About
OVERVIEW
Founder's story
Trillium Artisans is an innovative, nonprofit, green community economic development program in Portland, OR, USA.
We are a microenterprise support program that empowers artisans and actively connects them to markets.
Trillium Artisans was originally started as a project of a larger nonprofit. Founded over a decade ago, that nonprofit worked in extremely low-income neighborhoods in Portland, Oregon using the "asset-based community development" principles of John McKnight. (Asset-based community development finds the way out of the tangled web of poverty by focusing on talents and capacities, rather than what is lacking.)
In 1994, the parent nonprofit conducted an asset inventory of its neighborhoods and found talented residents wanting to sell their handmade goods and build their own businesses. To facilitate this, the Eco-Biz program was established and later renamed as Trillium Artisans. The Trillium name was chosen because the three-pointed Trillium flower reflects the triple-bottom line principles (people, planet, profit) of the sustainability movement.
We are a microenterprise support program that empowers artisans and actively connects them to markets.
Trillium Artisans was originally started as a project of a larger nonprofit. Founded over a decade ago, that nonprofit worked in extremely low-income neighborhoods in Portland, Oregon using the "asset-based community development" principles of John McKnight. (Asset-based community development finds the way out of the tangled web of poverty by focusing on talents and capacities, rather than what is lacking.)
In 1994, the parent nonprofit conducted an asset inventory of its neighborhoods and found talented residents wanting to sell their handmade goods and build their own businesses. To facilitate this, the Eco-Biz program was established and later renamed as Trillium Artisans. The Trillium name was chosen because the three-pointed Trillium flower reflects the triple-bottom line principles (people, planet, profit) of the sustainability movement.
Our mission
Trillium Artisans is a nonprofit microenterprise support and community economic development program that empowers artisans and actively connects them to markets.
Trillium's primary goal is to help low-income artisans increase their craft business income and build sustainable microenterprises.
Our philosophy
The types of products we sell
All products reflect our commitment to sustainability: they are created with at least 50% recycled or reclaimed materials, and are priced to pay the artisan a living wage.
We offer home decor and garden items, women's accessories, pet playthings, gifts, children's toys and apparel.
Where the producers live and work
Our artisans live and work in Portland, Oregon.
Projects we support
Our artisans have access to product reviews, retail and wholesale opportunities, small business counseling, peer networking, credit card processing services, piecework and contracting opportunities, guest speakers and more.
How we select what we sell
Items must: be handmade with a minimum of 50% recycled or reclaimed materials; be priced to pay the artisan a living wage of $12.50 per hour after consignment; fit into our existing product lines; be well made and durable; and be something that our dedicated and passionate customers will buy!
What makes us unique
We sell green crafts! Our quality indie crafts are made in Portland, Oregon from recycled and reclaimed materials.
More information about us
Trillium Artisans is an innovative, nonprofit, green community economic development program.
The PDX Green Crafts project seeks to continue Trillium's proven track record of providing small business counseling, access to markets, peer networking and technical assistance and training to low-income craftspeople. The project works to expand e-commerce marketing opportunities for the group as a whole, as well as increase the technical skill sets of our member green crafts start-ups, so that they can sell more and build sustainable microenterprises.
Trillium Artisans has a retail store in Portland, Oregon, USA. We support low-income local artists who create quality indie crafts from recycled and reclaimed materials.
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