POETIC THREADS BIO:
Shortly after the Pakistani army drove 
out the Taliban from Swat Valley, leaving the valleys’ homes and infrastructure in ruins, 2.5 million people from Swat were living in IDP camps on the outskirts of Peshawar. In early 2010, they were finally able to return home to rebuild their homes and lives, when in July of 2010 a devastating flood hit Pakistan. The UN estimated that nearly one-third of the country was submerged, causing 20.4 million people to be affected by this tragedy.
As a response, a socially conscious organization, Poetic Threads of Pakistan (PTOP) was formed to help jumpstart the lives of those who were affected. Poetic Threads, now a registered social enterprise, works with artisans from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan to build sustainable livelihoods and preserve cultural hand-crafting traditions. Located along the Afghan border, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region is generally represented in mainstream media as a site of ongoing conflict and instability.
Poetic Threads aims to present a different face of residents’ social lives by highlighting the area’s ancient, rich and dynamic culture. Through their work with individual artisans, womens’ cooperatives and local organizations, Poetic Threads helps empower the local residents affected by the conflict, social and economic instability, and promote intercultural dialogue on an international level while maintaining their commitment to ethical business practices.
Hundreds of artisans worldwide apply for acceptance for the internationally renowned Santa Fe International Folk Art Market and despite its highly selective juried process, Poetic Threads’ partner artisans have been accepted for years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018 acknowledging the quality of their unique craftsmanship.
- Right-livelihood of traditional artisans through fair-trade practices
- Sustainable solutions to alleviate poverty in post-conflict areas
- Raising awareness of home-based women workers’ rights
- Product development, vocational training & marketing solutions
Sayed Mansoor Badshah (Executive Director) & Marisa Nicole Rufe (Creative Director)