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About Under the Nile
Eco Toy Range
Handcrafted under the Egyptian sun
A beautiful and unique range of soft toys for babies and toddlers
- 100% pure organic handpicked Egyptian cotton (including the stuffing).
- GOTS, ICEA and OneCert certified.
- Fair Trade produced
- Metal-free or vegetable dyes only.
- Totally safe for children to play with (and chew on!)
- Celeb fans include Courtney Cox, Laura Dern, Kelly Preston and Halle Berry.
Fair Trade Organic Production
All products are made from 100% handpicked organic cotton, without the use of pesticides or chemicals throughout the entire production process. Grown exclusively in Egypt, the products reflect the extremely soft and durable features that Egyptian cotton is known for. Under the Nile's dyeing process uses metal-free or vegetable dyes.
Prior to founding Under the Nile in 1997, company president Janice Masoud worked as a designer for 14 years. When searching for organic products for her young children, who were experiencing allergic reactions to conventionally manufactured products, she discovered organic Egyptian cotton at the Sekem Initiative Farms in Egypt, and immediately started working with the farm on a line for the U.S. and European markets.
The Sekem Farm provides a worldwide model community for biodynamic agriculture and a workplace that is fully supportive of its workers, from educational programs to health care. From the cottonseed to the spinning and weaving of yarn to the sewing process, Under the Nile ensures that every manufacturing step is completely toxin free.
Production Profile
All of our products are certified to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). Our processing is certified by ICEA (Institute Ethical and Environmental Certification) and our distribution is certified by “OneCert”.
Under the Nile chose to seek GOTS certification to provide our customers with the confidence that their purchases are truly organic and manufactured in an environmentally conscious manner.
In order to become certified to the Global Organic Textiles Standard, we have proven that we are compliant to a range of criterias. The standards include requirements for documentation and recordkeeping, limitations on chemical use and processing, environmental controls and social responsibility criteria.
Sekem's group of biodynamic engineers assists all its organic cotton farms with any issues that may arise. A farm that has transitioned into organic farming can be certified after three years, which means absolutely no pesticides, insecticides, defoliants, or harmful chemicals can be used on the land for three consecutive years prior to certification. During this transitional period, Sekem helps the farmers trade their cotton on the local market for a fair price. After that period, Sekem purchases the certified organic cotton at above market price.
Sekem employs 700 people in its production facility, with 2,000 farm workers, and a co-op of 50 farmers who grow organic cotton on approximately 12,000 acres.
Fair Trade
Under the Nile exemplifies fair trade principles, practicing fairness towards all those involved in the entire production chain. A fair price is paid to all workers, from cotton growers to weavers. The company ensures that are employees work in a comfortable environment that includes open space, sufficient light, fresh air, along with exercise activities during the day. Two organic meals are served to all its workers on a daily basis.
Sekem Farm offers all workers (including the neighbouring communities) full service health care that includes emergency service, dentistry and even surgery.
Sekem also offers a school, located at its headquarters, which goes from kindergarten to high school, and is available to all workers’ children as well as children from neighbouring villages. “Without this school many children would never be educated. It is vital to any community to educate their children as they will be the next generation moving the community forward”, explains Janice. “Sekem brings artist, musicians, and even athletes to the farm to teach the children a special skill for the semester. It is incredible to see village children playing an instrument that they never even heard of, and they do a great job!” she continues. “I have been to many concerts given by the children, and to see their faces shine when they are playing an instrument or dancing to music is very touching”.
13 Villages Project
We are proud to be part of a project contributing to the development of independent and self sustained communities.
The '13 Villages Project' is a campaign co-conducted by Under the Nile and its Farm in Egypt (Sekem). It takes place in 13 rural villages in Sharkeya, Egypt. Through vocational training and infrastructural development, the project is improving the health, skills and overall well being of the village inhabitants. We provide excellent health care as well as education on dental and over all physical health. We begin by educating the villagers on how to make our fruit and vegetable toys. Each village receives an advance for their work and the materials needed to produce that toy. Upon completion, we pick up the finished goods and pay them fair wages for their work.
We are very excited to see the end result. Happy, educated, and healthy human beings.
All Veggin’ Out products carry the 13 villages swing tag.
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