To help accessorize your spring apparel, check out some of these great finds from Ten Thousand Villages, a fair trade organization which helps disadvantaged artisans in 38 countries.
Show off your individual style while also wearing handcrafted jewelry and accessories that help pay for food, education, healthcare and housing for artisans who would otherwise be unemployed or underemployed.
Sweet Daydream Scarf ($49; Handmade in India): Light as air, bright as light, wearing this gauzy scarf is like wrapping up in a daydream. The maker responsible for the vibrant color of this piece is Prateek Biswas. Here’s what he had to say when we asked him about his work: “My gritty journey in life from a son of a struggling farmer to a much respected color master in a village of West Bengal is the contribution of Fair Trade.
Garden of Thoughts Headband ($12; Handmade in Vietnam): For a fertile imagination, wear a headband with a flower garden design. Featuring two intertwining loops in front and a stretchy elastic back, this cotton headband will bring a touch of brightness to any outfit.
Mod Stripe Scarf ($34; Handmade in Egypt): With the resurgence of mid-century modern styles, comes fashion pieces influenced by simpler times, when clean lines and angles were king. This cotton scarf comes to us from the Fair Trade Egypt (FTE) artisan group. Based out of Cairo, FTE supports independently-operating workshops, often living in rural areas where design information, marketing and export help would otherwise be scarce.
Tagua Meadow Necklace ($49; Handmade in Ecuador): The coastal region of Ecuador is home to the Guliver workshop, where makers learn to work with natural tagua nuts and vegetable dyes to create unique jewelry pieces that they can sell to earn a fair wage. Fair wages means a better quality of life and access to education for their children.
Sugar Crystal Necklace ($39; Handmade in India): This bib-style necklace seems to embody the beauty of spring with just the right balance of sparkle, floral and pastel design elements. Women from all around India migrate to Delhi in search of employment. The Rashi Handicraft workshop provides opportunities for these women to earn a living wage by making jewelry.
Moulin Rouge Necklace ($29; Handmade in India): earls, when used sparingly, can be a sweet detail that recalls vintage jewelry design. Made modern with warm tone chain and fringe, this unique necklace is a perfect piece for a bohemian beauty.
Satin and Plum Tagua Necklace ($34; Handmade in Ecuador): Slices of natural tagua nut are dyed a rich plum color and hang on a delicate satin ribbon. Also known as vegetable ivory, tagua nuts have a close and durable grain, making them ideal for use as beads in jewelry pieces such as this.
Ethereal Echoes Earrings ($24; Handmade in Philippines): Capiz comes from the shell of the windowpane oyster. This interesting name comes from the days when shells were used in windows, before glass became available in the Philippines. Soaked, dyed and dried, the process of transforming the natural shell into a work of art requires expert skill.
Bohemian Beauty Necklace ($49; Handmade in India): Layers of chain and colorful beaded strands are finished on either side with tassels for a bohemian look to express a free spirit. Women from all around India migrate to Delhi in search of employment. The Rashi Handicraft workshop provides opportunities for these women to earn a living wage by making jewelry, mixing traditional skills with modern designs for a final piece that is unique and meaningful.
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