The Little Traveler at 404 S. Third Street in Geneva, IL announces the opening of the Fair Trade Gallery within its 36-room boutique. As Annette Shamloo, manager of the new gallery, says, “This is retail with a soul.” Fair Trade provides a sustainable market for handcrafted products made by artisans around the world. This includes many developing countries. The Little Traveler’s collection comes from over 40 different countries and includes jewelry, scarves, toys, garden décor, baskets, musical instruments, handmade greeting cards, and soaps. And that’s just the beginning.
Fair Trade organizations give artisans who would otherwise be under- or unemployed the opportunity to earn the income necessary to pay for food, housing, clothing, and other necessities. The artisans are paid a fair price to cover costs of materials and provide compensation for their labor and skill. Here is a sampling of some of the vendors you’ll find in The Little Traveler’s Fair Trade Gallery:
Ten Thousand Villages is a not-for-profit organization that builds long-term relationships in areas where skilled artisans lack the opportunity for sustainable income.
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BeadforLife helps Ugandan women to lift their families out of extreme poverty by bringing their vibrant beaded jewelry to sustainable markets.
Ayindisa Fair Trade Baskets bring the traditional basket weaving craft of African villagers to the US, providing sustainable employment to marginalized communities.
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Silk Road Bazaar is a collection of fine, handmade products from Krygystan and Central Asia, areas that have traditionally had limited market access.
Lucia’s Imports shares the beauty of Guatamala’s art and culture while making a difference in the lives of the Mayan artisans and their families.
Equal Exchange Coffee is made by small farmer-owned co-ops in Central and South America.
Sustainability doesn’t just apply to market opportunities. The Silk Road Bazaar, for example, works with artisans to help them develop management techniques and teach computer skills. In addition to providing entrepreneurial training, BeadforLife sponsors bright, impoverished girls for secondary school and collaborates with groups that provide health education, clean water and malaria prevention. In addition, Fair Trade organizations encourage environmental responsibility through use of recycled materials and sustainable processes.
“It’s exciting to get to be a part of something that is empowering people and making a real difference in their lives,” Shamloo says. The addition of this international collection carries on the tradition that started The Little Traveler. The store dates back to 1921 when its founder, Mrs. Kate Raftery, invited guests into her Third Street home to see treasures from around the world.
Today you can explore all 36 rooms of this Victorian-era home to discover unique and reasonably-priced finds in everything from women’s fashions to home décor to gourmet foods. There’s even a café in a courtyard-like setting at the center of the store. The Fair Trade gallery is nestled between the store’s Crystal Room and Gift Gallery.
Mike Simon, The Little Traveler’s president, says, “In this new gallery, every item we are offering is making a real difference in the lives of the people who produced it. Every item we are carrying has a wonderful story behind it, and Annette and her staff love to share these stories with our guests. I think that Kate Raftery, who founded the store in 1921 and created a niche by sourcing unique items from throughout the world, would love this room.”
