San Francisco, CA— Yellow Leaf Hammocks, the eco-luxurious hammock manufacturer that’s empowering its customers to do good when relaxing, today announces a milestone. The growing global lifestyle brand now employs more than 100 artisan weavers from two marginalized hill tribes in Northern Thailand, providing these communities with a means to break their cycle of extreme poverty, disenfranchisement and systemic marginalization by bringing their vibrant, hand-woven artisan hammocks to the global marketplace. With over half of the 1.5 million indigenous tribe members in Thailand living on less than $1 per day, Yellow Leaf Hammocks is on a mission to create jobs and build a lasting and environmentally sustainable micro-economy across the region—all while their customers around the globe relax in the comfort of their hand-woven hammocks.
“Hill tribes across Northern Thailand are suffering deeply,” said Yellow Leaf Hammocks Founder Joe Denim. “Until full-time weaving work is available to everyone, these communities will continue to be forced into ecologically destructive agricultural labor as a means for survival and the exploitative cycle of indentured servitude will not end. The 110 artisan jobs created in the Mlabri and Hmong tribes are just the beginning, but a critical step in our mission to turn their weaving skills into hammocks and jobs. There is a direct link between our customers’ purchases and the tribe people’s capacity to tackle all the obstacles in front of them—clean water, lobbying for citizenship and sending their kids to school.”
Yellow Leaf is a rapidly growing global brand recognized for its updated twist on the classic hammock with stylish designs, sophisticated textile engineering and its popular “sitting hammock” recliner chair. Each hammock is 100% hand woven using technically engineered weaves. What makes the Yellow Leaf hammocks particularly distinct from factory-made hammocks is that they use micro-yarns with a proprietary anti-flip “TripleWeave” that cannot be replicated by machines, making the hammocks incredibly silky soft, comfortable, and extra durable. Unlike nylon and cotton hammocks, Yellow Leaf’s micro-yarns are weatherproof and colorfast, meaning they are not susceptible to mold or mildew and their bright colors do not fade.
Through their work for Yellow Leaf, a trained weaver is able to work from her home or village center, control her schedule, care for children and earn more in a week than her family would earn in a month of working in backbreaking slash-burn farming. “We are seeing first-hand how well this model works. And it’s a sustainable model, one with a huge environmental impact in diverting people away from jobs in destructive deforestation and the damaging use of pesticides,” added Denim.
The hammocks are sold on line, direct to consumers at www.yellowleafhammocks.com. They come in vibrant colors and can also be custom ordered to match specific color schemes. The hammocks come in three sizes: King-Family Size (Larger than a King Bed), Queen Classic (1-2 Person) Hammock, and the Sitting (One-Person) Recliner Chair Hammock.
About Yellow Leaf Hammocks
Yellow Leaf is a truly social enterprise dedicated to supporting sustainable economic development by creating high-wage jobs for artisans and building global sales channels for hand-woven eco-luxe hammocks and corollary home goods. Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, the company was launched in August 2011. Yellow Leaf is bringing blissful relaxation to customers and creating a brighter future for communities at the bottom of the socio-economic pyramid by empowering artisans. The 100% hand-woven, customizable hammocks are designed for supreme comfort, strength, durability and style. Artisan craftsmanship is a keystone of the brand, along with a commitment to cultivating sustainable economic opportunities for marginalized ethnic groups like the endangered Mlabri Tribe. The core of the company is centered on the “Four Pillars of Sustainability” — dedicated to nourishing communities by promoting: long-term economic health, environmental stewardship, social equity and cultural vitality. More information can be found at www.yellowleafhammocks.com.
