Fair Trade Archives - The Curated House

Gifts With Heart: Your Curated Gift Guide to a Compassionate Christmas | Far & Wide Collective

There’s been a resurgence in the social consciousness of late; a reawakening to the value of unique items that are handcrafted by artisans who are truly valued for their work. I think we are realizing once again that the story behind the products we purchase matters. The people behind the products matter. And in our globally inspired world, those stories are often stories of people from the other side of the world.

The founder of Far & Wide Collective, Hedvig Alexander, has done a brilliant job of bringing her artisans stories to life as she curates the products that make up the collection. Her passion is empowering and honouring the makers while bringing beautiful products to the North American market. That is why the Far & Wide Collective makes for a perfect feature in this year’s Curated Gift Guides for a Compassionate Christmas.

From baskets to jewelry and accessories to art prints and home décor, there is something for just about any lover of beauty on your Christmas list!

ONE: TRIPLE BRASS BRACELET // TWO: BOLD YELLOW IKAT PILLOW //

THREE: KENYAN BASKET {similar} // FOUR: GOLD + LAPIS LAZULI STUDS //

FIVE: LIMITED EDITION DETAILED ART PRINT // SIX: PINK + BLACK CLUTCH //

SEVEN: BLUSH PINK SILK SCARF

I hope you’re feeling inspired to give gifts with heart this year! Empower an artisan across the globe and tell a story of hope while sharing beautiful treasures with your loved ones this season.

xo
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|December 3rd, 2014|0 Comments

Gifts With Heart: Your Curated Gift Guide to a Compassionate Christmas | Ten Thousand Villages

It’s December 1st and that time of year again! The time when we scour the globe in search of that perfect something that will light a spark in our loved one’s eye and make them feel treasured. Honestly, gifts are my top love language {tied with words of affirmation} so I really value the opportunity Christmas brings to shower love on my special people this way.

For me, the best gifts are gifts with heart – gifts that are thoughtful, meaningful and personal. But gifts with heart can also be gifts with a compassionate conscience.

As you all know, I’m beyond passionate about the process behind a product, believing that the way something is made can contribute {positively or negatively} to its true beauty. If a product is made in a way that honours the people and planet involved in its creation, then it has true and lasting beauty. Conversely, if a product is made in a way that abuses people or the planet, then any outward beauty it may hold isn’t authentic.

That’s why I’m thrilled to shine a spotlight on Ten Thousand Villages today for my first Curated Gift Guide for the season. Ten Thousand Villages is all about authentic beauty from the inside out. They are one of the largest and most experienced fair trade retailers in the world, which could bring with it some hefty buying power. But rather than negotiating for the lowest possible price from the artisans they work with, they pay fair prices as set by the artisans themselves and reinvest company profits to support education for the next generation, food security, community development and the creation of more employment and leadership opportunities. Now that’s a beautiful process.

Oh yes, and the products? Gorgeous! Just take a look at my Curated Gift Guide from Ten Thousand Villages this year.

ONE: HORN OF PLENTY BANGLE // TWO: BLACK +WHITE VASE //

THREE: BLUE IKAT PILLOW // FOUR: OMBRE SILK INFINITY SCARF //

FIVE: EMBROIDERED STARS TREE SKIRT // SIX: BRASS SNOWFLAKE ORNAMENT

I recently popped in to visit our Oakville location and was blown away by how many incredible finds were there waiting for me. So much beautiful craftsmanship, so many beautiful stories behind the products! And so many meaningful gifts waiting to be given.

The line up of products is so extensive I could never feature it all, so why not pop into a local store or visit them online and get your shopping done without ever getting out of your jammies? No one will be the wiser, and they’ll be feeling the love when they open their gorgeous gifts with heart.

xo
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|December 1st, 2014|0 Comments

Design Find | Armadillo Co Rugs | Australia

Today I thought I’d share a little eye candy with you in the form of some beautiful, flat-woven rugs hailing all the way from the warm shores of Australia. On first glance, you’ll see why the classic and modern patterns and highly saturated colours of Armadillo & Co‘s rugs caught my attention. But when you read their story, that’s when you’ll really fall in love.

I’m torn between the “Casablanca” burnt-red-on-cream {second from top}, the “Crosscut” red and orange and natural grey directly above and the goldenrod, grey and cream “Persia” below as my favourites.

Gorgeous, right? These pieces are all from their Designer Collection. Modern and graphic yet classic and timeless, these rugs could make just about any house feel like home.

But I promised you a good story today, didn’t I? Yes, yes. Theirs is a delightful one. Because this story {similar to that of Heavenly Organics} is a story of a business that cares for people. You see, their products are completely fair trade, and Armadillo & Co treats their artisans like extended family – with the kind of care, respect and love they would a father, mother, brother or sister. They select their artisans for both their hands and their heart, seeking out those who are both skilled and sensitive to their design aesthetic while carrying on an intricate tradition of weaving that has been passed down through many generations. Their wages are above average and integral to the health and well-being of their local community, and the lineage of handicraft they preserve in the work they do now.

They are working in meaningful ways to redeem an industry that has historically abused the people to create the product. As supporters and advocates for “Care & Fair,” they are working to ensure that child labour in the carpet production industry becomes a thing of the past by helping to finance local education and purchasing play equipment for the local school in the region of India where their rugs are woven.

{When purchasing any rug or carpet made in India, look for the ‘KALEEN’ label. Issued by the Carpet Export Promotion Council  of India, it guarantees that child labour was not used in manufacture.}

So happy to find a company that meets my “beautiful process, beautiful product” standards! So happy to be sharing them with you today.

Stay cozy and be kind to one another!

xo
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|January 23rd, 2013|1 Comment