The Mission
Haiti Made is united around quality products, dignified jobs, and economic sustainability in an effort to diminish the poverty cycles in Haiti and to join a real fight against the orphan and child slavery crisis in Haiti.
Haiti Made was born out of a deep desire to see the Haitian people empowered by sustainable and dignified employment as a part of a larger effort to promote economic growth and a fight to keep families together. More than half of Haiti’s people live on less the $2.50 US daily, and the orphan and child slavery crisis in the nation is largely fueled by a lack of economic opportunity. Job creation has proven to succeed where perpetual aid measures have failed. Employment means provision, stability, and the preservation of family. One job created in Haiti often supports up to ten others. Our hope is to see the Haitian people holding the keys to their own economic recovery, empowered to envision a brighter future.
Haiti Made was originally started under the Hands and Feet Project, a non-profit that has been doing incredible work in Haiti since 2004. Now a for-profit since 2017, our top down Haitian staff takes pride in crafting products of the highest quality, design, and functionality using leather sourced with-in Haiti. Haiti Made is made up of Women rescued from human trafficking, Young Men and Women who have transitioned out of the Orphan Crisis, Families seeking to provide for their children, and Haitians from many other walks of life, who are finding themselves able to provide for their family, and other extended family by joining the Haiti Made team. Like most Haitian people, they are not looking for handouts. They are looking for a path to sustainable responsibility for their own economic future. A job fuels dreams and provides an economic engine for all to live and thrive, not just survive.
Haiti Made is committed to paying a living wage. On average our workers make two times the nations minimum wage and have opportunity to climb the ranks in the organization, becoming middle and upper managers. Haiti Made is Haitian run and is also an equal opportunity organization licensed in Haiti and following all of the Haiti labor laws. We also use other international manufacturing standards. All products have been tested and have passed environmental hazard and impact standards.
About the Leather, Old world saddle grade leather, certified, Vegtan, finished with Neetsfoot oil. This is leather sourced in Haiti in Port au Prince, the purchase of leather also supports another 126 jobs at the leather tannery. The leather comes to Haiti from certified grass-fed cows in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and Iowa. Here at Haiti Made we believe the leather says it all, with each "side" being special and unique, having a history and carrying marks and character making up each hand made product.
The Products are hand made with love and prudence, each one its own unique art piece. Some products are start to finish made by one of our incredible workers, other products have been touched by many hands, each doing their part to get to the final end goal. Beautifully, handmade products, supporting jobs in Haiti.