The Silk Road Fair Trade Market is a gift shop of fair trade items from around the world. Choose from a large selection of global jewelry, purses, nativities and nativity sets, chocolate, home decor, elephant and giraffe figurines, allaying, coffee, tea, serving spoons, mugs, dishes and other kitchen items, scarves, skirts and tops, baskets, placemats, tablecloths, games, toys, measuring tapes, and recycled silk yarn. All of our items are fairly traded, or ethically traded. This means with every purchase, you can decrease poverty, improve education, fight modern day slavery, and protect the environment.
The Silk Road
October 2011 NEWSLETTER
The Fall weather is finally among us. It's time to start thinking about
Halloween costumes, turning leaves, trick or treating, and my favorite...
candy corn. So, since I absolutely love candy corn and treats, I have a
fun Halloween game for everyone that combines those two. In the shop
is a jar, and that jar is filled with candy corn. Each time you visit over the
next three weeks, enter your guess of how many pieces of candy corn are
in the jar. What's the treat? The winner will receive a $50 gift certificate
here at The Silk Road. If more than one person guesses correctly, the
winner will be chosen by a random name draw from those finalists. And
for those who know my overwhelming addiction to candy corn, fear not, the
lid will be taped, to prevent me from eating the contest.
The black cat has long been a symbol of Halloween, but alsoa source of much debate around the world. Some people believe they are good luck, but others believe they are badluck. In certain regions, households own black cats to bring prosperity, yet others believe they are the symbol of anarchy. These enameled copper earrings from Chile embrace the spirit of the Halloween cat, but in a beautiful blue tone removing any doubt of their luck. The artisans in Chile not only receive fair wages, but also product development assistance to help ensure that what they make will sell in an international setting. They are also advanced money to buy raw materials so they do not need to rely on moneylenders. That makes these some very lucky cats indeed.Trees are a popular theme in fair trade art. They
symbolize the seasons of life, as well as how our
earth is inter-connected. The tree receives nutrients
from the earth, but at the same time, provides food
for squirrels and shelter for birds. You get the idea.
So I was totally intrigued by the idea of a tree
pendant made out of a bomb casing from Cambodia.
Though the Khmer Rouge fell in 1979, guerilla
warfare continued for almost two decades, leaving
the country littered with the remnants of war. In the
past 10 years alone, HALO Cambodia has destroyed
245,700 landmines, 146,250 items of large calibre,
and 1.32 million bullets. So it only stands to reason, as Cambodia rebuilds with hope for the future, they would use a piece of the past to do so. One of the jewelers using bomb casings and bullets is named Ven Sovann. He was born in a refugee camp after the Khmer Rouge era. With the stigma attached to his background, he had no options for education. For most of his life, his only hope for income has been to travel throughout the Cambodian provinces searching for odd jobs as a carpenter. He joined Rajana 12 years ago, and has enjoyed a stable income and home ever since. His carpentry skills have broadened and he has also learned jewelry making, coconut shell carving, and silk painting.
What does a little elephant change purse have to do with Fall or Halloween? Absolutely nothing. I just love these little purses and wanted to share them with you. These just arrived three weeks ago and are rapidly becoming a best seller in the under 10 crowd. They're incredibly cute, but they also have an true elephant sized impact on the other side of the world. Handmade at the Isan Weaving Centre in Thailand, this cooperative focuses on giving options to young women at risk of becoming trapped in the sex trade. They are given a legitimate income and stability, which leads to economic independence and self respect. I'd say these tiny little elephants are carrying a ton of hope. If you're looking for something fun to do on the 15th, stop and see me at the Women's Expo. It's moved to a new location this year, so I'll be hanging out at the Shenango Valley Mall with dozens of other fun businesses. I hope to see you all there!
The Silk Road Market
115 N. Market, Suite 1
New Wilmington, PA 16142
724-946-8502
www.silkroadmkt.com
Open Tues-Sat 10:00 - 5:00, Thursday evenings to 6:00
Convenient parking behind the building.
"Extraordinary gifts, and the stories they have to tell."
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