Unique Batik

Unique Batik is a Raleigh fair trade company selling handmade goods, most of it through its own online store. Pieces are made by hand or woven on a loom, and the range covers jewelry, clothing, accessories, bags, baskets and even products for pets.

What sets the company apart is where the money goes. Sales are tied directly to community projects overseas, and the blog tells the stories behind the pieces and the people who made them, so a purchase comes with a fairly specific account of its effect.

What to know

• Retail orders over $50 ship free within the United States.
• Customer purchases funded a preschool in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala.
• The company partnered with La Puerta Abierta to raise the money.
• The two-story school holds three classrooms and a multipurpose room.
• The building was set for completion in November, with furnishings still needed.