Production

Fashionable bags - designed in Germany - fair trade produced in India

We love bags, so we can incorporate our ideas of fair production and fair trade to produce high-quality, fashionable bags made from Eco-leather and Canvas at attractive prices. 

India is one of the world's major suppliers of leather goods and has managed in recent years to reach the traditionally recognized leading level of Italian leather craftsmen. You can see the quality of our products which set standards both in processing and in the resource-conserving possibilities of vegetable tanning.

It was always clear to us that the right partners are crucial if you have a vision. It doesn't just come through years’ technical skills in production and experience in dealing with demanding Western customers, but also in the right attitude, the absolute dedication to the central idea that leads to success.

We have found these partners, partners who do their job with passion and dedication while in all practicality, never losing their sense of humour. It is heart-warming to see how people, sometimes simple means do their work and live their lives, enthusiastically overcoming incredible odds every day:   authorities that take no account of the needs of the local entrepreneurs, NGOs (non-government interest groups), that only see the poverty of the people in the food chain and label this entrepreneurial industry "a craft at best."   We have a different view of our partners. For us they are always professional business operators manufacturing quality and competitive products with their team for the world market and we see no contradiction between modern production and the factors of sustainability and humanity. Yes, it is our pleasure to cooperate with and honor these professionals.

Our Canvas-/Eco-Leather backpacks and bags are produced by the first Fair Trade organization in Kolkata (Calcutta). Our Partner, Equitable Marketing Association (EMA), is a member of the World Fair Trade Organisation. Here, in addition to excellent craftsmanship at an international level, special services are provided for the people who work there.  EMA´s vision is to contribute in a major way to the betterment of the underprivileged and the marginalised, the more the better. As an umbrella organisation EMA mainly cooperates with producers who comprise poor artisans, farmers, craftspersons, weavers, women and small producers for whom survival is an ongoing battle. The manbefair products are made by skilled craftsmen in EMA´s own development center under the supervision of specialists in bag making. manbefair has opted for the cooperation with EMA in order to fulfill on the one hand the highest product standards and on the other hand at the same time the social standards of the WFTO

The manufacturer of our Eco-leather bags is still a small family owned company but has a long tradition and an excellent reputation as a producer.  They have worked successfully for several other brands that are also committed to Fair Trade and sustainability.  After the premature death of the father of the present owner of the company, he took over the company in 2000 at the age of 21. The specialization in high quality Eco-leather from the gentle vegetable tanning process, along with very discerning production, in combination with a strong commitment to optimum working conditions following Fairtrade principles is what creates the company's success. But the commitment outside the place of business is exemplified by, for example, that they will set up a special permanently funded weekend school for the children of slum dwellers. We are glad to cooperate with this growing, dedicated factory.

With the growth of our product range and the growing demands of our customers on design and functions, we have taken two more family businesses on board as partners.

These professional companies stand for good working conditions, which are supported on a voluntary basis by SEDEX and the Veritas office in integrating social and environmental standards into their production or which are certified as a BSCI (Business Social Compliance) company and are committed to ensuring that employee rights and labour standards are significantly higher than locally customary conditions. This includes, among other things, ordinary employment contracts in copy for the employees (and thus also legally enforceable), ordinary monthly pay slips, participation in social, health and accident insurance, 90 paid days maternity leave, a limited regular working time of 48 hours per week, paid overtime (200% of the hourly wage), exclusion of child labour, etc...
It is particularly important for the control of these standards but also for the adherence to a constantly high processing quality that there is no home or migrant work here. Some of the employees have been working for the company for 20 years.

Through our regular orders and pre-financing, we support an even order situation and economic stability as a prerequisite for secure jobs and permanently good working conditions.

We are committed to transparency. A brand like manbefair cannot function without traceability in the production chain. If you have questions about our production partners, please email [email protected]. We are pleased to answer every question with honesty and sincerity.