Turtle Candles
Amazing fair trade and hand crafted turtle candles from the beautiful mountain kingdom of eSwatini (formerly Swaziland).
Size
About Swazi Candles – Proud founding members of SWIFT (Swaziland Fair Trade Association)
Swazi Candles was started in an old cowshed of a former dairy in 1982 by two South African art graduates. The little workshop soon gained a great reputation for producing unique candles and started attracting many visitors.
The vibrancy of the workshop, uniqueness of the products and the skill of the artisans resulted in Swazi Candles becoming one of Eswatini’s premier tourist attractions. Today, its unique candles are being treasured by ethical consumers world-wide.
How your purchase makes a difference
Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland) is one of the poorest countries in the world. Over 40% of its population live on less than US$ 1.25 per day. Because of unfavourable climate conditions and low agricultural productivity, poverty is widespread.
Fairtrade benefits to artisans
Swazi Candles are one of the founding members of SWIFT (Swaziland Fair Trade Association). Its workers are part of the decision-making process in the company, which is committed to sharing profits and paying a living wage. By buying our candles, you play an important part in supporting this fairtrade movement.
The Process
The wax is coloured by mixing pigments with hot wax which is then poured into flat sheets.
Sheets are marked and cut and carefully layered according to the design.
The resulting slabs are compressed, extruded and re-extruded and then sliced into thin veneers.
These veneers are then taken by the candle makers and skilfully stretched over a core of pure white wax and hand made into the desired shapes.
Feng Shui and lucky turtles
The humble feng shui turtle, or tortoise, is really one of the powerful four Celestial Guardians in Classical feng shui. Add a turtle to your decor for luck, longevity, serenity, and career success.
The terms "turtle" and "tortoise" are used interchangeably in feng shui; they refer to the spirit of one of the most auspicious animal figures used as a remedy or luck enhancer. Ancient legend recounts the emergence of a turtle from the Lo River and the recognition of the emperor that the markings on its shell mimicked the energy map used in feng shui.
A turtle will bestow wealth, restful sleep, vibrant health, a long life, financial windfalls, and professional rewards.
Where to place your turtle
- Face a turtle towards the front door to ground the energy and protect the home and its occupants from misfortune.
- Position it behind you in a home office for additional support and security.
Karakorum introduces you to artisans of the world and the beautiful stories behind their products. This ethical home decor brand is a joyous celebration of traditional crafts, small business and fair trade practices.
Karakorum is named after the former capital of the Moghul Empire, one of the most important cities on the Silk Road, despite its small size. Likewise, the brand is a small-but-mighty route for trade from around the world.
A scroll through the Karakorum collection is like looking into the shop window of global artisans. Find candles crafted in Eswatini alongside Indian throws, Moroccan lanterns and Guatemalan sugar skull mugs.
All Karakorum products have a special story and significance. Even more importantly, everything in the range is ethically made and sourced. That means the makers get a fair wage, there’s no exploitation in the supply chain, women are treated equally and the local community benefits from Karakorum’s trade.
Whether you’re after a memorable, meaningful gift or a piece you can show off in your own home with pride – the Karakorum collection is the place to find it.
