March is International Women’s Month
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Time to read 10 min
This blog post celebrates March as International Women’s Month, highlighting International Women’s Day and the powerful role women play in shaping communities around the world. It honors the women artisans who partner with Ten Thousand Villages, sharing how fair trade creates opportunities for leadership, financial independence and lasting change. The post also recognizes founder Anna Ruth Byler, whose vision more 80 years ago began a global movement to uplift women through meaningful work. Together, these stories underscore how every fair trade purchase helps advance equity, dignity and opportunity for women worldwide.
Celebrating the Women Who Craft a More Beautiful World
March arrives with the first hints of spring including longer days, softer light and the quiet promise of renewal. It's also International Women’s Month, a time to recognize the achievements, resilience and power of women around the world. At Ten Thousand Villages, this month carries special meaning. Every woven basket, hand-thrown mug, stitched textile and carved keepsake tells a story. So often, that story begins with a woman.
March 8 marks International Women's Day, when the world pauses to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. But at Ten Thousand Villages, honoring women isn’t limited to a single day. It’s embedded in our mission and has been for 80 years.
This March, we celebrate the women artisans who are shaping brighter futures for themselves, their families and their communities through the transformative power of fair trade.
It All Started with a Woman: Edna Ruth Byler’s Vision
Long before fair trade became a global movement, a woman with quiet determination and deep conviction set it in motion. Edna Ruth Byler, the founder of Ten Thousand Villages, believed that women living in poverty deserved opportunity, dignity and access to global markets for their handmade goods.
In 1946, after volunteering in Puerto Rico, Edna Ruth returned home with a simple but transformative idea. She began inviting women to send their handmade textiles north, where she sold them from the trunk of her car and through church networks. Her goal was not charity. It was partnership. She understood that sustainable income earned through skill and craftsmanship, creates long-term change for families and communities.
At a time when women entrepreneurs were rare and international trade was largely inaccessible to marginalized makers, Edna Ruth’s leadership was visionary. She helped pioneer what would later become the modern fair trade movement, building a model rooted in:
- Fair wages and long-term relationships
- Respect for cultural traditions and heritage crafts
- Economic empowerment for women
- Community-centered development
Today, 80 years later, that same spirit continues. The organization she founded has grown into a global network connecting thousands of artisans - many of them women - with customers who believe their purchases can reflect their values.
This International Women’s Day, we celebrate not only the women artisans shaping beautiful products around the world, but also the woman who believed in them first. Edna Ruth Byler’s legacy reminds us that meaningful change often begins with one courageous voice and that when women support women, entire communities rise.
Why International Women’s Month Matters
In many parts of the world, women face disproportionate barriers to education, healthcare, land ownership, financial services and stable employment. Globally, women are more likely to work in informal sectors, earn lower wages and shoulder the majority of unpaid caregiving responsibilities.
Yet women are also powerful agents of change. When women have access to fair wages and safe working conditions:
- Children are more likely to attend school.
- Families have improved nutrition and healthcare.
- Communities experience greater economic stability.
- Cultural traditions are preserved for future generations.
International Women’s Month shines a light on both the inequities women face and the extraordinary impact they make when given opportunity. Fair trade is one of the most tangible ways to support that opportunity.
The Power of Fair Trade for Women
At Ten Thousand Villages, many of our artisan partners are women led organizations or cooperatives that prioritize women’s empowerment. Fair trade provides more than income. It offers:
- Consistent, dignified work
- Safe and supportive working environments
- Leadership training and skills development
- Access to healthcare and education
- Opportunities for financial independence
For countless women, fair trade work is the first time they’ve earned their own income and with it, gained a stronger voice within their households and communities.
When you purchase a handcrafted item from Ten Thousand Villages, you’re not simply buying décor or a gift. You’re participating in a global network of women supporting women.
Partnering with Women Led Organizations + Artisans Around the World
Prokritee | Bangladesh: Nature, Skill and Self-Reliance
Prokritee — whose name means “nature” in Bengali — manages several handicraft enterprises that provide employment to poor rural women across Bangladesh. For many artisans, joining Prokritee means:
- Learning new craft techniques.
- Receiving fair wages.
