GoodWeave International

GoodWeave International GoodWeave works to stop child labor in global supply chains. Permanently. And she was moved. She was convinced. She said she was going to throw out her carpet.

During a live television talk show in Germany in the early 1990s, an elderly woman called up. She had been listening to Indian activist Kailash Satyarthi talk about the scourge of child labor in South Asia’s carpet industry. And then she issued a challenge: “I am very old. I only have 10 years left. I can’t wait. You look young. You must do something so that I can buy a new carpet.”

It’s been mo

re than 20 years since Kailash’s idea for GoodWeave was born. Today, GoodWeave is one of the first and only examples of an organization working to end child labor by connecting all the dots between New Delhi and New York, between a back alley factory and a boutique shop, between an artisan and the end consumer. Our market-driven model includes: corporate engagement, labor monitoring, product certification, consumer awareness, victim assistance, and grassroots social programs. It’s a holistic approach that aims to heal and educate those children who have been exploited, while changing the underlying circumstances and values in their home, their village and the international business community that ultimately led them away from the school desk and onto a work bench. This is how you end child labor in any manufacturing sector--permanently.

Child and forced labor are not gender neutral. In South Asia’s carpet and garment supply chains, the same structural cha...
06/04/2026

Child and forced labor are not gender neutral.

In South Asia’s carpet and garment supply chains, the same structural challenges that push children into work often fall heavily on women and girls. When women earn less, face harassment at work, or cannot access education, the conditions for child and forced labor persist.

GoodWeave’s gender-responsive approach includes supporting girls’ education and rights awareness, elevating women’s voices and leadership within their communities, helping families access education and early childhood support, and helping women workers access information and services related to worker rights, health, and financial literacy.

Learn more about how GoodWeave is advancing gender equity in South Asia and helping break the intergenerational cycle of child and forced labor: https://goodweave.org/advancing-gender-equity-in-south-asia/

The GoodWeave Standard is comprised of three Certification Principles:No child labor is allowed.No forced or bonded labo...
06/01/2026

The GoodWeave Standard is comprised of three Certification Principles:

No child labor is allowed.
No forced or bonded labor is allowed.
Conditions of work are documented and verifiable.

Worksites must be compliant with these principles to receive the GoodWeave Label on a rug or home textile product.

The GoodWeave label is the best assurance rug and home textile products are made without child, forced or bonded labor, and it also means your purchase supports programs that educate children and improve working conditions for adults in producer communities.

Insist on the GoodWeave label.

The month of May marks our 15th year of partnership with Organic Weave!Founder, Linda Alexanian shares “Organic Weave is...
05/15/2026

The month of May marks our 15th year of partnership with Organic Weave!

Founder, Linda Alexanian shares “Organic Weave is proud to partner with GoodWeave to ensure ethical production and transparency across its supply chain. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to eliminating child labor and promoting fair, responsible practices in the textile industry.”

We are thankful to work alongside business partners like Organic Weave to advance GoodWeave’s work in South Asia. We look forward to many more years of collaboration!

Now Hiring: GoodWeave is seeking a Director, GWI Certification Division to support the coordination and implementation o...
05/14/2026

Now Hiring: GoodWeave is seeking a Director, GWI Certification Division to support the coordination and implementation of GoodWeave’s assurance provision globally, including certification operations in India and Nepal, with potential expansion to Bangladesh.

The role works closely with Inspection, Monitoring and Certification country offices to help ensure GoodWeave’s policies and procedures are carried out consistently and effectively. Ideal candidates bring experience in social compliance auditing, certification and assurance-based programs, quality management systems, and labor rights.

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply by May 29. Full position details and application instructions: https://goodweave.org/about/employment/

Since 1995, in Nepal, GoodWeave has freed over 1,600 children from child labor and provided educational opportunities to...
05/12/2026

Since 1995, in Nepal, GoodWeave has freed over 1,600 children from child labor and provided educational opportunities to over 5,300 children, giving them the foundation to build safe and sustainable futures. GoodWeave's decades-long impact reflects a broader mission to transform the rug and textile industry into one that protects childhood, upholds human rights, and empowers the next generation of artisan communities.

Thank you for following the campaign. Insist on the GoodWeave Label.

In 2025, GoodWeave partnered with local organizations to provide health and financial services to over 900 weavers in Ne...
05/07/2026

In 2025, GoodWeave partnered with local organizations to provide health and financial services to over 900 weavers in Nepal. The commitment to ensuring the physical safety and financial security of local artisans helps to support the weaving communities responsible for creating the handcrafted rugs and textiles that carry GoodWeave's certification, ensuring that every purchase reflects not just quality craftsmanship, but humane working conditions.

Featured in this post are rugs designed by Joanne Hurd Hand-Knotted Artworks. Find more at: https://www.joannehurd-artworks.com.

The Nepalese rug industry supports thousands of artisans and preserves generations of cultural craftsmanship. GoodWeave ...
05/05/2026

The Nepalese rug industry supports thousands of artisans and preserves generations of cultural craftsmanship. GoodWeave International helps strengthen these weaving communities through supply chain monitoring and social programs. GoodWeave’s social programs focus on prevention and remediation, including educational opportunities and resources that empower children with access to learning and brighter futures. By investing in education alongside artisan livelihoods, GoodWeave helps protect cultural traditions while creating sustainable pathways for the next generation.

Featured in this post are rugs from 16TEN. Find more at 16TEN RUGS.

Nepal’s carpet industry has become a major economic force, providing employment for hundreds of thousands of artisans an...
04/30/2026

Nepal’s carpet industry has become a major economic force, providing employment for hundreds of thousands of artisans and contributing significantly to the nation’s economy. Today, handcrafted rugs from Nepal are celebrated worldwide for their craftsmanship, cultural depth, and use of traditional techniques and natural materials. In 2025, GoodWeave conducted over 750 audits and inspections in GoodWeave supply chains in Nepal.

Featured in this post are rugs by Robin Gray Design. Find more at ROBIN GRAY Design.

04/28/2026

A new edition of GoodWeave News is out, sharing recent updates from our work in South Asia and globally.

In this issue, we feature our newly published 2023–2025 Impact Report, revisit Weaving Hope and the conversation that followed, and highlight recent engagements bringing supply chain risks and accountability into focus, from a workshop in London to the Design for Freedom Summit in Connecticut. Read more here: https://preview.mailerlite.io/preview/1542149/emails/184917363180701046

Stay connected! Subscribe at goodweave.org to receive these updates in your inbox.

Tiger rugs are one of the most iconic of rugs made in Nepal. Originally used for meditation, they represent themes of in...
04/28/2026

Tiger rugs are one of the most iconic of rugs made in Nepal. Originally used for meditation, they represent themes of interconnectedness, purity, and spiritual growth. Through every knot and color choice, these techniques preserve centuries of craftsmanship while transforming cultural meaning into lasting works of art. Last year, GoodWeave protected over 9,100 weavers in Nepal under the GoodWeave Standard.

Featured in this post are rugs from Slow Tiger. Find more at https://slowtiger.base.shop/.

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1140 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 1200
Washington D.C., DC
20036

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+12022349050

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