Handmade Cotton and Recycled Rubber Bag with Leather Accent, "Casual Versatility"

"I'm Coleman Atubila and I'm from the Upper East Region of Ghana.

"When I was 13, I lost my father and it was a difficult period for me and my family. After our loss, my mother had to provide for seven children by herself. Because of this, I did everything in my power to lighten the burden for her by making sure I excelled in school and all I set out to do.

"I was born in a community of basket weavers. At that time, basket weaving was not lucrative since only a few local people bought baskets and they were mostly given away as gifts. I became involved in weaving and leather work after high school and was taught by one of the elders of my village. It took patience and perseverance to learn this craft.

"Although I had the opportunity to continue my education to become a qualified teacher, I still continued basket weaving and leather craft as well. I create baskets, leather bags and other woven crafts. A team of 15 artisans in various villages collaborate with me. I work closely with the women weavers, training them in color and finishing techniques.

"In the future, I dream of working with at least 1,000 artisans and establishing five craft communities. My vision is to build this to help empower the women in my community to live better lives and provide for their families."