Coming from India - Fair Trade AND Eco-Friendly Jewelry

I was speaking with a friend of mine who is a reporter recently and she mentioned to me how many companies are touting their "green"ness (either they are using recycled materials, repurposing items, etc). What she also realized, however, is that being green isn't just about recycling something...it's about being good to the people as much as it is being good to the Earth.

Yes, most of the items we offer on www.World-Shoppe.com come from overseas. So, while they are fairly traded, they are made by the hands of those living in developing countries like India, South Africa, Indonesia and Ghana. Most are women.

So is being fair trade good for the Earth since most of the items have to travel so far to come to the U.S.? It's a fair question (no pun intended) but here is my answer - a RESOUNDING YES. Maybe the products do have to travel to get here, but by offering employment opportunities to women who may otherwise have none, we are empowering them to make a difference in lives of their families and communities. They can give back and build health clinics and schools. They can practice safe working conditions and teach others why it's important not to work in sweatshop conditions or employ children to make products. They can recycle products to make new items (like this swanky BOTTLE NECK Necklace above handmade using old glass bottles as the pendant - coming next month from India!).

So, yes, fair trade products may come farther away than products made locally but the opportunities are immense. Does the end justify the means? I'm not sure what fair trade means to you, but for me, being able to give a voice to someone can mean the world to them...and that's the kind of world I want to live in.

-Megy Karydes, Founder
www.World-Shoppe.com