Introducing Our Fall Shared Trade Collection

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Colorful quilted tote bag with geometric pattern on a white background

Upcycled Quilted Tote Bag

Name: Upcycled Quilted Tote Bag
Brand: Not I But We
SKU: nw-qlttotebag
Price: 75.0 USD
Availability: InStock

Breaking the cycle of exploitation through vocational training and employment for trafficking survivors in South Africa.

$75

Carry purpose with the Upcycled Quilted Tote Bag. Designed with two roomy interior pockets for easy access to your phone, wallet, or keys, this spacious tote combines functionality and style. The quilted design and durable straps make it a reliable everyday carryall, whether you’re headed to work, the market, or a weekend outing.

Each Upcycled Quilted Tote Bag is handcrafted in South Africa by artisans of Not I But We, a Shared Trade partner. This enterprise provides vocational training and dignified employment for survivors of trafficking, breaking cycles of exploitation and uplifting women to create brighter futures. By choosing this tote, you carry more than essentials—you carry a story of resilience, healing, and hope.

Details:

Dimensions: 18" x 20" (45 cm x 51 cm)
Origin: Handmade in South Africa
Design: Quilted finish with 2 interior pockets for organization
Function: Spacious enough for daily use, shopping, or travel

A tote that embodies Purpose, Power, and Peace—purpose in empowering survivors, power in creating sustainable change, and peace in knowing your purchase supports freedom and dignity.

Thistle Farms' Shared Trade is an aligned network of artisan enterprises supporting women's dignity and economic freedom, providing fair wages and collaborative mentorship. The program aims to amplify marginalized artisan voices, eliminate isolation, and lift communities out of poverty.

Shipping

We currently ship to contiguous United States, Alaska, and Hawaii.

Free shipping on orders over $99
Gifts or items containing matches are not eligible for shipping to Hawaii or expedited shipping.

Orders are processed and shipped Monday-Friday. Fulfillment may take 3-5 business days (though we will do our best for it to be faster).

We primarily ship via UPS. USPS is used for PO Boxes or when customers make specific arrangements. Additional shipping charges may apply if an order is returned to us by the carrier.

Please email customerservice@thistlefarms.org for more information.

Return Policy

We offer a 30 day return window for product purchased from ThistleFarms.org, The Shop At Thistle Farms or at an official Thistle Farms pop-up event. For exchanges, please process a return and re-order the item you wish to receive.

Updated May 27, 2025.

Thistle Farms’ dedication to using natural ingredients keeps our products fresh for a shorter period of time. Our products are only guaranteed when purchased directly from

ThistleFarms.org
The Shop at Thistle Farms
A Thistle Farms pop-up event

For issues with Thistle Farms products purchased from other retailers, please contact that retailer directly for a replacement or refund.

If you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, you can send it back for a full refund within 30 days of receiving your order. To be eligible for a return, we require a receipt or proof of purchase, and your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it.

A pre-paid shipping label will be provided and a $7 shipping cost dedicated from the refund. Once your return is received and inspected, we will send an email to notify you when your refund has been processed.

The only items we cannot issue a refund on are items purchased that have been marked down, gift cards, special orders, and shipping charges.

Exchange Policy

We are only able to process returns at this time. If you would like to exchange a product, please follow our return policy above.

You can re-order at any time during this process.

NOTE: When shipping an item valued over $75 on your own, consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance, as we cannot guarantee that we will receive the returned item.

Meet the Artisans

Not I But We

Country

South Africa

Demographic

Survivors of Trafficking and Exploitation

Drawing on the Ubuntu philosophy of our inextricable interconnectedness - “I am because we are”- Not I But We seeks to create space for survivors to dream again.

By working alongside residential and reintegration programs, Not I But We creates meaningful employment for survivors of trafficking in a trauma-informed social enterprise.

Economic justice is a crucial piece in the restoration process. With high statistics of gender based violence and a 50% unemployment rate in South Africa, the vulnerability of poverty creates a heighten risk exploitative cycles. Not I But We seeks to break the cycle of exploitation and provide the necessary tools for survivors to rewrite their story.

Learn More