WASHINGTON, D.C.—RugMark has welcomed four more companies to its growing family of rug businesses devoted to ending exploitative child labor in the handmade rug industry.
Nought Collective, notNeutral, Creative Matters and Rug Art are the latest to sign on as RugMark licensees, thereby agreeing to be a part of an independent inspection and monitoring program that confirms rugs are manufactured without the use of child labor, and also joining the organization’s efforts to provide educational opportunities for children in India and Nepal.
Donna Hastings, co-founder and co-director of Creative Matters, said her customers do indeed care about the rug weavers. “We get asked a lot if the rugs are made by children,” she said. “It’s nice to say we’re with RugMark. It gives our clients confidence in our work.”
The new members are also eager to be a part of the larger work of RugMark. “We also wanted to be part of something tangible like the school programs,” said Tracey Sawyer, principal and creative director of Nought Collective. “RugMark isn’t just about monitoring, it is about education.”