- Gaining financial literacy skills.
- Sending children to school for the first time.
From intricately woven kaisa grass baskets to delicately crafted silk paper flowers, Prokritee’s products reflect extraordinary skill and patience. But beyond beauty lies something even more powerful: autonomy.
Income earned through Prokritee often helps women contribute to household decisions, improve living conditions and build savings for the future. What begins as a basket or bouquet becomes a pathway to independence.
CORR – The Jute Works | Bangladesh: Strength in Solidarity
CORR-The Jute Works is one of Bangladesh’s largest exporters of handicrafts and represents thousands of rural women artisans in workshops across the country.
CORR’s model is rooted in collective empowerment. Women artisans:
- Share ownership in their cooperatives.
- Participate in decision-making.
- Receive benefits from surplus production.
- Access training in leadership and entrepreneurship.
The result is not just income, it’s agency. Women who once had limited economic opportunities now lead workshops, mentor others and help shape the future of their communities.
Craft Link | Vietnam: Opportunity Through Inclusion
Craft Link works with marginalized artisan groups across Vietnam, including women from rural areas and ethnic minority communities.
Through fair trade partnerships, women gain:
- Stable, reliable orders.
- Skills development and quality training.
- Respect for traditional techniques.
- Access to global markets.
Ceramics, woven baskets and textiles handcrafted by Craft Link artisans carry generations of cultural knowledge. By connecting these artisans with conscious consumers, fair trade helps ensure these traditions continue to thrive and that the women who preserve them are paid fairly for their expertise.
Manushi | Nepal: Weaving a Future
Manushi was founded to create employment opportunities for disadvantaged women in Nepal.
Through textile production and handicrafts, Manushi artisans earn income that helps:
- Fund children’s education.
- Improve housing conditions.
- Access healthcare.
- Build confidence and community leadership.
Each handwoven scarf or textile piece represents hours of careful work and the steady determination of women who are weaving more than fabric. They are weaving stability and hope.
Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans | West Bank: Preserving Heritage Through Women’s Hands
Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans supports marginalized craftspeople in the West Bank, preserving centuries-old traditions such as olive wood carving and mother-of-pearl inlay. While these crafts have long been passed down through families, women’s participation in artisan cooperatives is opening new avenues of economic participation and leadership.
In regions facing ongoing instability, fair trade offers something invaluable: steady income and global solidarity. For women artisans, it can mean the difference between surviving and sustaining a craft that defines their cultural identity.
The Positive Ripple Effect of Empowerment
When women earn income, the benefits ripple outward:
Education: Women are more likely to invest in their children’s schooling, particularly daughters.
Health: Increased income improves access to medical care and nutrition.
Equality: Financial independence strengthens women’s voices within households.
Resilience: Savings and community support create safety nets during crisis.
The impact of your purchase extends far beyond a single transaction. It contributes to long-term change.
Honoring Women Every Day + Especially March 8
International Women’s Day is more than a celebration. It is a call to action to close gender gaps, amplify women’s leadership and invest in equitable economic systems.
At Ten Thousand Villages, our call to action is simple and powerful:
Shop consciously. Share artisan stories. Choose products that honor women’s skill and resilience.
Whether you’re selecting a handwoven basket, a ceramic mug, a pair of earrings or a set of felt ornaments, you’re helping create a more equitable global marketplace.
How You Can Celebrate International Women’s Month
- Gift with intention. Choose handcrafted items that directly support women artisans.
- Share their stories. Post about the artisans behind your purchases.
- Host a gathering. Set your table with fair trade ceramics and textiles and tell guests about the women who made them.
- Invest in women-led enterprises. Support brands and organizations committed to fair trade principles.
- Reflect on progress. And possibilities. Consider how small, everyday purchasing decisions contribute to larger global change.
Looking Ahead: Honoring 80 Years of Empowerment
As Ten Thousand Villages celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2026, we reflect on decades of partnership with artisan groups around the world — many of them founded to uplift women.
From the beginning, our mission has centered on creating opportunities for makers who are often excluded from traditional markets. Over time, that mission has helped thousands of women:
- Launch small businesses.
- Lead cooperatives.
- Educate their children.
