As we reflect on the past year, one of the most defining milestones for Tujikuze was the completion of the CONAD order in 2025. It was an ambitious project that brought together 29 artisan communities from Tujikuze’s network of artisans across seven counties to create 30,000 shopper bags, 17,000 bracelets and 13,000 chokers.

The order, commissioned by Italy’s largest retailer CONAD Nord Ovest, marks the second time Tujikuze has collaborated with the company to develop and produce a range of artisanally crafted products. The order involved the production of bracelets and chokers made using hand braided up-cycled fabric sourced from dead-stock fabric rolls donated by a leading European luxury brand, and tote bags made from 100% locally sourced conventional cotton, featuring a meticulously hand-beaded CONAD flower.

Over the course of several weeks, the 29 artisan groups contributed to fulfilling the order. Developed across seven counties, the scale of coordination required was significant and called for careful planning and quality control. For many of the artisans involved, this was their first experience working on a large, structured international order.

Through the process, they refined existing skills and strengthened their understanding of quality standards expected by international buyers. The order became an important learning experience for the artisans involved, thanks to the pre-production training conducted by Tujikuze’s master artisans, with the guidance and support of ITC’s Ethical Fashion Initiative (EFI).

Looking back, the CONAD order stands out as an important chapter in Tujikuze’s journey as it upgraded production capabilities and strengthened ties within Tujikuze’s network of artisans. Most importantly, the order demonstrated the growing relevance of artisanal skills in today’s global value chains and showed that traditional heritage craft can meet modern demands.

Moving forward, the lessons from last year continue to inform how Tujikuze approaches new opportunities in the future. Get in touch with Tujikuze’s network of artisans today.

Tujikuze is supported by Ethical Fashion Initiative (EFI) and funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).