Le Souk Olivique

Artisan Organization: Le Souk Olivique

Country: Tunisia

Your spatula comes from Le Souk Olivique, the same Tunisian wood-working studio responsible for creating your wood spreader, and for generally being a saving grace to young Tunisian artisans affected by a flailing economy.

The 2007 world financial crisis lead to the closure of many Tunisian textile factories that exported to the European market. Mouna Maamouri, age 36, worked in a textile factory that shut down, compromising her and her husband’s ability to provide for their four children.

Again, enter Le Souk. The company hired Mouna in 2014 to help with the process of oiling wooden kitchen implements, such as your spatula. After the piece has been cut and sanded, Mouna dunks it into a tub of Le Souk’s special finishing oil made of mineral oil, paraffin wax, and beeswax. Ahh how smooth it feels, family life dunked in the warm hug of financial stability.