Mint+Laurel Overcomes Obstacles To Bring Syrian Handicrafts To The U.S.

Mint+Laurel Overcomes Obstacles To Bring Syrian Handicrafts To The U.S.

Mint+Laurel sources all its handcrafted goods from Syria, supporting artisans there. The people of Syria are suffering at the hands of a brutal dictator. A decade-long civil war has killed over half a million people and driven the largest refugee crisis in the world. Economic sanctions imposed by the U. S. government contribute to a shortage of basic materials, and Syrians also experience lack of access to electricity, gas, water and WiFi. On top of all this, inflation has caused prices to surge. According to the UN World Food Program (WFP), the price of food in Syria has increased by 222% in one year, and over 12 million Syrians — 60% of the population — do not know where their next meal is coming from. In response to this upheaval comes the social enterprise Mint+Laurel. The LA-based company sources from Syria its handmade, organic and environmentally-friendly products, including soaps, balms, textiles and clothing. Mint+Laurel recently earned a fellowship from Nest, a nonprofit supporting the responsible growth and creative engagement of artisans in support of greater gender equity and economic inclusion. Syrian refugees flee the civil war that has torn their country apart for over 10 years now. "Every product we