Julian Fantino, Minister of International Cooperation, together with Brandaid Project and TFO Canada, announced the launch on the Canadian market in the fall of 2013, of the Brandaid Haiti collection of home décor designs, manufactured exclusively in Haiti, noting that "This innovative initiative with Brandaid Project and TFO Canada is creating a path of self-sustainability for artisan small businesses in Haiti [...] This successful project is a model of the kind of private sector partnerships that can help millions of people lift themselves out of poverty through sustainable economic growth. We will continue to review our long-term strategy in Haiti to better coordinate efforts and strengthen transparency and accountability to achieve lasting results."

Brandaid Project has worked with small enterprises to co-design unique new product collections for the international market. It has also created brand and marketing tools for each artisan enterprise to enhance the value and identity of these artisan groups in consumer markets.

"This partnership shows the power of consumer brands to change the world for the better, and how providing artisans with a brand identity can help relieve global poverty," explained Tony Pigott, Co-founder of Brandaid Project, Global CEO, JWT Ethos, and Chairman, JWT Canada. "It is also a testament to the talent and capability of the creative and marketing sector in Canada. They have applied their magic in creating world class brand materials and merchandising systems to give these designs and microbrands a competitive leg-up in the market."

The collection, featuring 30 of the most unique home décor product designs from five distinct artisan communities of Haiti, will be sold via a touring showcase at Hudson's Bay flagship stores in Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto and on thebay.com this fall.

"The debut of this collection in Canada marks an important shift in the world's perception of Haitian culture and local industry" declared Cameron Brohman, Co-founder of Brandaid Project.

The project also represents an unprecedented collaboration with Canada 's marketing, advertising and retail industry including leading advertising and design agencies J. Walter Thompson, Taxi, DDB, Ogilvy, TBWA, Tunji and Jackman Reinvents.

HL/ HaitiLibre