Buy fair trade crafts

With the expanding array of fair trade chocolates, coffees, and teas, you might think “fair trade” is just a food thing. But the fair trade model has long been associated with items like textiles, ceramics, even sports equipment. You can’t eat them, but you can use them to adorn your shelves and yourselves, all the while providing a decent living to talented artisans.

Fair trade with a regional focus:

Bridge for Africa baskets, jewelry, handbags and cards from across Africa
The Giving Tree handcrafted, recycled wood toys from Seattle, Washington non-profit organization
Lucuma Designs fine art and crafts from Peru
Original T-Bag Designs intricately painted recycled tea bags from South African women’s cooperatives

Fair trade items from around the globe:

Fair trade Federation local and online sources for fair trade items
Global Exchange online store dedicated to all things fair trade, edibles included
Novica  
Taraluna  
Ten Thousand Villages  
World of Good  

Why it's important

In a (hand painted) nutshell, fair trade means a larger share of control for on-the-ground producers, who traditionally see very little of the profit generated from their labors. The Fair Trade Resource Network, offers a more nuanced explanation as applied to fair trade crafts: “Fair trade organizations (also known as alternative trade organizations) work with low income artisans to build their business and market their products directly to consumers. In relationship to the producers, the FTOs adhere to a strict array of criteria… regarding workers’ pay, environmental practices, and other terms, set forth by groups such as the Fair trade Federation.”

Learn More

Learn more about the Conscious Consumer Marketplace.

If you would like for your company to be listed in the Conscious Consumer Marketplace, please email Carolyn Danckaert or call 301.891.3683 ext. 125.