Fair-trade Gifts Help Improve Lives

If you purchase a fair trade item, you can feel good about yourself. Fair trade means that you are paying a fair wage to an individual or community, usually in a third world country, for an item they produce. We've all heard about fair trade coffee, but fair trade also refers to many other products produced by countries from around the world. Textiles, baskets, pottery, jewelry, glassware, beaded items, recycled wire...even recycled flip flops are made into items that are beautiful and useful. In turn, some of the proceeds go back to the community or family to improve their lives. Some of the items are art forms that have been passed down for centuries within the community. I especially like the idea that I am helping preserve this art form from dying out.

Magazine baskets are one of the most unusual and versatile items I've found while looking for fair trade items. The baskets are made out of recycled magazines that have been torn into strips, dipped in cornstarch and water and rolled into beads or woven together. The finished product is amazingly well made, sturdy and heavy.
If you're not into magazine baskets there are also baskets made from native grasses and tree bark and leaves available.

The textiles are hand woven from cotton or wool, hand dyed then hand embroidered. Some of these bags and clothing articles are so intricately embroidered you'd be afraid to use them. But don't be! They are very sturdy, so you shouldn't hide them away, but wear them with pride.

The thing I think I like the most is the pride of ownership these people have. All of the work is very well done and you can tell just by looking at whatever you purchase, that they are very proud to produce a well put together item that is also unique and beautiful.

About the Author:
Trina Strong owns and operates the online business www.oneofakindthings.com
She specializes in gifts and clothing from the southwestern United States including Navajo rugs, jewelry, pottery, fair trade items, her own watercolors and oils, and Mexican hand embroidered clothing

Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com

Tags: fair-trade

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