The Little Market: The Beauty Behind Empowerment

Nobel Prize recipient, National Humanities honoree, and notable economist, philosopher, and relentless advocate for social justice, Amartya Sen once said, “Women are increasingly seen, by men as well as women, as active agents of change: the dynamic promoters of social transformations that can alter the lives of both women and men.” Many philosophers, economists, and politicians have noted that the advancement of women’s rights is essential for societies and communities to thrive and flourish. The Little Market is one company that is simultaneously cherishing cultural practices and protecting artistic intricacies while continuing this advancement of female empowerment through its work with female artisans around the world.The Little Market seeks “to build sustainable partnerships with artisans from around the world, by connection them with customers through an online marketplace.” Through enabling its customers to have a social impact, The Little Market builds and maintains relationships between its customers and female artisans around the world. Their ambition to empower women is evident in “building this mutually beneficial relationship [in which] customers would have the opportunity to purchase unique, one-of-a-kind pieces from around the world, and artisans would earn fair wages and generate a means to support their families.” In employing women around the world, beautifully crafted “handmade goods showcase the artisans’ traditional skills and their dedication to preserving their artisanal techniques. [The Little Market] source[s] all of the artisans’ products ethically and practice[s] fair trade principles.” Through various home décor items, accessories, kitchenware, apparel, and gift items, The Little Market showcases and produces the work of over 6,000 of its women artisans in partnership with twenty-six of its artisan partners from sixteen countries around the world, including Peru, Nepal, India, Bolivia, Guatemala, and the United States. Throughout all of their artisan partnerships, The Little Market targets gender equality and human rights issues. For instance, through its work with women artisans in Nepal, The Little Market aims to alleviate the gender disparity between women and men in areas such as “health care, nutrition, education and preparation in decision-making. Illiteracy is more prevalent among women than men, and many rural women live in extreme poverty, without any means of improving conditions for themselves and their families.” By employing women artisans in India, The Little Market seeks to alleviate, or wholly dismantle, the country’s leading human rights abuses. Although India boasts of the world’s largest democracy and fourth largest economy, “longstanding abusive practices, corruption, and [a] lack of accountability for perpetrators [sustain the country’s] human rights violations. Many women, children, Dalits (so-called untouchables), tribal communities, religious minorities, people with disabilities, and sexual and gender minorities remain marginalized and continue to [be discriminated against] because of government failure to train public officials in stopping discriminatory behavior.”Through its collaboration with local organizations, The Little Market is launching a global initiative to combat human rights violations around the world. Through its courageous efforts, its empowerment through employment, and its implementation of hope and restoration around the world, The Little Market is tangibly changing the way that governments, societies, and communities are treating its people and, equally, the way in which those people are demanding to be treated. In India, The Little Market partners with Matr Boomie, which is “a sourcing partner for socially and environmentally responsible products. They work with underprivileged and disadvantaged artisans in India and strive to improve their economic and social standing by creating self-sustainable employment following fair trade practices.” In Guatemala, The Little Market partners with Wakami which “serves as a bridge, connecting artisans in impoverished, remote areas with larger marketplaces … Wakami seeks to provide a support network and makes available organic gardens, solar energy supplies, and water filters, as well as business training programs for their artisan partners.” In Bolivia, The Little Market partners with Artesania Sorata, which “provides work for families with low income … [generating] an income that enables the artisans to provide a higher standard of living for [themselves] and [for] their families. Artesania Sorata supports adult literacy and health programs as well as creativity workshops in state children’s homes and a children’s hearing program.”When you purchase a product from The Little Market, you are creating a ripple effect of hope and empowerment that stretches to the farthest ends of the earth. Through buying a candle, a weekend travel-bag, an accessory, or an authentically embroidered article of clothing, you are enabling women to rise above circumstantial hardships and injustices, imbedded in social, governmental, institutional, or cultural practices. Your purchase, then, becomes more than a Christmas gift to a loved one, but it becomes a symbol of empowerment and an emblem for the solidarity found in human kindness, compassion, empathy, and care. Through your purchase, you are supporting the hopes and encouraging the dreams of women artisans around the world, so that they will be empowered to properly care for themselves and their families.This Christmas season, believe in your knowledge, power, and ability in order to initiate a ripple effect of positive and influential change in your own circles of friends, family, and loved ones. Be the voice in your work places, on your college campuses, around your dinner tables, and in your friend groups that speaks to the power within each other to unite in our humanity to bridge hope, healing, and empowerment throughout the world. This season, know that your gift can make a difference, and watch it send ripples of change and inspiration in communities throughout the world.Here are some of my favorites from their incredibly vast product line:Soy Blend Candle – Peony, my favorite scent, here! Also comes in amazing holiday scents, here!Capri Overnight Bag – The cutest weekend, travel bag, here!Small Ikat Satchel – In cream, here!Sayulita Luggage Tag – The cutes stocking-stuffer, here!Stone + Crystal Wrap Bracelet – Get the “Sun” color, here!Block Printed Flower Apron – For that Betty Crocker in your life! Get this adorable apron, here!Sugar + Spice Gift Box – Includes a cinnamon candle, an olive wood sugar bowl, and a spiced cookie milk chocolate bar, here!Because I think these gift sets are a great deal, you can find an assortment of these beautifully designed gift sets, here!