Gingerbread Soap

This soap was created by makers traditionally belonging to a disdained caste of leather workers. Working with fair trade partner Palam Rural Centre and empowered with income-earning opportunities, people in this once-marginalized group Handmade soap is carefully crafted from natural vegetable oils by traditional Indian soapmakers. The fragrance of these soaps from Palam Rural Centre is unique, derived from herbs, roots, leaves or flowers, blended to aromatic perfection. All our soaps made in India use palm oil grown on local plantations. This palm oil provides work to local farmers and does not contribute to deforestation.

Who Made It: Palam Rural Centre offers employment opportunities to people of the marginalised Harijan community in a village in Tamil Nadu region of southeastern India. In the Tamil language, Palam means “bridge.” Palam Rural Centre seeks to build a “bridge” from the markets to the rest of the world. Palam has been able to purchase land and homes for artisans (ownership traditionally unavailable to lower castes) and built a school for artisans’ children. Through this work, Palam Rural Centre is providing dignity and security to artisans and helping to break down caste walls in society. 

Materials: Plant‐based soap with essential oils

Dimensions: 3” x 2” x 1”

Handcrafted in India