ATA’s booth at NY NOW™
NEW YORK – As it has for many years, from January 31st to February 3rd, ATA exhibited at NY NOW™, one of the most highly acclaimed gift shows in the world. With handmade products including jewelry, textiles, pillows, hand puppets and homewares from Mexico, Gaza, Haiti, China and Myanmar, total sales came in at over $54,000. ATA Mexico sales had an 125% increase from the August 2014 show, showcasing pieces from Abrazo Style/Union de Artesanas de los Altos, Mexchic, M de Mexico, Artemateria and Mariana Barranco.
Metallic Pillows, our bestseller, from M de Mexico
“ATA Mexico products received a great response during this past NY NOW,” says ATA Mexico consultant Erica Lardo. “A variety of buyers who have been placing smaller orders to test our sourcing capabilities during the last few shows now placed larger orders. They were convinced that Mexican handmade products are saleable and view us as reliable suppliers.”
At the booth, ATA also featured shawls and accessories from the Sulafa Embroidery Center. Sulafa is one of the most prominent women’s organizations in Gaza, Palestine. The center has been a women’s income generation project of (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees) UNRWA since 1950.
Coin purses from the Sulafa Embroidery Center
From China, Dropenling featured unique and colorful dolls, toys, and bags in ATA’s booth. Dropenling is a social enterprise designed to provide sustainable, long-term solutions that promote and preserve traditional local culture.
With its combination of traditional weaving techniques and modern textile design, Yoyamay, a two-generation family business, exhibited beautifully woven pillowcases, table runners and purses crafted by artisans in Myanmar.
Bambou Chic d’Haiti, featured colorful bangles created from bamboo. Bambou Chic d’Haiti is a group of HIV-positive artisans who completed training in ATA’s Bamboo Workshop II, established to economically and socially support impoverished Haitians who are HIV-positive.
Beautifully crafted bangles from Haiti
ATA also caught up with a few familiar faces at the show. It was a great experience to see Guadalupe Ramirez, who founded Asociacion de Mujeres del Altiplano (AMA) and participated in our Market Readiness Program in 2013 as well as Sasa Designs by the Deaf, a 2014 canvas home Small Grants winner, and Aissata Namako, founder of Djiguiyaso who was a beneficiary from ATA’s 5 year past program in Mali. This marked her first exhibit in the US at NY NOW with Artisan Resource.
Aissata Namako attends her first NY NOW™ as an exhibitor
We are looking forward to returning to the Javits Center in August for the summer NY NOW™, where we will also be hosting our annual Market Readiness Program™, a 4 ½-day program designed for international artisan producers, designers, exporters as well as the leadership of craft-based enterprises. The program provides intensive preparation for entry into the US market and vital information for building successful export businesses. We strongly recommend that readers look into the MRP and recommend it to their colleagues and friends. Learn more about the program, including how to register, here.
