Our Artisans

Fair & Ethical Hand Crafts in Mongolia made by Artisans from across Mongolia We are celebrating 15 years of running a Fair and Ethical business in the coldest capital city on earth. We support the growth of micro and small enterprises – talented artisans making quality products and entering the marketplace through our Ulaanbaatar shop. We have supported over 150 individuals over the years. We operate fairly, ethically, and legally. We demonstrate that everyone in the supply chain can do the same and we can all operate at a modest profit. We offer our customers a range of 400 quality products at fair, affordable prices.

Inagul

Living in Bayan Olgii, Inaa is a seasoned Kazakh embroiderer.  Our specifications to Inaa relate only to size of product and certain selections of colours - after that she is the most creative free form embroiderer we know.  No layout; no marked out design – just a square or rectangle of material and all the embroidery simply flows on to the material.  Inaa is now starting to produce embroidery combining new embroidery, pieces of old embroidery (from old wall hangings) into picture art, each one telling a story of Kazakh life. 

Made from the Heart

Our Slipper Cooperative some 175km up the train line from Ulaanbaatar.  Starting with quality merino fleece the ladies card it and turn it into felt.  Then they cut the design or mould the felt and then colour depending on the type of slipper.  Finally they add the leather soles, stitching designs on the felt and fastenings as required.  Slipper boot fastenings are made from sheep ankle bones and leather strips.

Asylmura – Fine Kazakh Embroidery

This is a family run company (Gul & Adilbek) who started business over 15 years ago to produce high quality Kazakh Embroidered products.  All embroidery is done by hand in the far west of Mongolia.  The embroidered pieces are then finished as bags, hangings and cushion covers just outside of Ulaanbaatar.  In any year there are never more than 10 items of the exact same thread combinations / placements on one product line.  This family also takes old damaged wall hangings and recycles them into a variety of purses and bags – some come from hangings more than 40 years old.

Uyanga - Fine Artist at Work on Silk

Uyanga creates beautiful pictures on silk using German Silk Paints.  She currently makes scarves in various sizes and ties for the gents.  Every scarf is unique and a new adventure as she explores new scenes and new designs stimulated by nature and the vastness of Mongolia.

Tumen Khee Undrakh 

Mongolian clothing to M&M design and sewing other M&M products

They started their business in 2010 and have 3 employees. They believe they make their products with all their heart so customers are always satisfied. There can up to 18 steps in making a traditional Mongolian deel.

Materials a expensive so it is important to minimize waste and make use of every last piece.

PARTNERING MAKES FUTURE DECISION MAKING MUCH EASIER AND RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN US AND M&M ARE GOOD AND POLITE.

Naransukh

Naranksukh started painting in 1979 and has done many commission pieces. He specializes in scenes of Mongolia life in the desert, on the steppe and in the northern areas. Tends to work in fits and starts. Disappears on regular basis, returning to greet us like log lost friends. At times he paints scenes from other countries, especially the USA, from photographs and sells them in the USA.

Partnering with Mary and Martha since 2010

Shining Stars

The project has been running for several years and they started to make micro animals in about 2015.They started to supply Mary and Martha in early 2018 and this year will make over 1,000 micro animals for us. 

The raw materials are factory felt bought in the local markets and decorations also bought from markets stall holders.

shining stars is a project under an INGO, based in one of the 'GER' districts in Ulaanbaatar. They focus on two parts:

An after-school club where children can be safe and encouraged. The Centre can provide snacks, a comfortable place to do homework and emotional support.

Income generation - a number of ladies have been trained in sewing and are making household items such as a bed sheets to sell in the local market.

By working with Mary and Martha we have a constant wave of income. it was difficult to sell or distribute before working with M&M.

M&M helped our goal of helping Ger district children and single mothers.20 children now come to our kindergarten daily.

Great Sun Princess

A foundation was set up by the Japanese to support single mums; to give them work / income and to help educate their children.  Mary & Martha primarily buy “mini animals” made from felt.  Some colours are dyed; others are natural and some from bark and onions.  Kind Hearted Mothers also makes camel scarves that they dye in multi colours after knitting.

Believer's Fellowship - Arkhangai Felt Makers

These ladies make excellent felt of consistent wonderfully bright colours, consistent thickness and consistent felting quality.  They like to make simple straight forward products so Mary & Martha Purchase up to about USD 2000 of felt sheets each year to make our in-house products and also buy a lot of semi finished purses, I-Phone Bags, Journal Covers and felt bags from this fellowship.