You love to travel. You love to shop when you get there. You love when your purchases make a difference. But what if you can’t get aboard a plane but still want to purchase some worldly items that support local artisans?

Check out the great stores with global products that make an impact.

1. Fashion. Love, Africa

The Scoop:

Fashion. love, Africa designs and purchases hand knitted bags constructed from post consumer plastic bags gathered and woven by female residents living in the garbage slum of Nakuru, Kenya. Each bag is purchased directly from the woman who constructed it, allowing her a consistent source of income.

The Stuff:

 

2. Novica

The Scoop:

We want to give artists and artisans around the world a global platform to express their true artistic talents and to spur their creativity. And, we want to provide you with access to unique, hard-to-find items at great values that only the Internet infrastructure can allow.

 

The Stuff:

 

3. Ten Thousand Villages

The Scoop:

Ten Thousand Villages is an exceptional source for unique handmade gifts, jewelry, home decor, art and sculpture, textiles, serveware and personal accessories representing the diverse cultures of artisans in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.

 The Stuff:

 

 

4. Serrv

The Scoop:

SERRV’s mission is to eradicate poverty wherever it resides by providing opportunity and support to artisans and farmers worldwide. 

http://www.serrv.org/

 

The Stuff:

 

 

 

 

5. Made by Survivors

The Scoop:

Our beautiful fair trade jewelry items, handbags and gifts are made by survivors of slavery at shelters around the world, offering them sustainable income, dignity, and a bright future free of slavery

 

 

The Stuff:

 

Feature Photo via Fashion-love-Africa
 
 

In 2012, let’s commit to shopping at places that give back!