Mayu is back with another story for our Guest Blogger series! As a refresher for our new readers (thanks for adding us to your RSS/Feed Burner!), each week, through the month of April, we are profiling women artisans abroad. We have reached out to some incredible friends and asked them to share their experiences working with women artisans and producers. The stories that came back are amazing and we hope you find them just as heartwarming and inspiring.

Our next Guest Blogger is Megy Karydes. Megy is the founder of World Shoppe , a fair trade jewelry and women’s accessories importing business that works with artisans in South Africa. World Shoppe is a proud and active member of the Fair Trade Federation and Megy was also a founding board member of Chicago Fair Trade, working to promote fair trade in her hometown.

After being invited to visit South Africa by the South African Consulate, I knew my life would change. After working to support fair trade as an e-boutique for the past 6 years, this was my opportunity to work directly with artisans which was the initial goal when I launched World Shoppe (www.World-Shoppe.com) six years ago.

I was among 19 international delegates who were invited to visit the country in the hopes that we would meet artisans and form a working relationship by importing their handmade items to our respective countries. Only 5 were from the United States and each of us came to the trip with different backgrounds, experience and interests.

I’ve been involved in the fair trade movement for over a decade. I began volunteering at a fair trade shop near my home when I first learned what fair trade was all about and how it allowed women to have a voice and contribute to their family and communities. Since then, I launched by e-boutique to offer fashionable and affordable fair trade jewelry, gifts and home accessories to socially-conscious consumers. But one of my earliest goals was to work directly with artisans to make the most impact and that was one of the reasons the trip to South Africa was so important to me.

It was during this trip that I met Carol, an amazingly talented artist who employs 18 artisans in the Western Cape province. The group produces copper and brass jewelry featuring semi-precious gemstones such as hematite, onyx, jade, carnelian and tiger’s eye. As soon as I saw the pieces, I knew we would be working together. The pieces were nothing like I had seen in the United States. They were bold, high-quality and resembled jewelry I have seen in artsy galleries, shops I frequent when looking for unique gifts. And, more importantly, they were produced using fair trade principles.

Within a week of returning to the United States, I had already photographed the samples I had purchased and sent them to some retailer friends for their opinion. All of them loved the pieces. I quickly put together an order and became a wholesaler. I booked my first trade show, put together a wholesale price list and began sharing the news with retailers.

Retailers across the country are quickly responding to consumers seeking out more fair trade items by stocking more fair trade in their shops. It’s been particularly exciting and rewarding to me because I share my successes with my artisans. When we’re featured in a national magazine article, I send them a copy of the article. When I get a new retailer customer, I email them to let them know. When a customer shares a picture of her wearing one of their designs, I share it with them, too. It’s important to me that we remember the reason we support fair trade – it’s because of the people. Yes, we need to have a profitable and sustainable business in order to succeed and employ more artisans, but the fact of the matter is that what gets me up in the morning is knowing that what I’m doing every day is making a difference.

According to the World Bank, an estimated 2.7 billion people in the world exist on less than $2 a day. That’s unnecessary.   It is my hope that one day we can all live with dignity and respect for one another. I feel honored and privileged to be working with my artisan partners and am looking forward to working with more women in the coming months. I hope you’ll join me for the journey!

Sincerely,

Megy Karydes, Founder

World Shoppe www.World-Shoppe.com

www.Facebook.com/worldshoppe

www.twitter.com/worldshoppe

For more information on World Shoppe, head over to their site. They have beautiful products that help out wonderful global causes. Keep checking back for more updates on artisans, sustainability and fair-trade.

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♥Mayu♥