One of my favorite pairs of earrings is a pair I got at a fair trade store in Healdsburg, CA about 10 years ago. I get more compliments on this pair of earrings than any other pair I have. They are simple orange glass with a tiny hand-painted yellow flower...and buying them helped a artisan in a underdeveloped country.
Fair trade stores are great places to find unique and interesting jewelry at an affordable price. Most jewelry is pretty socially irresponsible, particularly diamonds and gold, but when you buy jewelry from a Fair Trade store you can feel good about the social and economic impact of your purchase. Often you can also find eco-friendly jewelry made from recycled products. Here are my favorite places to buy fair trade jewelry:
Ten Thousand Villages - Nationally recognized for their commitment to social responsibility, Ten Thousand Villages creates opportunities for artisans around the globe to earn a fair wage. Artisans use this income to pay for food, education, healthcare and housing for themselves and their families. Ten Thousand Villages is a nonprofit program of Mennonite Central Committee.
Ten Thousand Villages both retails and wholesales Fair Trade products from underdeveloped countries around the world. The sell online, at 75 brick-and-mortar stores, and to over 300 Fair Trade and specialty stores. Each of their stores are nonprofit and run by dedicated volunteers. They are one of the original fair trade importers and on their website you can read the stories of the artisans that create the products they sell and you can see who your purchase is helping and how.
Here's a selection of just some of the beautiful jewelry they sell.
Amazon Memories Earrings
Glowing blue-green amazonite stone
is set in delicate silver wire in these
distinctive pendant earrings handcrafted
by Peruvian artisans of Manos Amigas.
There is also a matching necklace.
These earrings make quite a statement for only $48.
Brass Rings Bracelet
Heaps of hoops, single and double,
in graduated size, give your wrist the
attractive gleam of shining brass.
From Bombolulu Workshops, Mombasa.
Absolutely gorgeous at $24.
Illuminescence Necklace
Cascade of gleaming mother-of-pearl
from the sea catches the light.
Hand-strung layers of shell in innovative
design. This jewelry provides employment
to emerging small family businesses with
the encouragement of CFM Market Linkages.
Where else can you get such elegance for only $20?
SERRV - From a small group of church relief workers helping refugees rebuild after World War II, SERRV has grown into a $9.5 million fair trade network connecting thousands of artisans in developing countries with customers and volunteers across the United States.
As Sunil Chitrakar, director of SERRV's partner Mahaguthi in Nepal, said, "Longer than many of our lives, SERRV has served humankind!...SERRV made history; becoming one of very few organizations who served more than five decades for the artisans and producers around the world. It started as an idealistic dream to help the poor and turned into fair trade."
Here are some of my favorites from SERRV:
Pop Drop Earrings
Recycled soda cans receive new life
as dynamic earrings, accented with glass beads.
Sterling silver hooks. 3 3/4 in.
These earrings are a steal at only $5!
Recycled Magazine Necklace
Thirty-five elongated beads made from recycled magazines
are accented with glass beads for a colorful, eco-conscious look.
Wear long or wrap twice. 42 in
This amazing necklace really makes a statement at only $12!
Seascape Ring
Large glass square adorns an adjustable silver-plated ring.
This Amazing Ring is currently on sale for only $7!
Yobel Market - Yobel Market is committed to empowering and promoting the value of exploited, displaced and impoverished people groups of the world through the provision of sustainable economic opportunities by marketing beautiful, handcrafted products utilizing micro-financing and fair trade principles. Their hope is that through awareness and equitable trade, marginilized people of the world may be offered the hope of freedom and abundant life.
Many fair trade stores buy from Ten Thousand Villages or Serrv, which is fine. The founders of Yobel Market buy directly from the artisans who's products they carry. They travel to the villages where the artisans work, often taking people from the community with them. They meet and connect directly with the people who's products they sell. So they have a real connection to the artisans and can tell you personal stories about them and the way fair trade has impacted their lives.
Peruvian Marisol Crocheted Silver Earrings: Medium
These flower-like discs that hang from long elegant silver earrings
are beautifully crocheted by hand by skilled women in the
Zoe project in Lima, Peru, providing a livable wage for them
and their families while preserving their culture.
This premium range combines traditional Peruvian craft
skills with 950 grade fine silver, which is a grade higher than Sterling.
The sparkle on this jewelery can be maintained by occasionally cleaning
with silver dip, available from most supermarkets. Apx. 1 inch diameter.
These are well-worth the $46.99.
Zoe Brass Ribbon Short Necklace
This stunning contemporary collection is designed and crafted
by Cinthia, Nieves and Cristina, three rising stars of our Zoe project in Lima, Peru.
Subtly textured ribbons of golden colored brass are wound and twisted then
strung on green velvet ribbon to make this contemporary collection.
Handmade in the Zoe fair trade project in Peru.
Matching bracelet and earrings available.
Approx Length 31.5 inches.
Only $28.99!
Peruvian Brass Ribbon Bangle Bracelet
This stunning contemporary collection is designed and crafted
by Cinthia, Nieves and Cristina, three rising stars of the Just Trade Zoe project in Lima, Peru.
Subtly textured ribbons of golden colored brass are wound
and twisted to make this contemporary collection.
Inside diameter 6 cm or 2.4 inches.
Matching necklace and earrings available soon.
Beautiful at only $22.
When you shop, you are voting for the companies you are giving your money to, telling them you approve of their business practices. Why not vote for companies and organizations that are socially responsible?
Each of these companies, in addition to selling beautiful jewelry, also sells many other great accessories and household items Consider them next time you are looking for something special for your self or for a gift.
I think I'm going to go order that blue ring right now. Which piece is your favorite?
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