Malia Designs works with three fair trade producer groups in Cambodia. Each independent group is women-led, has their own social mission, and each is organized a bit differently. We have worked with all three groups since our very early days, and watching them succeed and grow has been an amazing experience.

Each artisan group employs both men and women, though women make up the majority by a large percentage. Our artisans span a wide range of ages, backgrounds, education levels, and life experiences. Some grew up in the countryside and some in the city. The one thing that they all have in common is the desire to create a better life for themselves, their families, and their communities. When you purchase Malia, you help create life-changing and sustainable employment for over 200 individuals!

Our largest group works with a remote village population located outside of the capital city of Phnom Penh and provides a much-needed source of income for subsistence farmers, who often migrate to cities where they are more likely to fall victim to traffickers. This cooperative is committed to the advancement and career growth of their artisans and offers various training classes for design and pattern making.

The artisan group that creates our upcycled cotton canvas line is a social enterprise that provides employment to the disabled, primarily individuals who are polio survivors or have been injured by landmines. This group started out offering home-based employment, but in recent years has opened a workshop complete with living accomodations for a number of its artisans.

The group that produces our recycled feed bag line is a small sewing group located in the heart of Phnom Penh. This group prioritizes hiring deaf and disabled individuals. They have developed an extensive training program to ensure artisans obtain the necessary skills for career success. All artisans are paid a full salary while completing their extensive training, and supported to choose a path that provides for financial independence and growth.