KORISSA’s story began in 2017 when Angela, a co-founder of KORISSA, left New York for Bangladesh to work for a family business. While staying in Bangladesh for a year, she met a female social entrepreneur who works for a non-governmental (NGO) and World Fair Trade organization. This organization is committed to alleviating poverty, increase social responsibility through fair trade and strengthening the personal skills of the women who suffered gender violence in the slums of Dhaka, Bangladesh, by producing handicrafts items made from jute, seagrass, and locally sourced natural fibers. 

Inspired by their commitments, Nora and Angela decided to found KORISSA with a goal of offering environmentally and socially responsible handmade goods and encouraging the modern shopper to purchase consciously. After four years of continued growth and success, KORISSA partners with four artisans organizations in Bangladesh that operate according to fair trade principles. 

KORISSA is committed to building up sustainable relationships with our artisans and working together to preserve the culture and history while providing our artisans access to fair wages, broader markets, and secure, sustainable livelihoods. KORISSA is committed to consuming less and being more conscious about waste by using eco-friendly, sustainable materials and forms of production.