From humanitarian to successful business project

BHcrafts is the title of the project which unites creative, humanitarian, business and psychotherapeutic characteristics in a highly balanced and outstandingly successful manner.

It is the project of production of handmade clothing and decorative items, which involves women from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Nongovernmental humanitarian organization Norwegian People's Aid has started this project in 1995, through its manager, Ms. Lejla Radončić. In the beginning, the project has had prominently humanitarian charachter, and today, it has developed into a successful and export-oriented business, which is still successfully developing. The result of that development is the enterprise BHcrafts, which is in charge of promoting and selling bosnian handicrafts in country and abroad.

The way one humanitarian idea developed into a successful business project

BHcrafts is, in every respect, outstanding and successful project. Women, among whom are many of those whose husbands, children, brothers and fathers were killed in the last war, are enabled to integrate into normal way of life again, in the best possible way by means of creativity and personal engagement. All relevant researches has proved that it is the best and the most effective way to confront the war traumas and to eliminate their consequences. Within our program, more than 500 women of different ethnic backround from both of the B&H entities were given a chance to forget their difficult past, through a lot of work, care and subtle socialization.

Synthesis of skill and natural materials

Clothing and program for household, made in the BHcrafts, elicit undivided enthusiasm. The leading world media have written about attractiveness and quality of our handicraft products. Each product is unique, hand-made in traditional techniques of knitting, crocheting and weaving, which have made BHcrafts products recognizable and appreciated. These products, regardless of whether they are clothing items, table cloths or carpets, can not be the subject of mass production. The products are handmade, with devotion and persistence, without the use of machines. Most of the products are made of chemically untreated wool and cotton, in the process which obeys the strict ecological standards.

Ecology, business, self-consciousness

The products of the BHcrafts are made with use of domestic raw materials, thus supporting the economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is the ecologically conscientious project, which does not pollute the environment in not a single stage of production (paper bags, cardboard boxes, looms for weaving). The project promotes Bosnia and Herzegovina in an attractive and original manner by export of the high-quality products. Our products are mixture of traditional and modern achievements of design, which is the combination that ensures a successful existence at the demending world market.

Handicrafts worldwide

Former business results acknowledges all of this. The BHcrafts has successfuly cooperated with Agnes B., company from France for three years already. With this company, we have, by now, carried out orders whose total value exceeds 40.000EUR. We have even more intensive business cooperation with the Sundance (USA) company, for which we have produced and exported goods worth 200.000USD. We also made a noticeable collection of tapestries for Neiman Marcus sales (USA).

Strategic planning

In contrast to similar projects, in the BHcrafts, the profit is not divided among the shareholders in the end of the year. It is aimed for development of business and expanding of activities. In that way we whish to prove that, in spite of extraordinary business development, we have not forgotten the reason we started with this idea. Our aim is to improve this idea even more, and, the profit will come in the end as the logical result of that development.

The art of the original

On each product labelled BHcrafts, you will find the name of the person who made it. It will be a name of one of Bosnian women, for whom this was the way in which they fulfilled their time and cured their depression in refugee camps in the beginning. Afterwards they started to earn money that is necessary for their life and life of their families.

More than ordinary purchase

If you order or buy these products made with love and care, you will not only get handicrafts of first class design and manufacture, but will also contribute to the creative and business development of the BHcrafts. Our original aim was to help the women who lost their most beloved ones. The aim is completely fulfilled. That is why wer are now developing the idea even more.

Perhaps you can help us to do so.

For all question, orders and suggestion, please contact our head office at bhcrafts@bih.net.ba