1. fairly traded gifts from poor communities around the world
Marketing fairly traded products from poor communities in the developing world
fairly traded gifts from poor communities around the world

2. The Art of the Potter

3. Bangladesh is about the size of England and Wales
Bangladesh is about the size of England and Wales. 90% of the area consists of clay deposited by the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers. The silt deposits become fertile agricultural land and the citizens are able to make a living from agriculture, albeit a precarious one.

4. Clay is abundant and can easily be dug out of the river banks
Clay is abundant and can easily be dug out of the river banks. Cooking pots and water vessels have been made in rural Bangladesh for centuries. In more recent times, the manufacture of a variety of plant pots and other terracotta handcrafted items for export provides much needed employment in villages. Some pots are still made for the local market.

5. HEED Handicrafts have been actively creating employment opportunities in Bangladesh since 1978.
At the present time approx. 10,000 artisans are being provided with at least some part time work by HEED H - many of these are working with terracotta.

6. A group of Created sellers travelled to one of the villages where some of the terracotta products are made. They were eager to see how their selling activities benefit the rural communities in Bangladesh. It was a fascinating journey that included a 1½ hour river trip...

7. …and a mini bus journey deep into rural Bangladesh – en route they saw this lady making fuel sticks from cow dung by the side of the road.

8. The village they were heading for is called Kaatikpur, in Sariatpur
The village they were heading for is called Kaatikpur, in Sariatpur. This is the local ‘pukul’ or pond.

9. The buildings are wooden framed with corrugated panels
The buildings are wooden framed with corrugated panels. The group were given a really warm welcome from the villagers who provided a fantastic meal.

10. There were pots everywhere in various stages of production.

11. No shortage of raw materials here!

12. The clay is worked until the impurities are removed and it is soft and pliable ready to use in the moulds.

13. The group were delighted to see these girls making products for the Created catalogue range.

14. This is an assortment of moulds
This is an assortment of moulds. Created have previously featured terracotta nativity sets from this group and they are available online – go to and search for nativities.

15. The component parts for the nativity houses are made separately

16. Then joined using ‘slip’ - a wet sticky mix of clay and water

17. Some of the products have a black finish
Some of the products have a black finish. To achieve this, before being fired in the kiln they are coated with the sap from a tree (called Gob) then packed with straw into a large terracotta jar. The straw is then lit and as it burns it turns the clay black.

18. The products need to dry out for 7 days so that they are ready for firing, a kiln is constructed out of bricks, then covered with straw and finally wet clay

19. Gaps are left in the brick ‘wall’ to allow air to escape
Gaps are left in the brick ‘wall’ to allow air to escape. Products are fired here for 18 hours
A huge amount of fuel is used as the kilns need to be kept very hot for long periods of time.

20. Once the firing is complete, the kiln can be dismantled and the products unpacked.

21. The finished products are crated up and sent on by road and river boat to HEED Handicrafts’ headquarters
They have to be very well packed as the roads to this village are very bumpy and full of potholes!

22. At HEED’s headquarters there are teams of painters who hand paint each item

23. Now the products can be individually boxed and well cushioned with lots of shredded paper. This ensures that they are ready for their journey to the port of Chittagong to be sent by sea freight to the UK.

24. HEED Handicrafts’ headquarters is situated in an industrial area to the North of Dhaka called Tongi. Here there are many factories, some making garments, and many others making crockery from china clay.
This has opened up new opportunities for some enterprising potters.

25. They collect the left over waste from the factories and re-work it

26. Here a traditional potters wheel is used to make vases and other containers

27. This group is particularly productive
This group is particularly productive! These pots are waiting for firing in a kiln

28. The pots are decorated by hand-painting. A steady hand is helpful here!

29. HEED H are offering these new products to their overseas buyers and some are sold locally

30. Created had it’s beginnings more than 30 years ago in Bangladesh so it is especially encouraging that the long partnership with HEED Handicrafts continues to develop and grow. Their vision is to use locally available environmentally friendly resources and operate as a fair trade market with the aim of improving the socio-economic position of artisans.

31. Together we are trying to bring good news to poor communities in Bangladesh.