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Fair Trade
Unique Products. Unique Business.
Ten Thousand Villages is a nonprofit fair trade organization that markets handcrafted products made by artisans from more than 130 artisan groups in 36 countries. As one of the world's oldest and largest fair trade organizations, Ten Thousand Villages has spent more than 60 years cultivating long-term buying relationships in which artisans receive a fair price for their work and consumers have access to unique gifts, accessories and home decor from around the world.
Enterprising Artistry
Ten Thousand Villages comprises a global network of social entrepreneurs who strive to improve the livelihood of disadvantaged artisans by building a market for handmade products in North America. We provide a vital link to U.S. consumers for artisan partners who often lack access to markets.
As an importer, wholesaler and retailer, Ten Thousand Villages is a successful nonprofit enterprise. We use sales profits to increase purchases from artisan partners and to expand our distribution channels. In the past fiscal year, we increased purchases from artisans by more than one million dollars.
The Ten Thousand Villages annual report for the fiscal year 2006-2007 is available for download.
With Ten Thousand Villages, artisan partners thrive with the opportunity to build on traditional skills and expand their artistic vision in the creation of new crafts.
Our Values: Putting Artisans First
Fair trade provides under- and unemployed artisans with an opportunity to earn vital income and improve their quality of life by establishing a sustainable market for their handcrafted products.
Ten Thousand Villages is a founding member of the International Fair Trade Association (IFAT), a global network of more than 200 fair trade organizations in 50 countries.
Operating Principles
- Cash Advances and Prompt Final Payments - Artisans receive up to 50 percent in cash advances when an order is placed, and payment in full when an order is shipped.
- A Fair Price - Artisans and Ten Thousand Villages agree on a fair price that covers the cost of labor and materials and enables artisans to earn fair compensation for their work.
- Long-Term Relationships - Artisans can plan for the future with consistent orders from year to year.
- Design Collaboration - Our designers and buyers work with artisans to build on their traditional skills with trend and color information and new product suggestions.
- Environmental Responsibility - We encourage our staff and artisan partners to employ sustainable practices and use recycled and natural materials when possible.
Fair Trade
IFAT
Ten Thousand Villages is a founding member of theInternational Fair Trade Association (IFAT) and a member of the Fair Trade Federation (FTF), both of which aim to improve the livelihood of disadvantaged people in developing countries and to change unfair structures of international trade.
Read more about the IFAT key principles of fair trade and code of practice
Shop fair trade,
invest in your world
Fair trade means:
- Dignity
- Respect
- Sustainability
- Education
- Hope
- Joy
- A fairer world
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