our story
When you purchase fair trade, you declare that you value and support fair ideals and the individuals, families and communities that benefit from them! Buying fair trade is a simple way of saying "I want to be part of a system that works for people (and the planet!).”
One little world partners with skilled artisan partners in Ecuador, Nepal, Uganda, Kenya, Brasil, Rwanda. Using sustainable materials available to each community, our artisans create their uniquely beautiful products. I travel to create and maintain my partnership relationships, getting to know each artisan partner, their families, and their communities.
Through my travels, I’ve developed a love of cultures different from my own, and a heart for the “developing” or exploited world. We never use the phrases “third world” or “undeveloped”: this is intentional. Fair trade is an impactful way we can use our privilege as Americans to empower artisans from exploited countries.
[IMAGE OF JODIE TRAVELING]
Hi, I’m Jodie Vieira, and I live and breathe the principles of fair trade (link to a separate page about these principles in your own words) in both my life and my business. One little world exists because of my firm belief that artisans everywhere deserve fair compensation. “Purchasing power” has come to mean so much to me.
[IMAGE OF JODIE TRAVELING]
After grad school, in [year] I traveled to a large open-air market in Otavalo, Ecuador. Hundreds of artisans displayed their products and I was overwhelmed by the beauty of it all. Beforehand, my friends told me that I had to be ready to bargain and ready to walk away if I didn’t get the price I wanted.
While standing there at the market taking it all in, I realized that advice felt wrong. Seeing all of the beautiful handmade products in that Otavalo market (and every other market, in every other country, since), I knew those artisans deserved more.
The only thing that made sense was to learn how the products were made, who were the makers behind the products, and how to pay a fair price. I started having different conversations with the sellers. We spoke about fairness and value, not nickels and dimes. It was around this same time that I decided that I would only directly purchase items made by the artisan: no “middlemen” (more on that later).[link to blog post about cutting out the middleman]
After Otovalo, I visited countries in Asia, South America, Oceania, and Africa. In every market I discovered a similar shopping experience to Otavalo; artisan producers creating beautiful products, fighting for a fair price. I found that people everywhere vastly underestimated the time, costs, and value of their craftsmanship and the rich cultural context in which they were created. The imbalance and injustice weighed on me, and I couldn’t help but think there could be a different way.
Eventually, I learned there was another way: Fair Trade.
The next summer, while in the US on break from teaching, I told my husband, “I’m going to go back to Ecuador to do something.” I was nervous because I wasn’t sure what exactly. But I went to that same Otavalo market and I made my first partnership. Because my Spanish wasn’t business-good, I wrote everything down and translated on paper. My first question was, “Do you know what fair trade is?”
I left from that trip with my first three partnerships, all of which still exist today.
Since then, we have grown to have partnerships in [X] countries with a total of [Y] artisans. Each partnership comes from a personal connection I make with each and every artisan. I get to know them and their dreams. We work together to design products that we know our customers will love and appreciate, all at a fair price.
Many people say that my artisans are “lucky to have me,” but they’ve got it all wrong. I’m simply connecting with incredibly talented people, paying them fairly, and bringing their goods to a market they wouldn’t otherwise have access to. The “luck” is mine through my privilege. Our artisans bring the craftsmanship, I bring the connection.
One little world is a proud member of the Fair Trade Federation which ensures we are following the principles and practices of fair trade, giving our artisans the pay, dignity, and appreciation they deserve.
I firmly believe that Fair Trade isn’t some trendy movement. It’s the way of the future. One Little World might be a small business, but we are driven to make a big impact. Join us on our mission to make fair trade mainstream, one intentional purchase at a time.
[Meet The Team] link to page w/Jodie + Sarah