2023 was a year focused on community building and new product development at Rover & Kin. As a small AAPI woman-owned business, we're proud to have grown our network to include more museum store partners as an active member of the Museum Store Association (MSA) as well as the Fair Trade Federation (FTF). We also expanded our product offering to include our new Luxe Gold collection in the spring and Botanical collection in the fall leading us to connect with more ethical shops, boutiques, and nurseries across the country.

We finished our 5th year feeling optimistic about the future of Rover & Kin, reaffirming our dedication to the global fair trade movement withover 220 retail partners and 9 artisan partnersin India and Nepal. Thank you to all those who have supported us along the way as a part of the Rover & Kin family! 

Partner Highlight
ASHA HANDICRAFTS ASSOCIATION

We collaborated with Asha to create our new Luxe Gold designs released in spring 2023. Founded in 1975, Asha is a Guaranteed Fair Trade Organization with the mission to provide market access and development to artisan communities across India and help to preserve traditional crafts and art forms. Our Luxe Gold earrings are created with Asha's Mumbai artisans who have expert knowledge of silversmithing and electro plating to create the finest and highest quality jewelry.

Partner Highlight
SASHA ASSOCIATION FOR CRAFT PRODUCERS

We collaborated with Sasha artisans in Calcutta to create our new Botanical Collection designs released in fall 2023 that have been popular with our retail partners old and new! For over 40 years, the nonprofit organization, Sasha, has been bringing Indian artisans together to create stunning fair trade handicrafts. Behind each product is a commitment to building a thriving artisan community with healthy working conditions, fair pay and concern for the environment.

Commitment to Sustainability

We are committed to becoming a carbon-neutral brand, continuing with our sustainability initiatives this year including our partnership with the nonprofit GrowAhead, in which we support high-impact farmer-run and community-led agroforestry projects through direct contributions and our Eco-Shipping program. We also continued with our second year of using eco-friendly packaging made from compostable corn starch which is biodegradable and renewable, making it the most eco-friendly material around.

Community Conversations

We were honored to host two virtual events to build deeper connections with our online community and create bridges between our domestic retail partners and our international artists. For International Women's Day we hosted a talk with long-time partner Moon Sharma from TARA Projects in India to share more about her background working with one of the world's oldest fair trade cooperatives as well as personal stories exchanged between Moon and our founder, Wen King. For World Fair Trade Day we hosted another live stream with LynAnne Wiest, Manager of retail partner HumanKind Fair Trade about the importance of the fair trade movement, prioritizing sustainability, and the joys and challenges of running a small business. 

MSA & FTF Networks

We were excited to grow our local networks this year by returning as an active member of the Museum Store Association (MSA), connecting with a variety of museums that prioritize fair trade and ethical vendors in their stores. We also continued to connect with amazing shops and organizations in the Fair Trade Federation (FTF) network who are dedicated to enhancing the impact of the global fair trade movement. We look forward to continuing to build relationships with MSA and FTF members in the years to come!