Brand Spotlight: Deux Mains

When we attended the 2025 Fair Trade Federation Conference, we had the chance to sit in on a session led by Julie Colombino-Billingham on storytelling and crafting the heart of your brand. Julie is the founder of Deux Mains — French for "two hands" — a brand born from the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. After witnessing the need for dignified employment firsthand, she was moved by a simple but powerful message from the women she met: "I don't need water, I need a job."  That conviction shaped everything she built. One of our own board members was so moved by Julie's session that she picked up From Loss to Legacy as soon as it was available and it was her enthusiasm that brought Deux Mains to our shelves.

What makes Deux Mains stand apart is how intentional every detail is — from the responsibly sourced leather to the fair wages, health insurance, and education access provided to every worker. We're proud to now carry a few of their pieces in our store: the crossbody clutch (available in brown and black) - a compact and versatile everyday bag, and the saddle shoulder bag, a beautifully structured piece with the kind of quality that only comes from hands that truly care about the work. These are more than accessories, they're a direct investment in the lives of the artisans who made them.

Alongside the bags, we're also carrying Julie's debut book, From Loss to Legacy, the true story of how compassion and creativity turned devastation into a thriving, purpose-driven brand. All proceeds from the book go directly to REBUILD Globally, a non-profit dedicated to fighting poverty in Haiti through education and job training.

Stop in to meet this remarkable brand and when you carry one of these bags, know that two hands far away made it with care.