Using these areas as bases to explore, we quickly fell in love with the myriad of fantastic handicrafts being produced around the world. Having studied International Relations at university, Neil’s focus was on the inequalities found in the global economic system that kept these highly skilled artisans in a cycle of poverty. On returning from living and working as teachers in Paraguay, we opened a small shop in Beeston near Nottingham University selling fairly traded gifts from around the world. As interest in our business increased, we rapidly took over two more shops as they became available and started selling many more interesting lines from silver jewellery to furniture.
