During the civil war in Nepal 2004, there were no tourists and no income for Nepaliis. While travelling in Nepal and Tibet, we realized that Nepaliis and Tibetan refugee craftspeople needed trade to survive. We brought home two hockey bags of jewelery, statues, singing bowls, tangkas, carpets, and prayer flags to sell to Canadian supporters.

The import company was created at customs on our return home. There is a 'hot line' to the company registry department which issues a tax number in 15 minutes. The customs officer who was calculating the duty sighed, “Yes, everybody tries it once” as she rolled her eyes towards the heavens.

Our New Westminster house was converted to an exotic Christmas market to the delight of friends and neighbours.

In April 2006, the hockey bags morphed into a 40 foot container. We filled it with Anglo-Indian furniture from the time of the Raj, recaptured teak furniture, old textiles, stone and wood carving from India, and antique Tibetan altars and butter lamp tables, prayer wheels and artifacts from Tibet and Nepal.

Tibetan furniture from Lhasa was tied on the roof of our Land Cruiser and we drove it overland from Lhasa to Katmandu. Tibetan carpets and Nepali shaman drums were added to the shipment and trucked to Delhi. 7 Sisters Trading was born.

7 Sisters Trading was named for the protection amulet worn by tribal people in India. The 7 goddesses or female deities are the super women of the Indian Pantheon.

Made by hands by indigenous craftspeople. 7 Sisters supports artisans in South East Asia by importing the traditional arts and crafts that are being sacrificed to mass production: statue making by the lost wax process, metalwork, wood and stone carving, silver jewellery making, hand weaving, dyeing, and embellishment of clothing and textiles, leather work, tangka painting, furniture design and building, the making of incense and candles, beadwork, handmade paper, and basketry. We also collect old pieces of these works for the sake of preservation.

Ecologically aware of the harm that can be done by unsustainable practices. 7 Sisters seeks out and supports sources with the same values. We buy directly from the manufacturers, artists, and craftspeople directly or from their cooperatives.

Ethical trade is also a value. It is not always possible or practical for our suppliers to qualify for “Fair Trade” certification. And certainly, working conditions would not meet WorkSafe standards. Sometimes the most we can hope for is that workers and artists are fairly treated and paid for their work and that no child labour or exploitation is occurring. The working environments is another matter.

Spirit and meaning is held within work made by hands. Contact is made between the Eastern creator and the Western customer through the trade of the creation for money.