BHcrafts – WFTO Fair Trade Certified Producer

About us – BHcrafts, a sustainable Fair Trade Certified Producer

BHcrafts produces sustainable handmade clothing and decorative items, involving women from across Bosnia and Herzegovina. As a proud WFTO Fair Trade Certified Producer, BHcrafts reflects the artisans’ commitment to ethical practices.

In 1995, Lejla Radončić launched this project while directing a refugee center built by The Norwegian People’s Aid after the devastating Bosnian war. She began it as a humanitarian initiative, and over time, it grew into a thriving export-oriented business that continues to expand. By celebrating Bosnia’s cultural heritage, we craft traditional skills into contemporary products.

From Humanitarian Idea to Thriving Business

Brand name BHcrafts stands as a unique, successful project. Women often suffer the most in war, and thousands in Bosnia lost their families, homes, and support systems, leaving them to raise surviving children alone. Research shows that giving these women skills and opportunities is the best way to help them heal and move forward. Today, with the recognition of being a WFTO Fair Trade Certified Producer, BHcrafts empowers these women even further.

Over time, BHcrafts trained and employed more than 700 women from all ethnic backgrounds, empowering them to leave the past behind and work toward a brighter future.

Ecology, Business, and Awareness

By using domestic raw materials, BHcrafts is supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina’s economy. We consider ecological impact at every stage of production—shipping orders in paper bags and boxes and weaving on wooden looms. Our products blend traditional techniques with modern design to appeal to global markets. The BHcrafts team remains committed to WFTO standards, ensuring fair production practices around the world.

Handicrafts on the World Stage

Our results speak for themselves. We have collaborated with Agnes B in France for several years. In the USA, we have partnered with Sundance Catalog for over a decade, and also worked with National Geographic Catalog and Neiman Marcus on smaller projects. As a result of this international recognition, BHcrafts shines as a verified WFTO Fair Trade Certified Producer.

Strategic Growth

We reinvest all profits into expanding the business instead of distributing them to shareholders. Our mission remains constant: to improve the lives of Bosnian women and their families. By focusing on meaningful development, we generate profit naturally. Importantly, being a WFTO Fair Trade Certified Producer enables us to sustain and enhance our fair trade practices.

The art of the original

Every BHcrafts product bears the name of the woman who made it. Many of these women overcame the hardships of refugee camps and later learned to earn a living, improving their own lives and supporting their families. Recognition of BHcrafts as a WFTO Fair Trade Producer acknowledges the dedication of these artisans.

More than an ordinary purchase

When you buy our products, you contribute directly to the creative and professional opportunities of Bosnian women. Basically, the mission has never changed—your purchase helps us grow and reach more women in need. Plus, by choosing BHcrafts, you’re supporting a WFTO Fair Trade Certified Producer whose focus is on fair trade and sustainability.

Skill Meets Nature

Our handmade clothing and home goods have earned worldwide recognition for their superior quality—something mass production cannot replicate. The media have celebrated our craftsmanship and dedication to excellence, qualities that underscore our expertise as a WFTO Fair Trade Certified Producer.

BHcrafts WFTO Guaranteed Fair Trade Certified Producer

WFTO has certified BHcrafts as a Guaranteed Fair Trade Producer. As the global network, WFTO, verifies social enterprises committed to Fair Trade principles. Since 2009, we have proudly been the first—and remain the only—guaranteed sustainable handmade producer in the Balkans.