Beckman's Handmade Show

This summer's Beckman's Handmade Show at the Chicago Merchandise Mart will be partnering with the Fair Trade Federation, July 24-27, to add heightened emphasis to products from Fair Trade Organizations. Twenty FTF members will be exhibiting their products in a special FTF section.

On Saturday,  July 24, 2010, from 8:00 – 9:00am on the 8th Floor, Room 8A, Carmen Iezzi, FTF's Executive Director, will present an introduction to Fair Trade, the Federation, and the ease of sourcing Fair Trade. Come pick up the basics, have your questions answered, and/or delve deeper into the world of Fair Trade! REGISTRATION REQUIRED:  Visit the Beckman's website and click on this seminar to register.




Members participating to date:

The Leakey Collection - Booth #8-7050
Using natural elements such as fallen wood, grass, and porcelain, The Leakey Collection offers unique products while protecting the environment and providing economic opportunity to the Maasai communities in Kenya.

Dunitz & Company - Booth #8-8088
Some of the finest quality and fashion-forward glass seed bead jewelry available. Handmade in the highlands of Guatemala, Dunitz designs range from sophisticated to sassy and Victorian to ethnic. Perfect for all age groups.

WorldFinds - Booth #8-8094
Handmade women's accessories, jewelry, and gift items all fairly traded with an emphasis on style. Beaded jewelry, scarves, sterling silver, sari purses, silk cosmetic bags, and eclectic gift items from India, Nepal, and Indonesia.

Unique Batik - Booth #8-8097
Adventure-ready clothes, bags, jewelry, and fabric by the yard from artisans in Ghana and Guatemala.

Inter-American Trading Inc - Booth #8-8098
Twenty five years experience as direct buyers importing and wholesaling handicrafts, musical instruments, jewelry, cotton clothing and alpaca products from Peru and Bolivia.

Global Goods Partners - Booth #8-8099
Supporting women-led development initiatives for marginalized communities in Asia, Africa, and the Americas to provide handmade housewares, bags, accessories, and crafts.

Sustainable Threads - Booth #8-8100
Promotes handcrafted lifestyle products in partnership with cooperatives in India. Collection includes bags, scarves, jewelry, pillow covers, linens, napkins, tree-free stationary, storage bags, and boxes.

Lucuma Designs - Booth #8-8101
Contemporary Peruvian folk art & crafts for a brighter world! Hand carved gourds, ornaments, birdhouses, art, greeting cards, jewelry, organic puppets, tapestries, and more. 

Handmade Expressions - Booth #8-8102
Bringing you a world of unique handcrafted bags, jewelry, accessories, handmade paper and tree free journals. Ornamented with traditional artwork, products come from the soul of India.

Asha Imports - Booth #8-8105
Blankets, scarves, and bags made from reused sari material made by Indian artisans.Several other lines of jute bags and ecoplastic bags from India, as well.

Minga Imports - Booth #8-8106
Minga develops and distributes clothing for all seasons and ages, accessories, baskets, art, instruments, pottery, rugs, toys, and other items from Ecuador, Peru, Colombia and Brazil.

Good Paper - Booth #8-8107
Beautiful handmade greeting cards from Rwanda for all occasions, as well as handmade stationery products from India.

Lucia's Imports - Booth #8-9093
Partnering with Guatemalan families, artisans groups, and cooperatives to produce and develop quality jewelry, purses, wallets, scarves, and more. Many accessories items are uniquely designed from recycled fabrics from the Mayan women's traditional dress.

Sevya - Booth #8-9095
Dedicated to preserving the indigenous art forms of India by supporting the artisan communities who uphold them, products include linens, scarves, clothing, and accessories.

dzi, Tibet Collection - Booth #8-9097
An innovative collection of decorative gifts, chimes, fine jewelry and other meditative products, inspired and handmade by Tibetan and Himalayan artisans in India and Nepal

Fair Trade Federation - Booth #8-9098
Come meet FTF's Executive Director, learn about our work, see how easy it is to source Fair Trade, and have your questions answered. Don't forget to register for our introduction to Fair Trade on July 24 on the Beckman's website, as well!

World-Shoppe - Booth #8-9100
Wide range of handmade copper and brass necklaces, cuffs, bracelets and earrings with semi-precious gemstones from South Africa. Also a new line of recycled billboard handbags perfect for men, women and children.

Venture Imports - Booth #8-9101
Supplies beautiful and unique gifts from around the world. Specializes in Shona sculpture handcarved in stone from Zimbabwe, carvings from Mexico, and molas from Panama.

Bridge for Africa  - Booth #8-9102
Providing consistent work and a living wage to the skilled artisan partners who create telephone wire baskets, copper wire jewelry, beaded collectibles, Christmas ornaments, and other quality craft items.

Mata Traders - Booth #8-9103
A Chicago-based clothing label dedicated to providing fashionable, ethically made clothing and accessories for a growing network of socially conscious consumers. Our fabrics are hand block printed and dyed with vegetable dyes; and, all of our products are original designs, handmade in India by women's co-operatives.

Partners for Just Trade - Booth #8-9104
A non-profit organization that works closely with over 20 artisan groups from Peru. PJT sells both wholesale and retail and develops educational materials on Fair Trade.

Eternal Threads - Booth #8-9105
Dedicated to improving the lives of women in poverty, Eternal Threads offers handcrafted tote bags and other accessories.

Avatar Imports - Booth #8-9106
Designing in conjunction with talented Nepali artisans, Avatar is dedicated to supplying superior clothing to all of our customers. Change your clothes, Change the world.

Kazuri America - Booth #8-9107
Ceramic jewelry and beads from Kenya.