Flowering Desert is based in Tamil Nadu, Southern India, in a rural, agricultural community. It was founded in 2006 by Mercy Imondi who was looking for a way to provide training and fairly paid work for the marginalised women living in the surrounding area. She teamed up with Via Design (UK), built a production unit and started teaching a handful of women to sew. They became proficient and began supplying organic babywear and homeware to companies in the USA and UK. In 2010, they branched out into jewellery making after being introduced to Just Trade, also based in the UK and over the years have been trained in the fundamentals of jewellery making which they now make to an excellent standard. Some 26 women are now employed in both areas and their work is sold all over the world. Some of the artisan makers live in the on-site safe house, a refuge for vulnerable women and children. All receive healthcare, free transportation to work, advocacy, counselling and life-skills in addition to working in a safe and pleasant environment. They are proud to be members of WFTO as their business has always been about the people who work in it.