What is The Little Market?
The Little Market is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting fair trade practices and supporting artisans around the world.
Founded in 2013 by two friends --- Lauren Conrad and Hannah Skvarla --- it's with a mission to empower women artisans around the world and showcase their handmade goods to a broader audience. Here's their story.
What makes The Little Market unique is that it is a place to shop for ethically-sourced and artisan-made products that positively impact the makers' lives and their communities.
*Their commitment is to create sustainable economic opportunities for individuals and communities in need, while also raising awareness about the importance of ethical consumerism.
What is an artisan?
An artisan is a skilled craftsperson who creates handmade goods for a living. These goods are often unique, high quality, and made with care and attention to detail.
The Art of Artisans
Historical Context: Artisanship dates back to ancient times when people relied on handmade goods for survival. Artisans were highly respected and often worked for royalty and nobility. There are artisans from different cultures such as pottery makers, weavers, blacksmiths, and shoemakers.
Techniques and Skills: Artisans use various techniques and skills to create their goods, including hand carving, sewing, weaving, painting, and more. Compare and contrast the skills and techniques of an artisan with those of other professionals or occupations such as factory workers, who use machines to mass-produce goods.
Value of Artisan Crafts and Products: In society, artisan goods are often more expensive than mass-produced items, but they are of higher quality and have a unique, one-of-a-kind quality. There is an abundance of artisan-made goods such as pottery, jewelry, and clothing, that highlight their beauty and uniqueness.
Impact of Technology: Today's technology has impacted and changed the world of artisanship. While machines have made production faster and more efficient, they have also replaced the need for skilled craftspersons in some areas. This has led to a decline in certain artisanal traditions.
*In an ideal world, technology should be used to complement artisanship rather than replace it.
The importance of preserving traditional artisanal techniques and skills is the mission of organizations like The Little Market.
Products
The Little Market offers a wide range of handmade, ethically-sourced products from around the globe.
From handwoven baskets and hand-poured candles to embroidered pillow covers and beaded jewelry, each item is crafted by skilled artisans using traditional techniques.
Not only are these products beautiful and unique, but they also have a meaningful story behind them.
The organization supports social justice issues by working with marginalized communities, including survivors of trafficking, refugees, and women living in poverty.
The Little Market provides them with a platform to sell their unique, handmade products, breaking down barriers and opening up greater access to markets.
By purchasing from The Little Market, customers are directly supporting the livelihoods of the artisans who made them.
Additionally, The Little Market prioritizes environmentally-friendly materials and processes, ensuring that their products are both sustainable and socially responsible.
Projects / Supporting a Cause
In addition to selling ethically-made products, The Little Market also partners with various nonprofit organizations to support community projects around the world.
For example, they have worked with artisans in developing countries to provide them with training and resources to improve their businesses, as well as funding community-based initiatives such as education and healthcare programs.
The Little Market also advocates for fair trade policies and encourages consumers to prioritize ethical and sustainable practices when making purchasing decisions.
The organization has been working to support some of the most marginalized communities in the world and has funded a range of projects to achieve this goal.
One of these projects is with SAFFY, a social enterprise with artisans in rural communities of the Philippines that provides safe employment opportunities, regardless of age or background.
Another project is with COPAVIC, also known as the Recycled Glass Cooperative of Cantel, is an artisan-owned cooperative located in the small village of Cantel, Guatemala.
Through their partnerships and advocacy, they aim to create a more just, equitable, and sustainable global economy.
The Little Market continues to empower women artisans everywhere and promote social justice issues.
With each purchase made, individuals can positively impact the world, creating a better and more equitable future for all.
The Little Market's website offers a wide range of products to choose from - including beautiful home decor, fashion accessories, and unique gifts – all made by artisans from different parts of the world.
The products available are sustainably and ethically sourced, and each purchase directly supports the maker and their community.
If you're looking for beautiful products with a meaningful impact, be sure to check out The Little Market's website and support its mission of empowering artisans and promoting fair trade practices around the world.
Shopping from The Little Market website is a great way to support a cause that promotes ethical and fair trade practices.
