, such as trafficking and slavery. Today I would like to delve a little deeper. Why is abusive behaviour towards women so rife?

The article in The Guardian I mentioned is about more than 63 million women who are “missing” statistically across India,

Is fairtrade really fair?

18 May, 2017 18 May, 2017

Is fairtrade really fair? Dutch journalist Teun van de Keuken doesn’t think so. Unfortunately we have to agree with him, but his statement also asks for some nuance. The question we need to ask first is what the definition of fairtrade actually is.

The Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant from May 15 2017 published and interesting column (in Dutch) by Teun van de Keuken. He agues that fairtrade is hardly more than a way for middlemen such a supermarkets to make a profit,

ethical cycling clothing: fair wear friday #5

28 April, 2017 30 July, 2019

Today our search for ethical clothing leads us to a quest for ethical cycling clothing. When ‘normal’ clothes are involved I’ve become quite good at finding ethical fashion, as I’ve found some favourite brands to look out for. You might have seen them in our earlier fair wear friday posts. But ethical sports clothing is a different ball game. You buy sports kit less often, or at least that’s the case for me… I’ve started bicycle racing a while ago and the old kit was up for renewal.

Thinking of Rana Plaza, Dhaka and Bangladesh

24 April, 2017 24 April, 2017

Today, while we remember Rana Plaza collapsing four years ago, let me tell you a bit about the Bangladesh I’ve come to know. A complicated country with many contradictions that somehow captured my heart in between all its troubles. About why Rana Plaza still matters and about what we can do.

The idea for Tulsi Crafts started in 2011, when visiting Bangladesh for Niketan Foundation. We visited Bangladesh for a few weeks and drove around bustling Dhaka in a CNG (a tuk tuk,

Looking for a vegan handbag?

5 April, 2017 5 April, 2017

Are you looking for a vegan handbag? We agree with you that the leather industry is not very sustainable. And why make products from leather when other materials are perfectly suitable as well?

leather industry in Bangladesh

The leather industry can cause tremendous environmental pollution and can be really bad for the health of the people working in it. Children work in the tanneries without protection against the hazardous chemicals that are used in the process.

fair wear friday #4

18 March, 2016 4 January, 2017

fair wear friday tulsi crafts tas people tree

Today it’s time for another fair wear friday! The dress I’m wearing here will surely become a favourite, read on to see where I found it.

Once a month I participate in ‘Fair Wear Friday’ on this blog. On the other Fridays I’ll let you know on Instagram how fair my outfit of that day is, so follow us there as well.

It’s very important to me to buy clothes that are made as fair as possible.

Read more about: fair wear friday #4 →

kantha on a lazy sunday morning

2 March, 2016 10 February, 2017

Who wouldn’t want to wake up like this on a Sunday morning?
Vibrant colours, handmade with lots of love and patience. Doesn’t that make you feel happy when you wake up?
A suitable colour for any interior can be found in our collection kantha sari blankets & throws

travelling to Moghul Bangladesh with Mohur

29 February, 2016 8 November, 2017

Sometimes you come across something so striking you want to share the experience, so that’s what I’ll do today. I’d like to take you to Bangladesh, not present day Bangladesh, but Moghul era Bangladesh (1526-1858).

Dhaka became the capital of the Moghul province of Bengal in 1608. It was one of the largest and most prosperous cities of the Indian subcontinent and the center of the worldwide muslin trade. During this era the part of Dhaka now called Puran Dhaka (Old Dhaka) was built.

fair wear friday #3 & warm sweater day

5 February, 2016 4 January, 2017

fair wear friday tulsi crafts ruby lee monkee genes

Today is not only fair wear friday, but also warm sweater day (in The Netherlands). I feel the cold and don’t like turning up the heating, so for me it’s always warm sweater day. Except maybe for sweltering summer days 😉 Adding to that I’ve just bought this great sweater, so let me tell you more about it.

Once a month I participate in ‘Fair Wear Friday’ on this blog. On the other Fridays I’ll let you know on Instagram how fair my outfit of that day is,

fair wear friday #2

8 January, 2016 4 January, 2017

fair wear friday tulsi crafts inti knitwear monkee genes

Once a month I participate in ‘Fair Wear Friday’ on this blog. On the other Fridays I’ll let you know on Instagram how fair my outfit of that day is, so follow us there as well.

It’s very important to me to buy clothes that are made as fair as possible. I’ve seen the enormous size of the textile industry in Bangladesh, and the huge impact changes can have on many lives.

Read more about: fair wear friday #2 →