This is a great piece about the history of Ten Thousand Villages in Forbes.

I lived in Ethiopia on a volunteer assignment with Mennonite Central Committee and visited quite a few of these artisans in both Ethiopia and Kenya.  During college I studied Spanish in Guatemala and got to visit more small artisan shops in the countryside there that sell their crafts through Ten Thousand Villages.

I have way too many amazing baskets, jewelry, scarves, cups, and platters, and have given away even more items from them, as gifts.  This is an amazing store, the one that started the fair trade movement.

Take a look at the write-up to learn more about its history and how economic development changes lives by connecting small businesses around the globe to fashionistas like me who make themselves feel and look better through social buying.