Craft Cooperatives: 5 Ways to Shop with Purpose

The purpose of craft cooperatives is to develop community programs using the handicrafts from local artisans or crafters.  Cooperatives take the traditional work of a community and bring it to a more global stage by offering training, workshops, business development assistance, and oftentimes microloans to the artisans. Many of these cooperatives focus on the women of a community and the knowledge that by helping the women, you're helping them improve their lives and the lives of their families.  The bigger picture for me is the realization that our purchases show respect for the artisans, and offer some aid in stamping out poverty, illiteracy, and disease.

People buy so much stuff.  When I think about all of the purchases I've made that don't really mean anything, I could just scream.  I've decided to focus on adding meaning to my purchases.  I've come up with 5 ways to shop with purpose and responsibility:

1. Buy fair trade products.  One way to ensure that you do is to look for shops who are members of the Fair Trade Federation.  According to Make Trade Fair, "Fair Trade is a growing, international movement which ensures that producers in poor countries get a fair deal. This means a fair price for their goods (one that covers the cost of production and guarantees a living income), long-term contracts which provide real security; and for many, support to gain the knowledge and skills that they need to develop their businesses and increase sales."
2. Add more meaning to your purchases by reading the descriptions of the artisans.  Many online shops give background information about the products and the artisans. These descriptions are like windows into the lives of these talented men and women.
3. Resist impulse buys by learning as much as you can about products, fair trade and international development.
4. Devote a gift-giving season to purchasing fair trade products.  Often the products come with a little card attached that gives information about how the products were made.
5. Make a wish list of fair trade products you'd like to receive as gifts.

What has been your experience with purchases from craft cooperatives?

Comments

[Sonja Chevere]

Last Christmas I purchased gifts from World of Good (now called Original Good) and Baskets of Africa for my clients. Everyone truly appreciated not only their gift, but the fact that it was handcrafted. Fair trade products are the way to go! It makes gift giving a lot more meaningful, plus you help other countries in the process.

[Rebecca Amissah-Aidoo]

Thanks so much for reminding people to be concious consumers. As Fair Trade Federation members who live and work in Africa we have seen over and over again how important sustainable employment is to underemployed people. This is especially true for women and children.
Through the continued support of our customers we have been able to provide educational opportunities to over 280 families and have helped provide medical care and checkups to those who would otherwise have gone without.
Please remember to ask your fairtrade supplier if they are actually living or working in any of the communities they are working with. This age of digital connectivity has made it very easy for someone to simply place an order online. While this does provide important employment, there is really no connection to the artisans and their families or long term investment in the infrastructure of the community.

[L'Tanya]

Rebecca, thanks for your comment, particularly the reminder to ask if the supplier is actually living in any of the communities. If you're looking for a real connection between community and craft, I can see that that is an important factor to consider.