Heading to the Farmer’s Market? Support Fair Trade!

Saturday morning in Durham means one thing: Farmers Market! We here at One World Market love our local Farmer’s Market. What better way to support your local community than buying fresh produce from the farmer themselves!

It never fails that when we visit the Farmer’s Market with our One World Market gear, we always get the same question “Where did you get that?” So today we just wanted to spotlight a few of our favorite bags and baskets that are perfect for going to the Farmer’s Market, the grocery store, and even a picnic on the beach!

Laura’s favorite:

The bolga basket from Ghana. These handmade baskets hold a ton of items and distribute the weight perfectly!

And with so many color choices:

they make a great gift too! And when you’re not using it on the go, you could store kid’s toys, winter scarves and gloves, or any other loose items in your home.

Katie’s favorite shopping bag:

The large Recycled Rice Bag Tote. Handmade in Cambodia from Recycled Rice and Feed bags, this tote not only supports recycling, but it also gives women who were rescued from sex trafficking long term employment, access to mental and physical health care, and a future for their children.

And since it’s made from durable bags, it holds weight and wipes down easily!

April’s favorite bag:

The Recycled Sari silk bag handmade in India. This bag is not only lightweight but it’s still durable enough to hold a load. It’s also compact, with an inner pocket that you can easily stuff the entire bag inside of. Bonus: The lightweight silk dries quickly when wet!

A new option we love:

This nature inspired tote is hand-woven from sturdy Mekong River delta grasses in Vietnam. Whether to hold groceries, a picnic to Eno River, or even to take on a trip to the beach, this tote is a great all around basket! And just like the bolga basket, when you’re not using it on the go, you could store kid’s toys, winter scarves and gloves, or any other loose items in your home.

So the next time you head to the Farmer’s Market, the grocery store, or need a bag to pack a few items, stop by the store! We have lots of fun, function, and Fair Trade options to upgrade your plain canvas bag!

Fashion Trend: Layering Bracelets

It’s no secret that we love jewelry here at One World Market!

What’s not to love when you’re able to wear beautiful pieces that also help alleviate poverty in a developing country!?

A fashion trend that we’ve been following this summer is the “layering” look. And with unique, handmade bracelets, we love the looks you can achieve – all while supporting Fair Trade!

All bracelets handmade from recycled paper in Uganda by Jinja Fair Traders.

Top three bracelets are hand-carved tagua nut from Ecuador;

the bottom bracelet is woven cotton from Unique Batik in Guatemala.

Show your Olympic Spirit with

(from top to bottom) a beaded bracelet from Kenya and bangles from India.

Layer on a wooden and wax thread bracelet from Thailand with

a woven cotton bracelet from Guatemala.

Let your wrist sparkle with layers inspired by grass, earth,

and water in bracelets handmade in Guatemala from Unique Batik.

Simple beaded bracelets handmade in Nepal in shades of blue and green.

 

Come by the store and see hundreds of other options and let us know which combination you like best!

New in the Store: Everyday Coconut Products!

We’re big fans of the Alaffia Shea Butter line here at One World Market, and as a shopper you may be familiar with this amazing line of Fair Trade Certified face and body products from Togo, Africa.

Not only does Alaffia alleviate poverty in rural areas, but they also support the education and development of future generations by providing support to schools and transportation to young girls. Just this year alone Alaffia has donated over 4,000 bicycles to young girls in rural Togo so that they can get to and from school safely.

Alaffia also provides prenatal care to over 700 mothers, helping to reduce the rate of maternal death in Togo.

So we were doubly excited this past Friday when we received our new line of products from Alaffia:

Everyday Coconut Super Hydrating Lotion and Body Wash made with coconut water and coconut oil. It smells truly decadent with a light coconut scent that isn’t too overpowering.

In addition to the new line of Everyday Coconut, we’ve been restocked on all of our favorites, including:

the African Black Soap. We have it in two new scents: Tangerine Citrus and Peppermint.

African Black Soap is made in a traditional cooking and curing process that makes it incredibly mild and gentle on your skin and hair.

Laura’s favorite Alaffia product:

is the Shea Butter Curl Reviving Tonic. This lightweight spray gives you definition without frizz, turning limp curls springy without weighing them down.

So come and check out the new items! We have FREE samples – get them before they’re gone!

Coffee Plants are Coming!

I think that giving away baby coffee plants is one of the coolest store promotions ever!  It all started with one of our board members who went to Central America on a mission trip.  He worked on a coffee farm and brought back some ripe coffee "cherries."  He planted them and the rest is history.  Coffee plants always remind me of my home in West Africa where, twice a year, the whole valley filled with the sweet smell of coffee blossoms.  They smell  a lot like jasmine and they reflect the moonlight like tropical  snow.  My own coffee plant is about 5 years old now and it blooms when conditions are right...