About Samana Living

Our story began in 2013, in the Northern Rivers region of NSW. After 10 years’ as a retailer of clothes and toys (shopfront and online), we turned our focus to fairtrade. We felt motivated to make a difference to the lives of the people who grow the raw materials and create the products we sell. So began our mission to partner with global initiatives supporting ethical supply chains – a search we quickly discovered was anything but straightforward. We sought guidance from Fairtrade International. Their standards ensure the conditions of production and trade of all Fairtrade certified products are both socially and economically “fair” as well as environmentally responsible. The outcome is fairer terms of trade between farmers and buyers. Workers’ rights are protected within a supply chain that allows producers to build thriving farms and organisations. Our journey led us to Samantha Morshed, the founder of Hathay Bunano, a Bangladeshi non-profit organisation established to make PEBBLE toys and blankets, providing training programs and dignified employment in keeping with the rhythm of rural life. With more than 10,000 women working in 50 rural production centres across Bangladesh, having built crèche facilities and pre-schools where possible, Samantha Morshed was honoured with an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) from the Queen for her services to the rural women of Bangladesh. We partnered with Hathay Bunano. Samana Living Pty Ltd was incorporated in 1997.Read their story