Ten Thousand Villages
6 ratings since posting on Friday, October 8, 2004
Overall Rating   based on 6 ratings |
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I applaud the effort to help people in poor countries earn a better wage, which this does. But it's all run by missionaries who are trying to convert those people to their religion, and I don't like that aspect of it. At all. As to the goods, it is definitely not an anthropologist's dream. By and large, these are goods designed and made specifically for the American market. C'mon--soapstone desk accessories made by a villager in India? Carved elephants and giraffes? What villager scraping along through life owns these things? Chess boards? Christmas ornaments? Marble boxes for jewelry? Get real. There is virtually nothing indigenous to the craftsmen offered in this store, and that's a shame. Likewise, their Website states that "Artisans build on their traditional skills with trend and color information, new product suggestions, and visits from buyers and designers." This is not indigenous work. It's designed specifically for the American and Canadian market, it's not indigenous work. I buy stuff there once in a while, but I'm not crazy about the concept in its totality. UPDATE: Even though Glint (above) says that the company is not run by missionaries, their Website says that "Ten Thousand Villages is a nonprofit program of the North American Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches." I've been told by people who work there that the contacts with the artists and the payments to them are handled by the church people. You say tomato, I say tomahto. - Bill , posted 03/02/06 |
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Ten Thousand Villages is located at 11th and Walnut. This unique shop is a nonprofit, dealing in fairly traded items. Merchandise comes from all over the globe, and each item is full of culture. It's an anthropologists' shopping dream come true! A great place to get items that are most definitely different from those at a regular run-of-the-mill center city store. - Kara , posted 05/12/05 |
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They have nice little things for home and gifts, good for last minute shopping. On a personal note, I had a problem once and do not recommend their service too highly. But as a political gesture, well, they do provide that niche which counters all the rest of the pop culture junk you can buy at the retail chains and department stores - Randy , posted 05/02/05 |
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Ten Thousand Villages not only stocks beautiful hand-crafted art, textiles, stationary, jewelry, musical instruments, tableware, and toys -- it also practices fair-trade. A nonprofit, self-supporting alternative trading organization, your purchase supports artisans around the world. - Unsubscribed , posted 10/09/04 |
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I love the whole concept behind this store. Ten Thousand villages markets the handicrafts of Third World people and provides them with a fair income, making sure they are compensated fairly for their work. No sweat shops or slave labor here. And the items are gorgeous! I buy beautiful handmade Christmas ornaments here every year, and it has become a family tradition. - Joy , posted 10/08/04 |
