In a Nutshell

IbuTrade was established in 2007 by Tracey Donehue, and her good friend Kathy Stefanac to provide original, Fair Trade and environmentally friendly gifts and homeware to those with impeccable taste and ethical habits.

At ibu we are not solely focused on the products we sell, but also aim to highlight the stories behind those products. In compiling our range we have been fortunate to discover many inspiring artisans and organisations producing an array of quality gifts. These producers are inspiring for a range of reasons. They may follow Fair Trade principles by ensuring fair prices are paid and working conditions are safe while contributing to the development of impoverished communities. They may employ eco-logical practices such as using recycled, renewable, bio-degradable or organic resources, promote traditional skills that consume little energy resources and value cultural knowledge, or operate carbon-neutrally.  Besides their ethical credentials, all ibuTrade contributing producers have one essential feature in common; they create unique gifts of exceptional quality. To learn more about the people behind the products, please visit the Producers section of this site.

What does 'ibu' mean?

The name ibuTrade is derived from the Bahasa Indonesia word for mother, “ibu”, and is pronounced iboo. In using this term we aim to highlight the importance of Mother Nature; the Mother Spirit that smiles at adversity; the role of mothers in developing countries as well as in Australia; and the nurturing of unique skills to benefit those groups most marginalised by the modern global economy.