In Conversation with Laura Cave of Just Trade

In Conversation with Laura Cave of Just TradeThis week, Michelle and Lee are joined by Laura Cave, founder of Just Trade, a Fairtrade jewellery and accessories company celebrating its 20th anniversary. Laura's story begins long before the business, with a degree in jewellery and silversmithing at Birmingham University, a chance connection to a community project in Peru, and a one-way ticket booked on the strength of a summer job at the Sainsbury's cheese counter.In this episode, we cover:How Laura ended up volunteering in a shantytown in Lima at 21, without a word of Spanish, and why she felt completely at homeThe origins of Just Trade, and how a misunderstanding over payment left a group of Peruvian artisans without income, prompting Laura and her sister-in-law to step inThe 10 principles of fair trade, and why Laura is passionate about marketing products on the strength of great design, not sympathyThe incredible stories of Lizeth and Naty, artisans who found confidence, skill, and purpose through their work with the Hope Jewellery ProjectHow Just Trade supported its workers through the COVID-19 pandemic, organising food parcels and medicine contributions from the other side of the worldLaura's creative projects in Peru, including pinhole camera workshops, a community exhibition with a private view and rice pudding, and a tube ticket installation that people still talk about 25 years laterWorking with her two sisters and brother, the value of collaboration, and why constraints often spark the best ideasGrowing up dyslexic in a family that celebrated adventure, and why she only discovered it during her master's degree at the Royal College of ArtA conversation about neurodivergence, authenticity, and learning to work with your brain rather than against itLaura's one piece of advice for building courage and confidence: keep going!Guest links:Instagram: Just Trade and Nice Flowers LondonWebsite: Just TradeClick to send us a message.Find Lee at:Website: https://welshotimaging.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leeatwelshot/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lee.igguldenFind Michelle at:Web: https://www.thinkingspacecoaching.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkingspacecoaching/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmichellerogers/