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| Sunburst Assortment |
Created by Fair Trade Federation member, Phd Productions, the Pocket Disc was actually born from what most would consider a failed craft project. According to Phd's website, "Savanna Groft, a third grader at the time, was assigned a project at
school. Her teacher asked her to crochet a round placemat as part of her
handwork studies. Savanna’s initial efforts yielded a round disk, but
because she had not added enough stitches, the disc curled under forming
a small lip. This placemat of sorts sat on a table for over a year
until a family friend, Chris Larsen, came over, and threw it. The
placemat sailed across the living room and the Pocket Disc was born." Savanna is in good company with others who have miscalculated or made a mistake in design or invention that ultimately led to something much better. (i.e. penicillin, fireworks, the microwave, and chocolate chip cookies)
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| Savanna Sports Edition |
Co-founders Patrick Groft and Chris Larsen formed Phd Productions with the intention of creating more Pocket Discs, but the way they went about finding their labor force sets them apart as a truly remarkable company. "Through a veteran importer, Phd Productions found cooperatives of Guatemalan women to produce Pocket Discs. In return for the amazing artistry that these women add
to the Pocket Disc, the women are paid fairly and work under good
conditions. Phd Productions is a member of the Fair Trade Federation and
follows the Federation’s guidelines to ensure proper treatment of its
workers.
The money they make crocheting Pocket Discs and other
hand-made products enables their children to go to school and helps
keeps them out of poverty in a country in which 56% of people now live
below the poverty level. The village of San Pablo, where many of our
artisans live, has one of the highest rates of malnutrition in
Guatemala, which as a country has the second highest rate of
malnutrition in the western hemisphere, after Haiti."
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| Guatemalan Weaver |
Phd Productions works with "Mayan women who are
indigenous weavers in the highlands of Guatemala, Mexico and the Mexican
Yucatan. Its mission is to support these local women, their weaving
groups, and small family businesses, by providing consistent, fair
income. The Pocket Discs produced by these women are made by crocheting,
an ancient traditional craft which women can do at home while caring
for their families. In Guatemala more
than half of the total population is poor, but almost three-quarters of
the six million strong indigenous population is poor. The company
currently works with approximately 450 Mayan artisans primarily in
Guatemala, as well as Southern Mexico and the Yucatan."
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| Rainbow Swirl |
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| Stella Bluna |
The story of Pocket Discs is an inspiring one, and the Discs themselves are just plain fun. They range in price from $10-$17 with colorful patterns and fun design names like Flonkerton, Stella Bluna, and Mexican Radio. I was excited to find these before Christmas. They will be making my gift list, both to give and to receive. Phd Productions also makes hackysacks, purses, hats, and other Fair Trade accessories.
Win a Pocket Disc!
As a continuing contest on their website, tell the folks at Pocket Disc what the P H D in Phd Productions means to you and you could win your very own Disc.Pocket Discs are available online, and at select retailers, sporting goods stores, learning centers, and gift shops throughout the US and Canada.
*All photos and quotes courtesy of Pocketdisc.com
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