Nautical by Nature, our latest collection, is inspired by a mish-mash of some of our very favorite things, like: the smell of saltwater; breezy spring afternoons; memories of childhood vacations; bright bold color; and the warmth of sunshine.

They say all good things come in three’s. Here at Push Pull, we maintain two very rewarding partnerships.

The beauty of social business in Cambodia is the fact that there are many inspiring organizations to collaborate with. We are a little biased, but I have a feeling we work with a few of the best. Once our beautiful textiles are woven and our products are designed, we reach out to Friends-International and Watthan Artisans Cambodia for their expertise in sewing production.

Our longest partnership is with world-renowned Friends-International, which was recently named one of the top 100 NGOs by The Global Journal. We send a hearty congratulation their way and agree that they’re top-notch.

Friends-International began in Phnom Penh, in 1994, when a young man spending what he thought would be his last night in the city literally stumbled over a group of children sleeping in the streets. His shock and disgust changed his life and those of the children forever. Shortly thereafter, he formed ‘Friends-International’ to protect and educate marginalized children and youth.

Fast-forward eighteen years. Today, Friends-International and its partners annually enable approximately 50,000 young people across the globe to become active and productive citizens of their country.

Friends-International has pioneered a blend of the best of two very different worlds – the advantages of both business & NGO’s – to create a thriving social enterprise. They provide skills training and income generating initiatives to break the cycles of poverty.

Push Pull Cambodia is happy to support two projects at Friends-International – the sewing workshop and home-based production program.

As our collection has grown, we have also had the pleasure of working with Watthan Artisans Cambodia, a worker-run cooperative of Khmer artisans with disabilities.

WAC trains students with disabilities in handicraft production and fine woodcarving in order to increase the employment opportunities for and the independence of people with disabilities. Fair wages and benefits are among the many advantages for their Cambodian artisans. In the cooperative, all profits are shared by the staff and producers and are re-invested in staff development and training.

We are very lucky to be aligned with Friends-International & Watthan Artisans Cambodia and feel that a mutually beneficial partnership can go a long way in this great country.

Written By: Meg Muirhead, Textile Production Manager