- Preserve cultural heritage.
- Build more stable futures.
March is a beautiful moment to celebrate this shared journey.
A Final Word: The Hands That Shape Hope
Every handcrafted piece begins with hands — steady, practiced, patient. Hands that have learned techniques from mothers and grandmothers. Hands that rise before dawn. Hands that balance work with caregiving, resilience with creativity.
International Women’s Month reminds us that these hands are shaping more than products. They are shaping possibility.
This March, as you welcome the first signs of spring, consider the women around the world who are also cultivating renewal — through craft, courage and community.
When you choose fair trade, you choose to stand beside them. And together, we craft a more beautiful world.
What is International Women’s Month?
International Women’s Month is observed each March to celebrate the achievements, resilience and contributions of women around the world. It is a time to recognize progress toward gender equality while also acknowledging the work still to be done.
When is International Women’s Day?
International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on March 8. It is a global day dedicated to honoring women’s social, economic, cultural and political accomplishments and advocating for gender equity.
How does Ten Thousand Villages support women artisans?
Ten Thousand Villages partners with artisan groups around the world—many of which are women-led or primarily employ women. Through long-term fair trade relationships, artisans receive:
Fair wages
Safe working conditions
Access to international markets
Opportunities for leadership and skills development
Community support initiatives such as education and healthcare
Purchases directly contribute to sustainable income for women and their families.
Who founded Ten Thousand Villages?
Ten Thousand Villages was founded by Anna Ruth Byler in 1946. After witnessing poverty firsthand while volunteering in Puerto Rico, she began selling handmade textiles to create sustainable income opportunities for women artisans. Her vision helped pioneer the global fair trade movement.
Why is Anna Ruth Byler’s story important during International Women’s Month?
Anna Ruth Byler was a woman entrepreneur and changemaker at a time when few women led global business initiatives. Her commitment to partnership—not charity—laid the foundation for an organization that continues to empower women worldwide. Her legacy reflects the core message of International Women’s Day: when women have opportunity, communities thrive.
How does fair trade empower women?
Fair trade provides economic independence, which can transform lives. When women earn reliable income, they are more likely to:
Send their children to school
Invest in healthcare
Strengthen their communities
Gain decision-making power within households and cooperatives
Economic empowerment creates ripple effects that extend far beyond individual artisans.
How can I support women artisans during International Women’s Month?
You can support women artisans by:
Choosing fair trade products
Learning and sharing artisan stories
Shopping intentionally with brands committed to ethical sourcing
Gifting handcrafted items that create meaningful impact
Every purchase is a vote for dignity, equity and opportunity.
Is supporting women artisans a year-round effort?
Absolutely. While March shines a spotlight on women’s empowerment, Ten Thousand Villages works year-round to uplift women through fair trade partnerships that foster long-term sustainability and growth.
The Ten Thousand Villages Difference
Every one of the items we offer is a portal into a world of ethical artistry. But their significance extends beyond their materials and makers.
It means artisans are paid fairly for their labor and respected for their skills. It means that materials are sourced sustainably, communities are supported holistically and the environment is treated with reverence.
It means that you, the shopper, become part of a value chain rooted in justice.
When you choose to support artisans through organizations like Ten Thousand Villages, you’re not just buying a product, you’re investing in people. You’re helping families send children to school, communities gain access to healthcare and legacy skills survive and thrive in the modern world.
As we look forward to celebrating 80 years of empowering women, their families and communities with fair trade opportunities, we invite you to join us and #LiveLifeFair.
Be Part of the Good
If you're inspired by the stories behind these products, there are many ways to support this movement:
- Shop Mindfully: Look for the Fair Trade Federation or World Fair Trade Organization logos. Sites like Ten Thousand Villages make it easy to shop by product, artisan group/country or material.
- Share Their Stories: The more people learn about fair trade, the more impact we can create. Share blog posts, artisan bios and product stories on social media.
- Gift with Intention: Whether it’s a birthday, holiday or just-because gift, choose handcrafted items that carry meaning and impact.
- Advocate for Ethical Brands: Let your favorite retailers know that sustainability and fair wages matter to you.
Denise Brossman
Copywriter, Editor and Content Manager
