On a sunny Thursday morning, a handful of gracious guests and members of the media gathered to witness the launch of Malaysia’s first fair trade heritage store: Earth Heir Studio. Certified by the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), the new boutique was officiated by Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia YB Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik. The launch marks as an important milestone for the award-winning social enterprise which was founded in 2013 by Sasibai Kimis.
In conjunction with the launch, Earth Heir also revealed a new line of hand-embroidered necklaces, rings and bracelets made by refugee women living in Malaysia. Part of the MADE51 initiative that was launched by UNHCR back in 2017, this collection aims to help refugees living in Malaysia to rebuild their lives by bringing their products to global markets. “Our new MADE51 GLOW Collection is our effort to represent refugee artisans as skilled and hard-working individuals with a personal story and cultural heritage that is precious,” explained Kimis.
So what really happens when you invest in fair trade certified brands? Beyond fair wages and safe working conditions, choosing to purchase products labelled as fair trade helps towards empowering vulnerable communities while creating positive change. For social enterprises such as Earth Heir, which has partnered with over 100 artisans in Malaysia to produce products with a focus on heritage preservation, the emphasis lies on sustaining the livelihoods of the communities it works with, while also minimising environmental impacts. 
“Since its inception, Earth Heir has been an advocate for the practice of ethical, fair trade principles in Malaysia. With more awareness, we hope more organisations will incorporate the 10 Fair Trade Principles as part of their daily business practice; this includes Opportunities for Disadvantaged Producers, Fair Payment, No Child or Forced Labour, and No Discrimination.”
In conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2020, travellers who spend at Earth Heir Studio will enjoy a Tourist Privilege of 20% upon presentation of their passports, plus an additional 5% off their next purchase when they submit a review online. For further on this promotion and other products by Earth Heir information, visit the details below.