Hamptons ... Here We Come!!

I just love the Grammy Song of the Year, "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele, and as it plays on my radio, I look around the World Village Fair Trade Market which is rolling in the deep with new products.  There are recycled rice bags in bright colors, scarves and sarongs, dresses, men's shirts, and children's wear, and lots of new summer jewelry.  So many new fair trade products arriving each week to, not only help you look stunning at the next club or party you visit in the Hamptons, but at the same time, really helping cooperatives (mostly women) all over the globe to support themselves and their families.  Here's a story about one of the women in our Fair Trade Movement businesses named Prema from India:

"Although Prema was widowed while pregnant, she was determined to support herself and daughter without becoming a burden on her aging parents.  Her uncle introduced her to Teddy Experts, a fair trade organization in southern India that employs over 300 low-income artisans.  While Prema trained as a tailor, her daughter was taken care of at the on-site childcare center ... a primary school for children of employees.  Teddy also provides their employees with many benefits such as medical care, paid maternity leave, and a pension plan.  Their proceeds fund the Teddy Trust, a local clinic that provides health care and AIDS education to villagers in the area."  Prema says, "I can't imagine where I would be without the support from Teddy.  It has provided me with stability and hope."

Although the official day of Summer is June 20th, the unofficial start to Summer in the Hamptons is Memorial Day Weekend. The traffic will begin their miles long processions to the best beach destinations in the northeast, with radios thumping, beach chairs packed and bikinis in tow.  Picture this:  You're on the road, it's hot, you need a change of scenery from all the bumpers stickers you've been reading ... you daydream that you could be some other place where your time could be better used.  Then it hits you.  "I know! I'll go take a little side-trip to the World Village Fair Trade Market in Hampton Bays to see what I can do to help end poverty around the world.  It won't take long to help others this way ... and I'll get a new piece jewelry for my upcoming event. It will only take a minute of my time and then I can resume my journey east."  

It doesn't take much to really make a change in the world.  Just taking a 15-minute diversion trip to the World Village Fair Trade Market can help others through purchasing a simple Graduation or Birthday gift, pound of organic coffee, card or possibly a new bag or necklace.  Some call it "guilt-free shopping" others call it "Fair Trade."  It's all good, right?