The Studio Supports Artisans
Each month, The Studio loans $500 to artisans in need in order to help them advance their business and livelihood. Find out who we are supporting this month below.
July 2026
In July, The Studio supported two textile artisans who needed new supplies and equipment to advance their businesses.
Zarina
Zarina is a skilled hand embroidery artisan and mother of four whose beautiful work has earned her a steady stream of orders from loyal customers. The Studio is supporting her with funds to buy a sewing machine so she can keep up with growing demand, expand her home-based business, and provide a better life for her children.
Taimi
Taimi is a talented weaver and mother who creates quality mats and ta’ovala prized by customers both locally and overseas. The Studio is supporting her with funds to cover the shipping costs of exporting her woven pieces to international markets, plus a washing machine to free up more of her time for weaving and growing her business.
June 2026
In June, The Studio supported two weavers from Thailand who make hammocks for their local communities.
Sudarat
Sudarat is a hammock weaving artisan from a mountain village in northern Thailand who works from home while caring for her children. Her craft has become her family’s reliable source of income, allowing her to build on the success of a previous loan. The Studio is supporting her with funds to buy yarn and supplies for upcoming orders and ongoing production!
Meena
Meena is a skilled hammock weaving artisan from a rural village in Northern Thailand and the main breadwinner for her family. She weaves intricate, hammocks that have become a reliable path toward greater stability for her family. The Studio is supporting her with funds to buy yarn and materials for upcoming orders, helping her work toward her dream of one day buying a home for her family!
May 2026
In May, The Studio supported a knitter and a handmade fan maker in buying the supplies they need to grow their businesses.
Şermin
Şermin is a skilled knitter and mother who has been creating handmade vests, sweaters, and slippers since 2014 to help support her family. The Studio is helping support her with funds to purchase additional knitting materials so she can produce more items, reach more customers, and continue growing her business.Text about the Artisan
Vasiti
Vasiti is a mother and traditional craftswoman who makes beautiful handmade fans, kiekie, mats, and other crafts valued by her local community. The Studio is supporting her with funds to buy hibiscus leaves, pandanus leaves, and other raw materials so she can fulfill more orders and provide for her children’s education and family needs.
April 2026
In April, The Studio supported two artisans who work with fabric to create products for their local communities.
Ana
Ana is a 26-year-old entrepreneur in Sololá who sells traditional Mayan clothing and is building her own shop to better showcase her products. The Studio is supporting her with funds to purchase additional traditional clothing inventory and construction materials like cinder blocks and cement to complete her shop. With her new space and growing business skills, Ana is working toward a thriving, well-stocked store that celebrates and preserves her Mayan k’iche culture.
Saltanat
Saltanat is a talented embroidery artisan from Panjakent who has spent three years perfecting her craft, hand-stitching intricate patterns with care and artistry. The Studio is supporting her with funds to purchase an embroidery machine and high-quality fabrics so she can grow her work and turn her passion into a thriving livelihood. With these tools, Saltanat hopes to one day open her own small workshop and share her beautiful creations far beyond her hometown.
March 2026
In March, The Studio supported two artisans who make traditionally embroidered items for wearable and decorative pieces.
Matlubakhon
Matlubakhon is a talented embroidery artisan and mother of four who uses her skills to help support her children. She makes each piece by hand, and needs a sewing machine to increase her production and meet the demand of her community while providing needed income for her growing family. The Studio is helping support her with funds for buying an embroidery machine!
Shamim
Shamim is a hand embroidery artist and mother who creates traditionally embroidered clothing. The Studio is supporting her with funds to buy threads, fabrics, and needles she needs to increase her production and support her children’s education.
February 2026
This month, we are supporting two textile artists who create hand woven items that they sell in their local communities.
Ferozan
Ferozan is a mother of four and an hand embroidery artist who has been sewing and embroidering traditional items for years. The Studio is helping her purchase thread, beads, and sequins so she can sell larger batches of her creations at local markets.
Delia
Delia is a hammock maker who weaves silk and polysilk hammocks for her local community members. She struggles to buy the materials she needs to scale her business so The Studio is helping her purchase large amounts of materials so accelerate her production.
January 2026
This month The Studio is helping two artisans who work with fabric, thread, and beads to create highly sought after traditional items sold in their local communities.
Munira
Munira is a Tajik seamstress and craftswoman who is highly skilled in embroidery that reflect the traditions and culture of her community. The Studio is helping her purchase a large batch of high quality fabrics that will allow her to sell products in a higher price range and provide more educational opportunities for her four children.
Nazia
Nazia has practiced hand embroidery for years, and is well known in her community for using beads, pearls, and thread to create intricate items. The Studio is helping her purchase thread, sequins, and pearls in large quantities to meet the increasing demand for her work. Her goal is to provide more stability for her family of six by selling more items at a time at local markets.
Why loans, not donations?
The company that facilitates these loans, Kiva.org, is an organization that helps connect artisans around the world to lenders who can help support their ventures. The people receiving these loans are proud to run successful businesses that support their communities and are seeking a temporary loan, not a donation. However, the loans have a very flexible repayment policy and some loans are never repaid in cases where the artisan experiences hardship.
Once a loan has been repaid though, The Studio can re-deploy those funds to another artisan in need, thus the cycle of growing businesses and supporting underserved communities continues.
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