FAIR TRADE 'CAFE AT NIGHT' VAN GOGH WOOLLEN TAPESTRY

The work takes place on large, old-fashioned hand looms. The looms are lined with a cotton warp and the tapestry is woven on the warp. The weaver quickly picks up a few of the warp threads with her fingers, and threads the wool through it. She then beats the wool in place with a large comb. After one line of wool is woven, she changes the position of the warp using the foot pedals of the loom, and puts in place the next line.

The weaver carefully follows the design, which is hanging behind the warps of the loom, and can be seen by looking through the threads. It is a large sheet of paper with a lot of contour lines on it, marking the edges of the different colours. Using a system of numbers, the weaver knows which colour to use where. Every colour detail is woven separately.

Due to the complexity of the weaving process, it takes a long time before the women are fully trained. In the beginning, the women will weave only simple designs and smaller size tapestries. The larger and more complex designs can only be woven by women with at least three years' experience. It takes from 2 weeks to 2 months to make a standard size tapestry (60x100cm), depending on the complexity of the design.

It is no wonder then that a deep relationship exists between the weaver and the tapestry. The circle is only completed when the tapestry is bought and taken home by an appreciative buyer, to be enjoyed for many years.

The working conditions here are excellent, the working areas are well lit and ventilated, and the women get paid a wage that is above the local minimum wage, also during their time as apprentices. They work from 8 until 5 with a one hour lunch break and two tea breaks. All employees can take part in a savings scheme, which enables them to save 10% of their income, and their savings are doubled by the company. The money they save in this way becomes available when they leave the company, and it is usually a sizeable amount.

There is also medical insurance in place. If an employee lives some distance from her work, she can take part in the bicycle project. This allows her to buy a bike and with the help of the company, pay for it in small instalments. Quite a few girls have taken part in the project, as the neat line of bikes in front of the building shows.