We all wear scarves for different reasons. To keep ourselves warm, to be fashionable, trendy. For religion, culture, or tradition. No matter what use you give it, we all need a scarf in our closet.
Let me tell you a bit about Krama Heritage. A French brand with a mission to contribute to the country of Cambodia, through scarves. They are a company that values their workers by treating their weavers and artisans fairly. Krama is an ethical brand that pays them fairly, has the right conditions for them to work, and respects their craft.
We love this brand so much. You know we care about being fair and ethical and this brand was created with generosity in mind.
They contact us a few months ago and gifted us two of their scarves to try them out. We couldn’t be happier, we loved their community and their projects to give back to the community. Their values align with ours so we couldn’t resist sharing them with you.
The scarves… they are unforgettable. You wouldn’t believe how soft and luxurious they feel. Keep reading if you want to know more about the ones we tried.
But first, let me tell the story of this scarf. “Krama” means Scarf in Khmer which is the national language of Cambodia. The Krama is meant to be used as protection against the sun, to carry infants over the shoulder, or as a towel. For them, this is not a simple scarf, it is a cultural symbol. It represents dignity, optimism, courage, and thirst for life.
A traditional Krama is a scarf made of cotton or silk, with checks, and with fringes.
Isn’t it beautiful?
These are the two scarves we tried:
The Krama Chaud in deep pink and The Organza Silk Scarf in mint green.
1.The Quality
The quality of their scarves is extraordinary, when I said before that they are unforgettable is because of this. When you feel them it’s so sot and unique you can forget that feeling.
The Krama Chaud is so well weaved, the motif is simple and lovely. This motif is very typical in Cambodia and is worn during festivals and ceremonies that take place in particular at the Royal Palace.
The Organza silk scarf is so delicate and light that it feels like you’re wearing nothing. It is perfect for traveling, it keeps you warm, stylish, and it doesn’t take space in your bag.
2. Materials
The Krama Chaud is made of 100% Cotton.
The Organza is made of 100% fine Silk.
It is a good thing that the composition is of just one material, in the end, it will be easier to recycle them.
Unfortunately, they don’t say much on their website about how they source their cotton fiber.
Their silk is produced by a social enterprise called Artisans d’Angkor. You can see on their website the whole process to obtain it and how it is an ethical production. They have incredible evidence photos I suggest you see them.
3. Ethical Production
When it comes to their production, they are very transparent. Krama pays fair salaries to their weavers and artisans. Have them working on sewing shops that are in perfect conditions, and they work only six hours a day. Leaving them time to spend time with their families.
Every part of their process is explained and detailed on their website. They show through images how their weaver works happily in their ateliers. Even mention the names of some of their weavers.
One fact that I found interesting is that the weavers receive 50% of the purchase price of each Krama Chaud. This fair wage for each piece produced means that the supported weavers are paid twice as much on average as other weavers in Cambodia. That’s incredible!
And I could keep on talking about this brand, and how they do things so much better than fast fashion brands but I prefer you look at their website and see for yourself.
4. Packaging/Case
All of their scarves come in a hand-braided box, made with natural palm. These boxes are hand-braided by 10 artisans in Cambodia.
I think these boxes give a plus to the product. It keeps the scarf protected, and it makes it a fun experience to receive your order like that. Makes you feel special and honored that you supported an artisan’s work.
Depending on the scarf you buy is the box you get. For example, the Chaud came in a tall tubular box, and the Organza came in a flat kind of envelope.
The best part is that you can use these to store any other thing, or as decor. They will elevate your coffee table to a whole new level. I promise.
In the end, this is an ethical brand with the purpose to share with the world a little part of the Cambodian culture and contribute to the country by employing their artisans in an ethical way. We can’t get too deep into their sustainable impact.
I truly love this brand and what they work for. I recommend you check out these products and all of the other lovely products they have.
These scarfs are perfect for the winter weather. They will keep you warm and you will be supporting an ethical brand. Enter their online boutique and choose yours! Their color options are very extended, you will definitely find your favorite color there.
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