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Fair Trade is fun! Check out our selection of unusual, well-designed goodies that come to us all through Fair Trade. Depending on how you look at it, the world gets bigger or smaller because of fair trade practices. Support your global neighbors when you make one of these purchases. Helping others has become the order of the day. Do your part!
Bolga Baskets
These beautiful handmade baskets are exclusively woven by the indigenous Frafra people of the historical town in northern Ghana called Bolgatanga. Weaving has been the traditional skill of these African people, mostly women, for centuries. Today these baskets are created primarily by the village women to supplement their incomes from the subsistence of farming activities. The weaving group has a mission: to assist poor rural women of northern Ghana in earning decent incomes from the fruits of their labors in order to care for their children. Their philosophy is that when the women can create an income, the trickle down effect has a positive effect of their community. This Fair Trade collective is a way of promoting self-esteem for the owmen, children and their village.
These fabulous market baskets are imported directly to us at It’s a Maine Thing. We are proud to be taking part in the betterment of the Frafra people’s lives through Fair Trade practices. By bringing these baskets into your home you are helping a family in Ghana nad being an active contributor to the Fair Trade economy.
Candy wrapper Bags
These fun bags and accessories are made in Mexico using new materials while applying old-world, artisanal techniques of basket weaving. The village in Oaxaca where these are created has partnered up with some of their counterparts who live in the United States by developing a small, fair trade company. The Mexican family members who live in the U.S. market and ship these great bags directly to us at the It’s a Maine Thing. Each bag is made by hand using plastic. The designs are original with new goods shipped to us regularly.
Shop in our Bags & Totes category to see our Bolga Baskets and Candy Wrapper Bags.
Maine Balkan Blankets
Textile production performed in mills along many of Maine’s rivers has played a crucial role in Maine’s history for almost 200 years. Textile’s role in the industrial revolution, the establishment of organized labor and the development of technology were some of the original foundations of the economic engine that fueled Maine’s economy for most of the 19th and 20th centuries. However, environmental challenges, competition from a growing global market, a smaller workforce and more efficient modes of production due to rapidly changing technology has ultimately led to the near demise of this sector of Maine’s economy. Most of the mills that remain in production are working on a smaller scale, manufacturing niche market items such as apparel, bedding and specialized production runs. As with most of us in the US many of us in Maine have turned to many of the newer textiles and bedding options to help us stay warm. But, at the end of the day nothing beats a lovely, hand-woven, Merino wool blanket to fend off the chills of winter or the light cool breeze of a summer evening to keep us warm and cozy.
Maine Balkan Blankets are just the ticket for the extra warmth that you are looking for or they are a thoughtful gesture as a gift. Following the proud tradition of textile weaving that once fueled Maine’s economic engine, these great blankets are made in Bulgaria by master weaver Boyan Stoimenov from select merino wool that is purchased in the mountain villages of this former communist block country. When you purchase one of these blankets you are helping to support family-owned industry and small family farms, providing hope for the future in a land that is still recovering from the collapse of Soviet-era factories and agricultural collectives. The proceeds of the sale of these blankets goes directly to the weavers.
Our friends, Tom and Kirsten, import these fabulous blankets through their business that is located here in Maine. The enterprise began as a result of a trip that they made to Bulgaria with Kristen’s choral group, the Maine Balkan Women’s Choir. The group had ostensibly gone to expand and develop their techniques of this melodic and interesting style of singing. Their host family introduced Tom and Kristen to Boyan, the master weaver who creates these fabulous blankets. Tom, who is never one to sit still on an idea, recognized the opportunity to connect with Maine’s textile past and support a fair trade business by directly importing these Balkan blankets. Hence, Maine Balkan Blankets. A wonderful way to add an extra layer of warmth for your home or to give as a thoughtful gift.
View our Maine Balkan Blankets
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