Luiza Henrique

Brazilian social entrepreneur connecting favela artisans to global markets

Luiza Henrique (b.1982) created the Artesanato Global platform in 2001 to empower Brazilian favela artisans. Her initiative increased average artisan incomes by 300% through direct-to-consumer e-commerce. The 2005 'Cultural Heritage' program preserved traditional crafts by certifying 500+ artisans. Luiza's 2008 partnership with Nike featured favela-made soccer gear sold worldwide. Her 2012 'Art for Education' program provides scholarships using 10% of sales proceeds, funding 2,500 students annually. Read her TED Talk transcript here and her book Crafting Change. Her work was featured in National Geographic's 2015 'Artisans of Brazil' series.