Ten Thousand Villages Showcases Creative Wares of Over 100 Fair-trade Artisan Groups
It’s a nice feeling when you find the perfect gift for someone, and it’s doubly amplified when you discover that the standout piece of exotic jewelry, the silken pillow or the curious yet practical kitchen item has been conceived and created by someone who will be directly rewarded for their efforts.
In 2012, four South Bay residents fundraised their way to become part of Ten Thousand Villages, a network of retail stores that make up one of the world’s largest fair-trade organizations, representing artisan groups in over 30 countries, from Asia and Africa to the Middle East and Latin America.
Currently, one of just two stores in California, Ten Thousand Villages in Redondo Beach is a cheerful, volunteer-staffed store along Catalina Avenue that presents an always-revolving marketplace of rich textiles, evocative sculptures and distinctive home accents, along with eye-catching personal gifts and objects, from flowing scarves and woven purses to colorful hair adornments and handcrafted musical instruments.
Best of all, your buys are used to keep the creative circle turning, since the store’s net revenues are used to buy even more items from the artisans, all of whom are paid in full for their products before they reach the store.
Ten Thousand Villages Redondo Beach
1907 South Catalina Avenue, Redondo Beach CA 90277
310.465.1600 | TenThousandVillages.com/RedondoBeach
Photography by Paul Jonason
