About Us

Dekko - Based upon the Hindi word for ‘take a look’. Touching upon Art Deco, a desire for symmetry and balance.

Welcome to Dekko Trading! We are a Fair Trade Federation certified jewelry and household goods wholesale company that is headquartered in Chattanooga, TN and Jaipur, India. All our products are designed in Chattanooga and manufactured in India. Our hand-crafted products are made by Indian artisans, and our style reflects a conversation between cultures. We strive for a fine balance of East and West, vintage and contemporary, beauty and practicality.

If you are a store owner who would like to learn more about offering Dekko products to your customers we'd love to talk to you!

The people behind the scenes

"None of our women have had previous employment. Many are young women preparing for their marriage in their early twenties trying to help their families pay for their wedding and dowries. Some are mothers of young ones who are trying to contribute to the needs of the home and family through their skill set."

Dekko seeks to work with individuals who possess a wide level of skills, ranging from a highly skilled tailor and his family to ladies who have never worked outside their home or had the opportunity to gain employable training. Often times the ladies meet us at our workspace and help us with all our product packaging. The Dekko India team has spent many happy hours enjoying conversations with these ladies as we work together to package up all the beautiful products we ship to the States, adding those last touches to make them stand out on the shelf. The money they earn is nearly double the local hourly rate, but that’s not the only benefit they receive. Our local team also helps them learn business skills such as accounting, calculating and other abilities that we hope helps make them more employable.

The Team

Shane and Alicia

Couple standing with their arms around one another's waists, smiling for a picture It all started when a couple from America, Shane and Alicia, decided to hop a plane and ‘take a look’ at India in 2006. Inspired by India’s vibrant life and rich history, they immediately saw the business potential in this emerging country. They met gifted artisans, deeply rooted in their age-old craft traditions, who lacked the channels to engage the global market. They also met courageous women who wanted to help provide for their families but didn’t know what to do or where to start.

Shane and Alicia saw how East and West could work together for everybody’s benefit. So they quit their jobs, sold the farm (so to speak!), and packed up for India. They helped start Dekko Trading and currently work with a multi-national team, giving work to over 30 Indian artisans, who in turn train and raise up others. They are thrilled to be a part of empowering artisans and bringing sustainable livelihoods to developing communities. Each day is an adventure for them, with surprises around every corner of India!

Steve and Lori Bower

Smiling couple sitting on a low step next to a door with Indian writing on it, holding a cup of chai

In April 2010 Steve and his wife, friends of Shane and Alicia, traveled to India for the first time. Experiencing firsthand life in India was both overwhelming and inspiring. You can tell by the picture it was a hard trip. The excitement of becoming involved in a business like this continued to grow over the next 18 months. This came together with the launch of Dekko Trading in January 2013.

With an effective combination of his 20+ years of business experience and her eye for art and beauty, the Bowers are responsible for Dekko Trading on the United States side. They and their Chattanooga based team oversee importing, warehousing, marketing, and sales and distribution.