Minlam, Inc. joins RUGMARK’s campaign against child labor

Furniture World Magazine

Minlam, Inc. has joined RUGMARK’s international effort to eliminate child labor and educate children in Nepal, India and Pakistan. As the newest member of the RUGMARK Foundation, each one of Minlam’s imported Tibetan rugs will carry the RUGMARK child labor-free label. According to Michael Hokenson, founder of the San Francisco-based Minlam, Inc., the educational opportunity that RUGMARK offers former child carpet weavers ensures a more prosperous future for all. That is why Minlam (which means ‘dream’ in Tibetan) joined the RUGMARK Foundation’s no child labor certification program. In 1997, Hokenson traveled to Nepal and fell in love with Tibetan carpets. Inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement of the late 19th century, he saw that supporting Nepalese artisans would restore their dignity and create beautiful objects for the home. "The centerpiece for spiritual development of the individual is the home," said Hokenson "and the carpet is the emotional ground of the room, serving to pacify and invigorate the spirit." This initial vision was brought to fruition at the end of 2000 when Minlam, Inc. was formed with the help of Kinetix LLC, which facilitated the engineering of the production facilities in Nepal. In addition to Hokenson’s positive artistic philosophy, he believes the manufacturing end of his business is in good hands. Kishor Shrestha, brother of the world famous thangka painter, Romio Shrestha, runs Minlam’s factory. Romio’s paintings hang in the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Tate Gallery. "It was fortunate that I came to know Tibetan carpets. It has added much value to my life to be able to make something and be completely proud of it. The Minlam design process honors the people, animals and natural resources involved in the creation of a rug," said Hokenson. "I wanted to design a company with integrity and that really included examining who makes these carpets and how Minlam is contributing to their lifestyle. I believe that a positive work environment will create beautiful things," he explained. Hokenson believes that modern society has helped make the elimination of child labor possible through technological and educational advancements. "It [fair working conditions] is a natural step in the evolution of humanity. Fortunately, for Minlam, the resources exist to manufacture a carpet that is not dependent upon child labor and other forms of exploitation." Child labor is rife in the handloom carpet industry where most South Asian carpets are destined for export to the United States and Europe. In 1998, the U.S. Department of Labor estimated that there were up to one million children weaving carpets in Pakistan, Nepal, and India. Since then, RUGMARK’s efforts have helped significantly in removing children from the carpet weaving industry. In Nepal, for example, a recent UNICEF study revealed that the incidence of child labor in the carpet industry has dropped from 11 percent to three percent. "RUGMARK is improving the child labor situation," said Nina Smith, Executive Director of RUGMARK. "We are able to do this and educate children because companies like Minlam, Inc. are committed to operating responsibly." To accomplish its mission, RUGMARK inspects looms in India, Nepal, and Pakistan and certifies carpets as child labor-free. The organization also runs schools and rehabilitation centers for former child weavers. Licensed importers sell certified rugs in the United States, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom and throughout Europe. Since its inception in 1995, RUGMARK has freed more than 2,000 child weavers and provided schooling for more than 1,800 children with a ripple effect spreading to tens of thousands of child workers across the South Asian region. Hokenson is eagerly anticipating his new business relationship with Landon Cole, a Los Angeles based company that will begin selling Minlam carpets at the end of March. Other outlets include Blue Racoon of Lambertville, NJ and EZIBA at www.eziba.com. More information about Minlam, Inc. is available at www.minlamdesign.com or through Landon Cole at 323.933.3318. To learn more about RUGMARK Foundation please visit www.rugmark.org or call toll-free at 1.866.RUGMARK.