About Us

All of our products are hand-crafted by artisans living in either rural villages or urban slums. We avoid factory environments, so work typically occurs amid caring for children, cooking, tending to rice fields, and chatting with friends. Most often, our artisans work from their homes or from a shared community space.

What is fair trade and are GIANNA products fairly-traded?

Fair trade refers to a system of commerce that ensures all producers involved in the creation of a product are compensated fairly. The aim of fair trade is to help worker-communities transition from marginalized vulnerability to economic self-sufficiency.

At GIANNA, we practice fair trade commerce throughout all steps of the supply chain-from the organic cotton growers to the natural dyers to the women weavers. We embrace fair trade as a way to empower and enrich the lives of artisans globally.

How is GIANNA eco-friendly?

We weave our eco-values into all that we do, and below are some of the ways we integrate these practices:

Crafting products using SKAL-certified organic cotton
Deriving eco-friendly, natural dyes from pigment in plants, bark, mud, and berries-in fact, all materials are hand-gathered and hand-dyed using centuries-old methods
Most of products are made completely by hand, using minimal to zero electricity
Our artisans specializing in silk typically cultivate and grow their own silk worms, a practice called sericulture. After the worms create cocoons, the silk is processed, then naturally-dyed, followed by hand-reeling and hand-spinning. This process is done creating minimal carbon footprints and completed without using electricity.

These are just a few of the many ways we bring eco to our customers!

Is GIANNA a non-profit?

No. GIANNA is a for-profit social enterprise with a mission to alleviate global poverty while empowering artisans to achieve their dreams. We want to change the belief that non-profits are the only entities caring for our world. After all, having a successful business and doing good are not mutually exclusive.

To this end, we rely solely upon consumer markets to drive revenue. As Gandhi said, "We must all be the change we wish to see in the world." We wish to see responsible business.

Product Information

What is organic cotton?

Organic cotton refers to cotton that is grown without harmful chemicals and pesticides from plants that are not genetically-modified. Our producers undergo rigorous testing to obtain organic certification through SKAL, which involves detailed record-keeping, regular inspections, and soil and water testing.

What are natural dyes, and why does GIANNA use them?

Natural dyes are plant-derived dyes that are created using centuries-old processes of gathering herbs, berries, bark, roots, mud and other organic materials. The general procedure for extracting pigment involves creating a "tea" from the ingredients, submerging the silk or cotton, then fixing the color with a salt-based solution.

GIANNA uses only natural dyes because we want to avoid using harmful chemicals that contaminate water supplies and cause a multitude of health problems for artisan communities.

Do you offer gift wrapping?

At this time, we do not specifically offer a gift wrapping service. Many of our items come with the option of purchasing a decorative box tailor-made to fit the product. Please see specific products for more detail information.

Care Information

How do I care for my silk products?

Do not machine wash your silk products. You can hand-wash the silk item in a mild detergent and lie flat to dry. Iron on low heat as necessary.

If hand-washing is not an option, you may also dry clean silk.

How do I care for my organic cotton products?

We do not recommend putting any of our products directly into a washing machine. Depending on the level of handiwork on your organic cotton product, you may either hand-wash cool or dry clean.

Artisan Information

How do I find information about the artisan who crafted my specific product?

You may perform a search to find specific information about the artisan who crafted your item. To do this, simply type in the artisan's name or the artisan's identification number in the artisan search box.

Each artisan has a dedicated space on our website. Please read these profiles for specific information about your artisan's work, life, and dreams.

I have ordered from GIANNA before and want to buy more products made by the same artisan. Is this possible?

We work with many artisans who often work on multiple designs. This means that we cannot guarantee you will receive an item crafted by the same artisan.

If buying products from the same artisan is important to you, please send us an email at info@giannafairtrade.com with your desired artisan, product details, and contact information, and a Gianna customer service representative will contact you within 2 business days.

Ordering & Returns

What is your return policy?

If you are not fully satisfied with your purchase, you may return it within 15 days of purchase with the original invoice. Please note that to be eligible for a credit, replacement, or exchange, your returned goods must be in like-new condition. You are responsible for all return shipping charges. When applicable, shipping fees charged at the time of purchase are not refundable. All returns incur a $15 re-stocking fee.

Thank you for your understanding. We want your experience with GIANNA to be enlightening, enriching and completely satisfying!

Does Gianna offer gift certificates?

At this time, we do not offer a robust gift certificate program. If you are interested in gift certificate services, please send an email to info@giannafairtrade.com indicating the amount of the certificate you would like to purchase. A Gianna representative will contact you within 2 business days.

Do you charge tax on your products?

Yes. By law, we must charge sales tax on all orders placed within California. Customers in other states may enjoy shopping with us tax-free!

Shipping & Delivery

How long will it take to receive my order?

Depending on the shipping method you specify at check-out, you may receive your order in 1-7 business days. We offer 2-day and overnight expedited shipping for urgent orders.

When will my order ship?

All orders received after 2pm EST ship on the next business day.

What are my shipping options?

You may ship via regular UPS, 2-day, or overnight service.

What if I change my mind after my order has shipped?

Unfortunately, once an order is processed and in transit, we cannot stop delivery. Please refer to our return policy above.

Do you ship to Alaska or Hawaii?

Yes. We ship to customers in Alaska and Hawaii, but not that orders going to addresses in these states occur slightly higher shipping fees.

How do I place an order to be shipped internationally?

For international orders, please contact us at info@giannafairtrade.com.