Ten Thousand Villages’ Fall Must Have: The Scarf

Fall is here!  So many fashionistas are gathering their “must-have” accessories to add that extra pizzazz to their daily wardrobe.  One accessory in particular is the scarf.

Scarves can be seen worn throughout the year due to their variety in fabric and textures. Scarves are universal. Thus, many are created in other countries by villagers that rely on these scarves to provide money for their household.

Ten Thousand Villages, one of the world’s largest fair trade organizations, is helping villages get their products off into the world.

Scarves, such as the ones pictured above, can be purchased through TTV.  The organization then uses the profits to provide assistance to underprivileged artisans (i.e. food, healthcare, education, employment, and housing).

Here are a couple of the scarves sold and their price point.

Rainbow Blush Scarf (Handcrafted in Bangladesh) – $34

Based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, The Jute Works represents more than 4,000 rural women artisans in 154 workshops. The Jute Works strives to empower rural women through handicraft production, animal husbandry and small job creation projects. The group works with women regardless of caste, creed and race. It provides job training, develops leadership skills and generates awareness of the women’s plight. It promotes thrift, self-help and democratic practice among the women’s handicraft groups.

Monsoon Infinity Scarf (Handcrafted in Indonesia) – $34

A nongovernment organization, APIKRI helps organize artisans and provides export marketing services, technical assistance, training and other supports. Most of APIKRI’s artisans work in and around the city of Yogyakarta and Central Java, areas renowned for craft production. Benefits to artisans include savings programs, design development and access to microcredit loans for production or emergencies.

Denim Dusk Silk Scarf (Handcrafted in Laos) – $49

Phontong Handicrafts Cooperative: This handicraft cooperative began in 1980 and works with Lao weavers and basket makers in lowland villages around Vientiane, the capital city of Laos. Kommaly Chanthavong directs the co-op, and her husband Noulieme manages finances. Craftswomen intersperse weaving with housework and childcare. Once a dying art, weaving skills and traditions are being revived by Phontong, which provides lessons and free raw materials to artisans.

Lakeshore Infinity Scarf (Handcrafted in Indonesia) – $24

The Indonesian People’s Handicraft Foundation, or APIKRI, is an independent association of artisans founded in 1987. A nongovernment organization, APIKRI helps organize artisans and provides export marketing services, technical assistance, training and other supports. Most of APIKRI’s artisans work in and around the city of Yogyakarta and Central Java, areas renowned for craft production. Benefits to artisans include savings programs, design development and access to microcredit loans for production or emergencies.

Chenille Fringed Poncho (Handcrafted in Ecuador) – $69

MCCH (Maquita Chuchunchic Comercializando Como Hermanos), meaning “Let us join hands and do business as brothers” in Quechua and Spanish languages, is an Ecuadorian cooperative marketing NGO. MCCH works with craft groups scattered around the country, helping them with production, design and marketing. For many artisans, craft income supplements meager agricultural earnings. In addition to handicraft sales, MCCH works with farm collectives exporting fair trade cocoa, with ecotourism and with women’s cooperatives. MCCH was begun in 1985 by a group of church communities in response to rising poverty and inflation in Ecuador. Ten Thousand Villages has purchased products from MCCH since 1995.

Refinement in Silk (Handcrafted in Laos) – $49

Phontong Handicrafts Cooperative:This handicraft cooperative began in 1980 and works with Lao weavers and basket makers in lowland villages around Vientiane, the capital city of Laos. Kommaly Chanthavong directs the co-op, and her husband Noulieme manages finances. Craftswomen intersperse weaving with housework and childcare. Once a dying art, weaving skills and traditions are being revived by Phontong, which provides lessons and free raw materials to artisans. The cooperative also helps artisans with wood carving, basket weaving, silk production and cattle raising. Ten Thousand Villages has purchased handicrafts from Phontong since 1989.

To order your scarf now, visit www.TenThousandVillages.com.

Source: 5W Public Relations