Looking for fair trade holiday decor that does more than look beautiful? Every piece from Azizi Life is handmade by Rwandan artisans, so decorating your home also supports their families. Here are three of our favorite ways to add meaningful holiday touches: hand-carved nativity sets, beeswax candles, and woven ornaments.
By decorating your home with Azizi Life, you’re decorating with pieces that empower and make a difference in the lives of artisan partners. Here are some of our favorite ways to add holiday touches to your space.
1. Hand-Carved Nativity Sets
With all of our hand carved nativity set pieces, woodcarvers begin with a log from a Jacaranda or Musave tree to craft each piece. They then use a machete to carve out the shape before refining it with knives and sandpaper. Featured pieces include the Hand Carved Angel Statue, the Hand Carved Nativity Hut, and the full Hand Carved Nativity Set.
Meet the makers:
The artisans who handcraft our nativity sets are part of the Inganzo Cooperative. These men have used the profit from their wood carving to buy small animals such as pigs and hens, which supplement their income. When they began, all of the members were single. Now many have been able to build homes, marry, and begin families.
“In the midst of our work, we take time to praise God. He has kept us from accidents and provided for us.”
― Inganzo member Aimable Ngabikeye
2. Hand-Poured Beeswax Candles
Our hand-poured beeswax candles are perfect for the dinner table or mantel, and they also make a beautiful gift. Each candle is hand-poured from entirely natural Rwandan beeswax with cotton wicks. Featured pieces include Dipped Candles (pair), Ribbed and Hexagon Pillar Candles, and the Twisted Taper Pack.
Meet the makers:
we are proud to source our candles through our sister brand, Beeutiful Creations, which helps beekeepers from our Impact Beekeeping Project find a market for their craft. They sell only 100% pure, natural, fairly sourced products.
3. Hand-Crafted Ornaments
Each of our hand-crafted ornaments adds a touch of culture to your Christmas tree. Our woven ornaments are made with natural fibers and take about a day to complete. Our wooden ornaments are hand-carved from a branch of the flowering Jacaranda tree, and our Fabric Star Ornaments are hand-sewn from African fabric. Featured pieces include the Fabric Star Ornament, the Carved Angel Ornament, and the Striped Woven Ball Ornament.
Meet the makers:
our Striped Woven Ball Ornaments are woven by the women of the Abibumbye Cooperative. These women consider themselves a family that helps each other grow and flourish, working together to overcome poverty. One of their few requirements for joining the group is a willingness to teach and share their skills with other members.
Together, these pieces make up a collection of fair trade christmas gifts and decor that bring beauty to your home and real impact to Rwanda. Need more holiday decorating inspiration? Check out our Christmas Tassel Garlands and our blog post on how we style them.