Jessica Herman

While plenty of high-end designers riff off of ethnic styles like low-slung, chunky necklaces from Africa and gold-inflected, sari-like dresses, you generally have to travel thousands of miles to spike your wardrobe with authentic international wares. However, a couple Chicago companies have taken the trip for you and added in a socially responsible perk.

Many of us have become acquainted with the phrase 'fair trade' on posters at Starbucks or indie cafes selling fair-trade coffee beans, signifying these merchants paid a fair price for the imported goods, even if it was at a market premium. Ten Thousand Villages (719 Main in Evanston, (847)733-8258) and Handworks: MarketPlace of India ((800)726-8905, marketplaceindia.com), two clothing organizations featured at this week's Dignity by Design event at the Cultural Center, extend this principle into the clothing arena.

Located in Evanston, the national nonprofit Ten Thousand Villages imports artisanal goods from more than thirty nations and sells them to consumers at 180 retail locations throughout North America. The Evanston branch features such global items as Vietnamese ceramic strawberry pots, African instruments and Himalayan jackets.

Based in Northbrook, MarketPlace uses a virtual marketplace to sell fashions and interiors made by disadvantaged women in India. The company represents nearly 480 artisans and uses word of mouth, house parties and seasonal catalogues for advertisement. Both organizations focus heavily on the work made by widows who can rely on selling their crafts to make a living.

Unlike typical mass-produced garments, these items come with stories--everything from a lesson on how they're used in their native countries to an anecdote from the store manager's recent stay in the home of Filipino artisans. Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming events at Ten Thousand Villages on everything from chocolate and coffee tastings to workshops on African instruments, basket weaving and fair-trade education.

(2005-05-03)

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