In 1946, Edna Ruth Byler, a Mennonite Central Committee volunteer living in Pennsylvania, traveled with her husband to Puerto Rico. There she met women in La Plata Valley who were struggling to feed their children. Having lived through hard times herself during the Depression, she knew the face of poverty. She also knew the importance of dignity and people wanting a way to help themselves.
Byler noticed that many of these women created beautiful embroidery, but had no place to sell it, so she brought the pieces home and sold them to her friends and neighbors. Edna Ruth didn’t let the fact that she didn’t have a storefront stop her! She sold the beautiful pieces from the trunk of her car and shared the stories of the makers, describing how each purchase meant that a woman gained economic independence and a chance to give her family a brighter future. Since then, Ten Thousand Villages has evolved quite a bit over the decades. There are stores in communities all over America and Canada, and our long-term, fair trade relationships directly impact the lives of 20,000 makers and their families in 30 developing countries.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
As a nonprofit organization committed to creating opportunities for artisans in developing countries to earn income through long-term fair trading relationships, we have challenges that other retailers don’t have. From product development and technical considerations to communities that lack infrastructure, where rolling blackouts, rainy seasons, and political unrest can all affect production, the commitment and support we provide is costly. In an increasingly competitive retail marketplace, we assume more risk than traditional businesses, because we are devoted to providing advance payments and making consistent purchases that create sustainable income.
Despite the challenges, Ten Thousand Villages has had quite a bit of positive growth over the years, and has made lasting impacts on the world of Fair Trade along the way.
Please tell us about Ten Thousand Villages.
Ten Thousand Villages specializes in unique, handmade jewelry, accessories, gifts, and home decor from around the world. Our products are often the direct result of cross-cultural design collaborations between our buyers and the artisans themselves. We are 100% fair trade. Always have been, always will be. Our transparency in our trade relationships, where the materials are sourced, and the safety of work environments is what sets us apart.
Contact Info:
- Address: 567 South Lake Ave
Pasadena, CA, 91101 - Website: http://www.tenthousandvillages.com/pasadena/
- Phone: 626-229-9892
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tenthousandvillagespasadena/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ttvpasadena
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/ten-thousand-villages-pasadena-pasadena
This item is made from banana stalk ( which is the inner part of the weaving),raffia, which is a light fiber that is removed from a long palm âlike leaf (which is the outer part of the weaving). Natural raffia (white in color) is used and some is dyed into Red, pumpkin orange and dark brown.
For artisans near the urban centers, they buy all the materials in the local markets, while those in rural areas only buy dyes and they get other materials from their or nearby plantations
The item was made by Justine Nanyonjo who is 39 years old. She is the chairperson of âNanyonjo Family Groupâ she works with a group of women who she mobilized within the village (Kito Matugga) and per week they make over 50 baskets
Justine joined Uganda crafts in 1992, she was introduced by a certain lady who unfortunately passed away. By the time she joined, she was un employed and when she arrived at Uganda crafts she realized that a lady can sustain herself by making crafts especially weaving baskets.
Back then she was living a poor life but with time she is realizing that her lifeâs conditions are improving leading for the better.
She says
âI have managed to educate all my children (3boys & 3 girls) and also build a house where we Stay. Currently my 1st born completed university, 2nd and 3rd are at the university,4th in senior 5, 5th in senior 4 and the last born in primary 5. All my children know about basket weaving since Its from baskets that I raise their feesâ
Justine also had this to say
âWhenever you buy my baskets, I would like you to know that
you are helping a single mother to sustain and live a better lifeâ
Justine divorced with the husband after realizing the man was not supportive and had so many women. She got married at the age of 16 years and her level of education is primary six
