What is sustainable living? Enough for everybody forever. If everyone remembered this in every aspect of healthy living and wealth perhaps global problems would be resolved. SLOWER Network supports fair trade not only because it is good business, but because it is good. A brief report from our Houston magazine shows how fair trade business can help the world so everyone has enough.
Ten Thousand Villages is a non-profit retail store located in Rice Village in Houston that markets beautiful, hand crafted items from third world countries and assures that the artisans are paid a vital, fair income.
Ten Thousand Villages is a fair trade organization that helps connect consumers in North America to third World artisans through relationships that benefit disadvantaged artisans in contrast to the more common objective of maximizing profits.
Merchandise is hand crafted, and many items have cultural significance and reflect good environmental practices. More than 80% of the items are priced at $25 or less and include but are not limited to: baskets, boxes, jewelry, scarves and other personal accessories, tableware, musical instruments, toys, handcrafted paper items, collectibles and nativities and other holiday items.
The items represent crafts of artisans from 32 countries in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
If you’re in need of an exquisite gift with cultural significance, or just a friendly chat, stop in and visit with Store Manager, Cassy Martin and her multicultural staff of assistants and share a complimentary cup of fair traded coffee; regular in the morning, decaf in the afternoon and introduce your self to an international experience right in the heart of Houston.
10000 Villages is located at 2415 Rice Blvd in Rice Village, 1.5 blocks east of Kirby, Houston, TX 77005 and can be contacted by phone - 713-533-1000 or email, store@tenthousandvillageshouston.org. Store hours: Mon. – Noon to 6pm; Tues. – Sat. 10am to 6pm, Sun. 1pm – 5pm.
