Fair Trade Provides Dignity and Opportunity

While there are a range of artisans who have been more proactive and aggressive in establishing relationships with contacts in foreign countries to distribute products, there are a limited number of third world artisans that are able and have the means to do this.

Without outside support, third world artisans, regardless of their talent, are stuck to generate income for their families from within the confines of their country. People who possess the level of income that would enable them to purchase a piece of furniture at the prices that really should be demanded are very slim – often this limits quality sales to government officials and, ironically, relief, development and foreign aid workers who are stationed in the country, as well as the occasional tourist.

Many times, without fair trade, these artisans must resort to sit along roadsides with a cloth laid out with their wares on it. Their only hope is that a tourist will pass by and see something that they might be interested in. Obviously, that's difficult to count on in many of these countries and certainly no way to plan for growth of a business.

Fair trade not only allows the artisans to have their product reach a broader audience, it’s a show of dignity for the quality of work they do, as well as a positive representation of the capabilities of their country.

I often have people comment that they wouldn’t have expected the quality of work, style or design to come out of a third-world country like they see in pieces such as our Nicaraguan coffee table .

One of the greatest ways to bring dignity into the life of a third world family is by recognizing their worth as an artisan. Not only are you creating new opportunities for them, but you are showing that their skills have value and worth far beyond those of a simple street hawker.

What message are you sending with your decorating habits?