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Jewellery Online

Meet the Artisans

Juan Pablo Borcoski

Based in Chile, Juan Pablo began making jewellery in 1987, thanks to a friend who showed him how to make silver-based products. He then started to develop products made from glass, and now typically works 12 hours a day for six days a week.

He has two children, and his wife is a teacher in a local school. Juan makes his jewellery at a workshop in his mother’s house, and although the workshop has all the services he needs, he would like to invest in a bigger oven and expand his jewellery range.

Juan Pablo incorporates new working methods alongside more traditional jewellery handicraft. A typical glass piece will have to be cut, cleaned, designed and enamelled, before being placed into an electric oven at 700_C for six hours. Juan is continually experimenting with new colours and textures, and prides himself on the beauty and originality of his products.

Juan Pablo currently sells 70% of his products in Chile, at a shop in a local market, but thinks that exporting represents his best chance of creating a steadier income and better working conditions. One day he hopes to be able to pursue his lifelong dream, and travel forever.

Patricia Gonzales and George Miranda

Patricia and George run a family enterprise in Chile, which employs two of their children, Ruth, who is 20, and Judith, who is 19. They have three other children, who are still at school, and they all live and work in a house which they have rented for the last four years.

They follow a traditional method of cutting, cleaning, designing and enamelling their glass products, before they are placed upon white clay moulds and fired in an electric oven. Their product range is not limited to jewellery, as they also produce mobiles; they are seeking to produce a minimum of 2,000 a month to maximise capacity.

Patricia and George now export 90% of their products; the rest is sold at a rented shop and at various local fairs. They dream to increase capacity to allow them to buy their own house for their growing family. More income would also allow them to further improve working conditions and would give them the stability with which they can be increasingly adventurous with their product designs.

Maritza Quintero

Maritza initially studied at the University of Fine Arts in Chile before turning to jewellery. She has now been creating her unique glass pieces for seven years, taking inspiration from the beauty of the surrounding hills of Valparaiso.

Maritza works seven days a week, sometimes up to twelve hours a day in busy periods, when she is helped by her sister. She prefers to follow her own style, rather than work with other artisans, but stays informed about new production techniques by participating in local and International artisan fairs. She has achieved a good increase in sales by adapting to more intensive production processes, which has greatly improved her standard of life. Maritza has recently expanded her product range to include mobiles, lamps, and incense holders. She sells over 60% of her products overseas, a figure she would like to increase over the coming months.

TARA Projects

TARA Projects stands for Trade Alternative Reform Action. The organisation was founded in Delhi, India in the 1970’s with the aim of helping economically-challenged artisans and craftspeople in the area to grow their home-based businesses through providing assistance in marketing and production techniques. The organisation is a member of the World Fair Trade Organization (formerly IFAT). In achieving its key aims, the organisation also offers advice on human rights issues, and provides assistance with community-based activities that promote human rights advancement.