The Examiner on Ethnotek
Posted May 24, 2013
About
Founders, Jake Orak and Josh Linde
The ETHNOTEK® Tribe is made up of a small group of creative people based out of Minnesota with passion and dedication to the mission of spreading cultural appreciation and awareness. Our chosen medium to get the message out is high-quality backpacks, messenger bags and accessories designed to bring culture and functionality to our busy everyday lives.
Ethno - tek
[ETHNO] – Ethnology - Anthropology dealing chiefly with the comparative and analytical study of cultures. [TEK] -Technology - the methods and tools that a society has developed in order to facilitate the solution of its practical problems.
Ethno - tek
[ETHNO] – Ethnology - Anthropology dealing chiefly with the comparative and analytical study of cultures. [TEK] -Technology - the methods and tools that a society has developed in order to facilitate the solution of its practical problems.
THREADS:
Each Ethnotek bag can be customized via the removable front panel called a THREAD. Each THREAD is created from handmade textiles that are sourced in person and purchased directly from the artisan or craft village in which they were created. We are continually scouring the globe to find textiles that embody the vibrancy and beauty of the people who create them and the traditions they represent. We release new THREADs regularly, allowing you to update the look of your bag without having to buy a new one entirely. This puts a whole new meaning to changing your threads!
THREAD sourcing takes us on some pretty hairy adventures! What makes the mosquito bites, food poisoning and trench foot worth while is the overarching goal of the company; to provide our artisans with access to a sustainable worldwide marketplace to which they would not otherwise have access.
Keeping tradition alive:
The one thing all of our weavers and artisans have in common is the fact that their craft is dying out. Every year they see less and less local demand for their fabrics due to their low yield and long lead times. These traditional techniques are quickly being replaced by machines and factory labor in major cities, which drastically reduces the amount of jobs and industry in the regions where it is needed most. By creating new demand for these traditional practices we are in a sense forging an effort to keep them alive and well and in the same villages from which they came.
Cultural preservation:
The last and most important part of our mission is to spread the idea that we should all celebrate each other's differences more often. The only way culture can stay alive is if we keep it that way. Culture runs deep; from the tribes of Yunnan Province, to the Subways of New York City. From the Ghats of Varanasi to the Cafes of Paris. To ensure the survival of these incredibly interesting differences we must learn about them and retell their story. This is why we see our bags as a flag. A flag that you wave which says, "I care". To end this point with a quote: "Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not." - Ralph Waldo Emerson.