Women’s Design Collective
A collective of women artisans & entrepreneurs
This project addresses the issue of family economic stability, an important component of a young child’s health. Educating and assisting women and girls in developing independent economic means is one of the single-most effective strategies to eliminate poverty – which is a direct link to health status.
The goals of the Women’s Design Collective are simple:
Create economic means for women of low wealth and their families in Albuquerque
Increase social cohesion among the women and connect them with resources in their communities
Encourage women’s participation in civic affairs
This is a 3-year project, funded by a project grant from Catholic Health Initiatives Mission & Ministry Fund. Since opening in September, 2008, 120 women have come to the Collective. Most of the regular Collective participants are resettled refugees from Africa and Asia, and recent immigrants from Mexico. They speak Kirundi, Swahili, French, Ethiopian, Somalian, Nepalese, Spanish and (some) English.
The women have been weaving, sewing, knitting, beading and making gift baskets, greeting cards, and other items for sale. They have sold at seven sales events, plus made numerous individual sales at our showroom/gift shop and through commissioned work.
A number of Collective women who have shown real talent in weaving, bead-work, sewing and other arts and crafts have become instructors for other participants and are being paid to teach skills to others. Additionally, community artisans provide workshops on a variety of subjects. Many artisans provide one-on-one mentoring to Collective participants.
As part of the Collective’s efforts to teach product development and marketing, the women have made several fact-finding field trips to Santa Fe and other shopping destinations in Albuquerque to learn about quality products and marketing techniques.
Several individual women from the Collective have received technical assistance to help launch or improve their own home-based businesses. Some examples:
A participant received help to promote a new business selling Princess House Party products. The first house party was hosted at the Collective.
A Collective participant’s crocheted blouses and baby apparel have been purchased at high-end baby boutiques in Santa Fe. She received help making a marketing contact in Austin, TX.
Mentoring helped a Collective participant decide to start a pet portrait business.
Women’s Global Pathways, a group started by members of the Collective, received help writing a grant, researching non-profit status application process, designing fliers and brochures, and getting a loan to purchase looms.
The Women’s Design Collective is located at 955 San Pedro SE in Albuquerque’s International District and days/hours of operation are Tuesday through Friday 10-4 and some Saturdays, depending on whether the collective is participating in a craft fair or other sales event. Please call in advance to check Saturday hours. 505-268-1925. We invite everyone to come by and see our beautiful showroom and items for sale.