This Saturday, May 10, is International Fair Trade Day. It's a great day to raise public awareness of the importance of Fair Trade in the world economies. Fair Trade means that a fair, living wage is paid directly to artisans, collectives or small farmers around the world. It's a way that we can support and participate in local economies worldwide. Most people are familiar with Fair Trade Coffee and Tea, but did you know that there are certified Fair Trade Chocolates? And lots of hand-crafted items, too.
In our shop, we always carry hand-woven traditional market baskets from a women's collective in Ghana. This 20-year-old collective has completely changed the economy of the villages where they are made. All of the children now attend public school, there are clean public wells for water, and health clinics. All because the women of the village can make fair pay for making traditional crafts from their own homes.
From Nepal, we have bags woven from hemp & purses made of recycled silk saris. We have beautiful sterling silver and stone earrings from Nepal, India and Chile. From Bali we have capiz shell wind chimes and beautiful parasols. And from Indonesia, we have hand-batiked clothing!
Come see us on Saturday, either at our shop, Radiance, right across the cobblestones from Central market in downtown Lancaster, or at the Landis Valley Herb Fair just north of Lancaster! Purchase any Fair Trade item and receive a free postcard about Fair Trade and a sticker to let others know that you participated in Fair Trade Day!
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