By Jake Trumbo
For Now Utah
One of the greatest things about traveling abroad is coming home with a memorable souvenir. At Ten Thousand Villages, they’ve done the “traveling” for you by bringing a wide array of handcrafted goods from 32 nations in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America right here to Utah; items that will be sure to bring a cultural flair to your home or wardrobe. Situated in Sugar House’s shopping district, this cozy shop is filled wall-to-wall with tastefully arranged displays of carvings, pottery, jewelry and basketwork.
Find gifts like these at Ten Thousand Villages in Sugar House.
Ten Thousand Villages’ name hearkens back to the origins of all these goods: villages where rural artisans create one-of-a-kind pieces you might expect to find for sale at a roadside stand in Kenya or spread out on a blanket at a busy Indian market. According to executive director Tatiana Kireiev Miller, it’s the sources of these products that make her company special. She explains that Ten Thousand Villages is not so much a store as it is “a social movement aimed at eliminating global poverty.” It hopes to do this by fully committing to the practice of fair trade.
By supplying its shelves with fair trade goods, Ten Thousand Villages ensures that the skilled creators of the clothing, decorations and musical instruments for sale in its shops are paid a fair wage for their trade, allowing them to earn a living in a dignified, sustainable and eco-friendly way, helping the communities they live in to thrive. Any gift you buy (or a little something for yourself) can be purchased guilt-free with the knowledge that no child labor was involved in making these artistic and beautiful products. In fact, every $2,000 spent goes to support an entire family for a year. Miller estimates that judging from the previous year’s sales in 2008, more than 150 families were able to take care of their needs.
Whenever possible, the raw materials used in Ten Thousand Villages’ handicrafts are procured in an environmentally friendly way. Kireiev Miller proudly points to one example where olive wood carvings from the West Bank are made solely from wood found on the ground, eliminating the need to cut down any of the venerable trees. Weavers from Vietnam use recycled paper and magazines to make small bowls and jewelry boxes.
With 10 years in Utah under its belt, Ten Thousand Villages should be around for quite a while. In fact, last year’s numbers were good enough to earn the Salt Lake City location the position of number one store in the western U.S. This success is due in part to the “awesome grassroots community customer base,” explains Kireiev Miller. Stop in yourself to become a part of this community that helps improve lives and promotes a responsible consumer environment, while at the same time adding an eye-catching and unique treasure to your collection.
Details
Ten Thousand Villages
1941 S. 1100 E., Salt Lake City
801-485-8827
Open Mon-Wed 10:00-6:00
Thurs-Sat 10:00-7:00
Closed Sunday
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10,000 Villages supports local community during the holidays with charity fundraisers. For example, shop from 5 -8 p.m. on November 17 and Red Butte Garden receives 15% of the proceeds that evening. Other nonprofits benefits throughout the shopping season – and it all benefits the artisans supported by 10,000 Villages. Good goes ’round!
Ten Thousand Villages is a great concept. Besides the store locations, they will often set up shop at small venues to raise money or to just create a unique shopping experience. I always find very unique items there.