Kalinko
Home is at the heart of Kalinko, the social enterprise bringing the best of Burmese craftsmanship into your living spaces.
The high quality and beauty of these homewares turns everyday items into something to cherish, from boho-style rattan furniture to hand-chiselled marble bathroom accessories.
Each Kalinko piece takes days, or even weeks, to make. They use the phrase “slow homeware” to describe the steady, age-old techniques their crafters use to create these long-lasting and sustainable items.
The artisans are based in villages right across Burma, with Kalinko working with around 300 small craft families.
38% of families in Burma live off $300 a month, yet the cost of adequate nutrition, healthcare and education is $750 a month. Kalinko aims to close this gap for its makers, reducing their need to rely on unskilled farming work to supplement their income.
Every piece you buy from them ensures these artisans get the fair pay their skills deserve. It’s a mission that makes their stunning homewares an even more meaningful addition to your home.
Seven years of living in Yangon made Burma a second home for Sophie Garnier. In the early days, she quickly became a magpie for Burmese homewares, filling her own home with items picked up while exploring the country.
It was through her own shopping experiences that she learnt of the struggles makers faced, as locals tend to buy mass-produced items instead. Seeing they needed a market, Sophie and her partner took a container full of pieces back to the UK, where they were sure buyers would love them as much as they did.
That was the first step to creating Kalinko. She’s continued connecting more and more Burmese artisans to international markets ever since, with the brand selling in 42 countries to date.
Founded By
Sophie Garnier
