While you browse local goodies by San Francisco designers, you can enjoy delicious goodies by Kristie Kohler, cupcakes from Cakes ‘n Cups, and a wine tasting by Fritz Winery!

rainabags store front, open for business!

Day 2 and it’s just getting better.  The Festival attracts all things eco..from natural sweetners, herbal teas, Guatamalan handicraft, and organic cotton sheets. 

Come check it out, the entry fee is nominal and there are tasty freebies (better than Costco).

Come visit RainaBags at the 8th Annual Green Festival from November 13, 14 & 15 at the San Francisco Concourse Exhibition Center and the Giftcenter Pavilion Theater (635 8th St at Brannan St).

The festival will highlight economic and environmental sustainability issues and help us all navigate this unusually uncertain time by offering ideas for attainable change.

Come by, say hello, and join the eco-party!

– Pepper

Article written by Lauren Smiley

Raina & Jatin at the factory

It takes hardwork to manufacture a product, especially when handstitched details, embroidery, and fabric dyeing involved!  This posting will provide an inside look at the working environment of the craftsmen, artisans, and amazing talent that help produce RainaBags!

Here is a picture of Jatin and me at the factory in Delhi, India.   Jatin is a young entrepreneur who runs a  manufacturing company called Hope International.  Hope International is the sole manufacturer of RainaBags.  This company also manufactures garments, accessories, bags, belts, leather goods, fine knits, and the basic necessities as well (denim jeans, jackets, etc).  

 Wages

Hope International’s employees work a standard work week (8 hours a day for 6 days a week) except for Holidays.  Employees are not mandated to work more than 8 hours a day or on Holidays.  All employees are working at will and there is no forced labor.

 The wages paid to employees are well over the standard Delhi minimum wage.  The wages paid are determined based on three levels, or grades, of workers:

“Grade A” worker is at a supervisory level — paid $200 – $250 (Rs 8,000 – 10,000) per month
“Grade B” worker is a head worker with experience — paid $125 (Rs 5,000) per month
“Grade C” worker is a less experienced worker — paid $87 – $100 (Rs 3,500 – 4,000) per month

According to this source (http://www.paycheck.in/main/officialminimumwages/delhi), most of the figures indicate a minimum wage between $3.11-$3.47 per day (Rs 140-156 per day) which is about $87.35-$97.33 per month (Rs 3,920-4,368 per month) using 28 working days per month for these estimates.

The facility has natural sunlight, windows for external air flow, and additional flourescent lighting.  Note that each employees has their own “workstation” and that the overall environment is organized and clean.  The employees are adults in ages of 25 to 40 years old.

Health Care & Benefits

Companies located in Delhi have made great strides in the past five years in providing health care benefits to its employees.  There is a lot more progress needed, but currently, most companies purchase health care insurance plans in the same manner that America companies do (i.e. purchase of Blue Cross plans).   In Hope International’s case, the manufacturing company is relative small, so the medical and dental benefits provided are called employee state insurance, or ESI.  The medical and dental allowances ar eadded to the salary, so that the employee may use these allowances as per his/her own needs.

In addition to the many national holidays India residents enjoy, employees are given between nine to ten days of paid time off for vacation or sickness.  Maternity leave for three months is provided at full pay.  A leave for longer than three months is taken as unpaid leave.

Working Environment

Natural sunlight streams into the factory.

The environmental practites in plat at Hope International are to ensure that the working space is well lit, ventilated, and of comfortable temperature.  In Delhi, the weather is very extreme, either very cold or humid heat (temperatures reach well over 100 degrees farenheit in the summer).  Quality working conditions equates to healthy, content, and a productive working place.  Natural light pours into the factory.

Worker’s Rights

In  August 2008, Hope International agreed to a Neutrality Agreement.  This agreement states that the employees of Hope International have a right to unionize and raise issues to management (ie, Jatin) without risking their employment status.  It is common that employees are scared to raise issues with Management in fear of losing their jobs.  This neutrality agreement aims to encourage communication between employees and employers by providing a mechanism that empowers and protects employees.

There is a non-governmental organization called All India Artisans and Craftworkers Welfare Association (“AIACA” at www.aiacaonline.org).  This organization helps support genuine handicrafts made in India, develop sector-wide minimum standards and standards for labeling a product as a handicraft product, and increase consumer awareness of distinct handicraft traditions.

Hope International is a member of the AIACA organization and in return, the AIACA provides helps Hope International support the Neutrality Agreement.  By doing so, AIACA supports Hope International and its employees.  AIACA provides Hope International with a point of reference to confirm the minimum fair wage rates for the various classes of employees.  SHould any issues arise, employees are encouraged to contact AIACA.  The AIACA provides a venue for mediation and discussion for both Hope International and its employees.

As a result of being a member of AIACA, Hope International is able to take the steps towards improving the standards of living for it’s employees.

Once the bamboo fibers are processed into strands and rolled onto spools, the looms work their magic.  The looms are massive, powerful, and surprisingly sophisticated.  The looms are large enough to occupy an entire warehouse the size of Costco.

Here’s a closer look at the loom.  It’s made by Toyota during the pre-Prius era.  The loom is computerized, which allows for specification of the tautness, threadcount , and texture of the fabric.  The width of the fabric is generally 56 inches.

The picture to the right illustrates the thousands of strings segregated in a sequense so that the string on a shuttle can run across the width of the loom.

After the fabric is loomed it is left in loose piles for the next process — quality control inspection!

This very peculiar looking machine threads the fabric over a back light so that the fabric can be manually inspected for quality.

If the fabric has any irregularities (uneven texture, weave is too taut, etc) it is pulled from inventory.  The remaining fabric is steamed to banish wrinkles and tightly wound for packaging.

Rolls of fabric… you spin me right round baby right round like a record baby right round….

The rolls pass final inspection, inventoried and tagged and then await for final delivery.  The fabric is unprocessed and “raw.”  The next stage in the process relates to the  fabric finishing process.

There is a story behind every product – the story behind RainaBags begand in Delhi, India in 2007.

In the midst of honking taxis, the swirling energy in the outdoor marketplace of Chandni Chowk, and traveling to various manufacturing facilings — the challenge of capturing the vibrant colors of Delhi sparked my curiousity.  What would it take to manufacture something and bring it back home, to San Francisco? 

Come along with me in my adventure to see for yourself the manufacturing life cycle of how a RainaBag is produced:

- From bamboo to threads: looming organic fabric

- Add a little color: at the dyeing plant

- Add some pattern: the screenprinting process

- Finishing touches: cutting, sewing, and packaging