We loved all the comments and responses we got on our post earlier this week, Global Decor Without the Travel, is it Cheating? While opinions definitely varied, a common thread running through the comments was to decorate with things you love! For Austin residents who love to decorate with global goods that are freely traded and environmentally responsible, we give you the store Ten Thousands Villages.
Located on Congress Avenue in SoCo, it could be easy to dismiss Ten Thousand Villages as just another hip decor store if you're not familiar with it. For those who are familiar with this store, you know they offer handmade gifts, jewelry, home decor and accessories from diverse cultures in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.
While it's true there are Ten Thousand Villages stores in many U.S. states, we like what this store represents and love what it offers. We especially loved how in this showroom many vignettes featured educational books accompanied with a particular culture's goods.
Ethnic Loft and Ten Thousand Villages are just a couple of the places you can find affordable and responsible global goods in Austin. What are some of your favorite resources in your home city? Or on the web? Let us know!
| Categories: | toys & games, green materials, furniture & product designers |
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© 2009 Apartment Therapy
This is by far my favorite store in the world. I go to the Chestnut Hill store nearly daily. They have the best chocolate.
view djheathermarie's profile
Reminds me of the brief time I lived in Austin:-)
I love that store, and S. Congress!
view mjr's profile
They have a store in Ann Arbor, Mi as well! I love it
view avajames's profile
One in Louisville KY, and Columbus Ohio. LOVE IT! (The one by me takes volunteers and then you get discounts)
view Rolen the Great's profile
They're headquartered near me in Pennsylvania -- it's been an awesome place for years, and how MCC handles the business, and the difference they've made in the lives of their artisans, is just incredible.
Plus, you know, the stuff is just cool!
view jkopftwins's profile
It's Fairly traded goods, not freely traded. 10,000 Villages is a 100% Fair-Trade store. The distinction is very important. "Fair Trade is not free, and Free Trade (think NAFTA) is not fair." Go to: http://www.fairtradefederation.org/ for more info. Support Fair Trade in your city!
view vbl's profile
Ten Thousand Villages are in most major metropolitan areas. They also have excellent rugs, hand woven by people who actually get reasonable pay for their beautiful craftmanship! Horray TTV!
view EconGrrl's profile
I live not far from the Canadian HQ, and I must say that while I'm not religious, the Mennonite Central Committee (out of whom came the idea for ten thousand villages) does good, good work. And if you ever get the chance, go to one of the relief sales. Absolutely gorgeous quilts and auctions and FOOD - http://mcc.org/reliefsales/us.html (For anyone in Canada near Toronto - go to the big one in New Hamburg, outside KW)
view anaximander's profile
I never heard of this store until I stumbled upon it during a stay in Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario, Canada two years ago. I thought it was fabulous, and bought a Philippine trivet made of coiled, rolled paper as a gift that I decided to keep myself!
view Jane's profile
Plowsharing Crafts in the St Louis Area carries almost entirely Ten Thousand Villages wares. They have at least two locations, one in University City on Delmar, and one in downtown Kirkwood.
Now that I am in DC, I was very happy to see that there are TTVs here, too.
view magdelane's profile
Great store. Great people. And they regularly host charitable shopping events for local non-profits.
view Erika1971's profile
My mom used to do their ads in Houston for many years. We both love their store. That was our quick stop shopping for all birthdays and holidays. Especially for their awesome wood puzzles for the kids.
view kambykitten's profile