Exciting News from MADE51: Collaborations & Events for the Festive Season
Posted by MADE51 Team on
At MADE51, we believe in the transformative power of collaboration and creativity. This year, we’ve been busy forging meaningful partnerships and participating in incredible events to highlight the craftsmanship of refugee artisans around the world. Here’s a roundup of our latest highlights:
The Container Store: 12 Days of Christmas Ornaments
We are thrilled to announce MADE51's exclusive collaboration with The Container Store, featuring a bespoke collection of 12 holiday ornaments in honour of the 12 Days of Christmas. In addition to creating dignified work for refugees in eight countries, all profits from each ornament sold will be donated to USA for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. From the Partridge to the Drummers Drumming, each handcrafted ornament also doubles as a gift tie-on, setting your gift apart from the others. Shop them here.
Gifting with Greka Icons
Navarino Icons reached out to us to develop a custom refugee-made ornament as part of the Greka Icons Corporate Festive Gift Collection. Each ornament was hand-stitched by skilled Afghan refugee women artisans, who earn fair-trade wages for their work. See more here.
Ornaments at Ten Thousand Villages
This year, a selection of MADE51's holiday ornaments is available both in-store across the USA and online at Ten Thousand Villages. Known for curating beautiful and ethically sourced products, Ten Thousand Villages provides the perfect platform to showcase the artistry and cultural heritage embedded in MADE51’s creations. Shop with Ten Thousand Villages here.
MADE51 at Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF)
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and Elevandi, a non-profit organization set up by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, work together to support skills training and employment opportunities for refugees around the world. Under the partnership, Elevandi supports UNHCR’s economic inclusion programmes, including MADE51.
MADE51 attended the Singapore FinTech Festival (SFF), where Elevandi’s commitment to driving innovation aligned seamlessly with our mission of empowering refugee artisans through market access. The connections made at FinTech are already paving the way for new opportunities and collaborations!
Webinar with Messe Frankfurt
The MADE51 team participated in an enlightening webinar with Messe Frankfurt, called MADE51 – Successfully marketing products crafted by refugee artisans. Heidi Christ, MADE51's Team Lead, presented the unique business model of MADE51 and explained how it succeeds in enabling refugee artisans to access global markets. Mark Kwami, MADE51 Lead on Product Development and Design, and Stanley Sze, MADE51 Commercial Partner, explained the practicalities of sourcing and manufacturing refugee crafts. They discussed how retailers can benefit from integrating these products into their ranges, despite complex supply chains. If you missed it, the watch link is now available here.
Islamabad Pop-up
Join us in Islamabad for a pop-up event, celebrating the resilience, artistry, and entrepreneurial spirit of Afghan refugees who have partnered in MADE51 and UNHCR Pakistan. The pop-up will feature an inspiring showcase of beautifully crafted, refugee-made products by Artisan Links, Pomegranate Seeds, Koel Shop, and Polly & Other Stories. This event will take place on November 15th and 16th at Union Gold Mall, F-7 Markaz, Islamabad, Pakistan. Click here for details.
Geneva Christmas Market
When winter comes in Geneva, the Christmas market comes back with it! Visit MADE51's chalet from November 21st to December 24th to shop for refugee-made Christmas gifts. Click here for more details on the market.
As we reflect on these milestones, we’re energized by the support and enthusiasm of our partners, customers, and advocates.
Every partnership and event reinforces the importance of our mission: to bring refugee-made products to market, celebrating their skill and resilience while creating sustainable livelihoods.