We are a young couple from the Midwest who have a laid-back and eclectic style. Our first home is an apartment in Bloomington, Indiana (Home of the Hoosiers!) and we’ve worked hard to make hand-me-down furniture and thrift store kick-knacks look cohesive. I am a self-proclaimed “lazy girl crafter” meaning I love homemade, unique decorations but don’t have the patience for long projects. With Fair Trade items you get quality craftsmanship without having to do it yourself – perfect! After learning about and becoming an advocate for Fair Trade in college, Russell and I were excited to find a wedding registry to promote the cause.

Without further ado, here are a few of Kathleen & Russell’s favorite fair trade products!

1. Turquoise Paisley Table Runner
This beautiful table runner makes our $10 garage sale table look much greater than it’s worth. There are beautiful bits of red and yellow in the design which inspired the color scheme for our living space.

2. Turquoise Blue Vetiver Placemats
These placemats tie in well with the Paisley Table Runner. Best of all, you can throw
them in the washing machine with no damage done!

3. Green Ginkgo Pot Holder
My great-grandma’s favorite tree was the Ginkgo. She would display the dried leaves on the wall of her apartment, among the other oddities that she collected. This pot holder is sentimental, cheery, and bright.

4. Blown Glass Pitcher
In my opinion, this pitcher is one of the most beautiful items on the site. I can’t wait for winter to be over so we can sit on our porch and drink lemonade from it!

5. Handblown Drinking Glasses
These glasses, like the pitcher, are beautiful yet sturdy. We use them daily, but we’re also sure to put them out when guests are over!

Thanks again Kathleen, for the fabulous list of products and your awesome product descriptions! If you are interested in having your favorite fair trade products featured, email me and I will give you more details!

wedding photography: Maggie Russo // engagement photography: Abbey Grim Photography

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Allpa is named for a Quechua Indian word that means “EARTH.” Allpa is a Peruvian craft trading company providing marketing assistance to artisan groups and family workshops throughout Peru. Allpa provides technical help, product development advice, skills training, tools and appropriate equipment to Peruvian artisans. Artisans can also access short-term and mid-term loans to improve infrastructure and their workshops.

Community Impact
The idea of Allpa was created in 1982 by a group of economists, anthropologists, and sociologists from the Universidad Catolica of Lima as a way to improve living standards of handicraft producers. Allpa began active work as an alternative trading organization in 1986. Today, Allpa’s marketing assistance reaches approximately 2,000 families from 100 artisan groups and family workshops throughout Cusco, Ayacucho, Chulucanas, Cajamarca and Huancavelica as well as Shipibo people living in the Amazon rainforest area of Pucalepa, Peru.

Allpa has provided a great source of hope to these families, for most, craft production is their sole source of income. By working with Allpa, artisans have access to the tools needed for product development, and with better equipment can produce larger orders for export. The cooperative organizes orders for over 100 artisan groups, facilitates fulfillment and artisan payment, and designates a portion of the profits to help provide artisans with short-term loans and invest community development projects that benefit all member villages.

Seven Hopes United purchases beautiful Alpaca Throws from Allpa, that have become a customer favorite, and a popular Fair Trade Gift Registry item for couples getting married.

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