Charlie the Dino

Meet Charlie the Dino 🦕

Roaming not just the jungle but your living room too, Charlie is stitched with love in the Republic of Georgia. Made from upcycled denim jeans and fabric scraps, this dino proves that sustainability never goes out of style. Soft, snuggly, and full of character, Charlie is the perfect eco-friendly buddy for adventures big and small.

✨ Please note: Colors and fabrics will vary since each dino is created from unique upcycled materials.

Teze Handicrafts | Ethically handcrafted in the Republic of Georgia

In the Azerbaijani language Teze means "new". We employ Azeri speaking women in the Republic of Georgia with the goal of providing new skills, making new creations, and seeing new life for them. Our ladies work part time for Teze so they can not only help their families financially but also be present in the home to care for their families. The alternative is to work long hours in a factory, a greenhouse or another country, leaving children and aging parents to fend for themselves while they're gone. Our ladies can either work in the Teze workspace three mornings a week and be home to make lunch for their families (the big meal of the day), or come to the workspace for supplies and then do the work at home.

Located in the Republic of Georgia, just west of the Azerbaijani border, the majority of our artisans speak the Azerbaijani language.

Teze means "new" in Azerbaijani. The e's in Teze are said "a" as in apple. Say "Ta-za".

In 2017, with a pile of yarn and fabric, we invited several women to make aprons, socks and pillow covers. From that initial meeting, Teze has grown out of a kitchen and into its' own workshop.

The women in our group come from various backgrounds. Whether they know how to knit, sew, felt, etc. or have no experience, together we share our knowledge, learn from one another, and acquire new skills.

As much as possible we source materials from the community: used clothing, old books, and egg cartons. We love to take things that are old and make them new.

While we are not Fair Trade certified, we do uphold fair trade principles such as transparency & accountability, fair payment, and good working conditions. Our artisans have the flexibility to work from home so they can care for their families. In this way, working for Teze offers new life to the ladies we employ.