Blog

1. Will I have to pay to get in?

No, this event is free and open to the public! You’ll only pay to shop (at which point, your money will go directly to individuals and organizations working hard to support in-need communities around the globe.)

2. Is the event all weekend long?

This event is one day only, so be sure to stop by between 9am and 4pm on Saturday, November 10.

3. Will there be food?
We know how difficult it can be to shop hungry, but don’t worry – food and beverages will be available for a small fee (the proceeds from which will go to support the folks organizing the food: The First Congregational Church’s youth group, which is raising money for a trip to Heifer International).

4. What can I expect to find?

You can look forward to seeing clothing, jewelry, art, coffee, home décor, Christmas decorations, and more from around the world.

5. What sets the Eau Claire Global Market apart from other events like this?

In addition to shopping opportunities that support people in need around the world, event attendees will be able to talk to informed vendors and learn about some of the wonderful projects taking place across the globe through these organizations’ efforts. You truly will be able to shop locally and help globally.

The 2018 Eau Claire Global Market will occur from 9am-4pm on Saturday, November 10 (1 week away!) at First Congregational UCC, 310 Broadway Street, Eau Claire, WI 54703. We look forward to seeing you there!

There is already one person bemoaning the fact that she’s missing the 2018 Eau Claire Global Market. In addition to hand-woven baskets, saari blankets and one-of-a-kind jewelry, the Eau Claire Global Market can also boast of having for sale, in this nameless patron’s words, “the warmest mittens you’ll ever own.” She isn’t able to attend this year’s event to buy a second pair, and for that, we’re sorry. But for her sake, we’re warning you: Save the date for Saturday, November 10, because you won’t want to miss your chance to shop knit products from Divas Fair Trade (plus 21 other vendors).

Divas Fair Trade items are hand-crafted year-round by hundreds of indigenous women residing in the highlands of both Peru and Bolivia.  This Minnesota-based company abides strictly by Fair Trade principals, paying a fair wage to the hundreds of rural knitters who hand-craft their products. They are committed to social change by providing conscious consumers with an ethically sourced product.

From bags and yoga accessories to winter knitwear, hundreds of Aymara and Quechua women in the highlands of Bolivia and Peru are busy knitting the items that Divas Fair Trade will sell at events like the 2018 Eau Claire Global Market. Don’t miss your chance to support hard-working indigenous women on Saturday, November 10.

Learn more about the 2018 Eau Claire Global Market, including other vendors you can look forward to seeing, by visiting their website: https://eauclaireglobalmarket.blog/

For the third year in a row, Eau Claire will be the site of a unique shopping experience: The 2018 Eau Claire Global Market! This one-day event will feature a host of vendors selling Fair Trade products and food items from around the world.

Mark your calendar for Saturday, November 10 and don’t miss your chance to:

1. Shop handmade products and food items from more than 40 around the globe. Jewelry and accessories from Kenya, scarves and blankets from India and Nepal, greeting cards and bags from South Africa and artwork from Haiti are just a few of the products and countries that will be represented at this year’s market.

2. Discover the people behind more than 20 organizations working to affect positive change. House of Talents seeks to alleviate poverty by connecting talented artisans in developing countries to consumer markets worldwide. The Sari Bazaar’s products support the empowerment of Indian women, often helping them out of the sex trade and giving them training and skills to become independent and self-sufficient. Haiti Allies works hand-in-hand with the Cite Soleil Community School, located in one of the poorest, most violent places in the world. The 2018 Eau Claire Global Market is your chance to meet these unique vendors, hear their stories and learn why they’re so passionate about what they do.

3. Support sustainable livelihoods and community development across the globe. Thanks to the hard work of each Eau Claire Global Market vendor, your purchases will affect positive change around the world, from helping alleviate poverty and support women at risk to fighting human trafficking and providing scholarships for families in need.

To learn more about the Eau Claire Global Market or to register as a vendor, visit our website: https://eauclaireglobalmarket.blog/.

We’re celebrating the return of Kairos Pastoral Ministries – and through them, beautiful pine needle baskets and other products woven made by Mayan women – to this year’s Eau Claire Global Market!

When her son and his wife adopted two infants from the Guatemala Highlands in 2003, Minnesota resident Carrie Kemp thought the visit would help her family learn about the infants’ heritage and understand their roots. Over the last 13 years, Kemp and her husband have returned to visit the Maya 12 times, purchasing textile products and pine needle baskets made by Mayan women and sold through Mayan Hands to benefit non-profit organizations that help Mayan women and their families improve their lives.

“Not only are these products beautiful, but the artisans’ lives are directly affected by the purchases,” said Kemp. “Over the last 12 years, we have seen families, even communities, benefit from the sale of these unique items – healthcare, education, even potable water. It’s been an honor to work with these women (and some men) who want desperately to improve living conditions for their families and their communities.”

Kairos Ministries’ products are all either hand- or foot-woven, and include table coverings, woolen ponchos, and their popular pine needle baskets. Each item embodies the culture and history that, as Kemp and her husband have seen first-hand, Mayan women pride themselves on transmitting through woven design, as they’ve done for over five centuries. The fair-trade products offered by Kairos Ministries and Mayan Hands enables these women to bring their families out of extreme poverty while keeping their culture alive.

“The Maya have little opportunities to market their creations in their own communities or in the few cities throughout Guatemala,” said Kemp. “Their lives are in remote, almost inaccessible villages… no electricity means no radio, no TV, etc. Limited access to education means few of them learn to read. Thanks to Mayan Hands, however, we are seeing kids graduate from high school and college!”

We’re excited to announce that hand-batiked textiles, recycled glass beads, Shea butter cream and soap, and recycled plastic accessories by Global Mamas will be available at the 2018 Eau Claire Global Market.

Global Mamas is a unique company that creates and sells handmade products on behalf of African women and their families. Founded in 2003 and based in Minneapolis, MN, the company enables 350 producers from 7 different African communities to create handcrafted products using traditional techniques like batiking, bead-making and Shea butter production to support themselves, their families and their communities.

What’s more, fair trade practices are in place to ensure that Global Mama artisans are paid steady, living wages. Global Mamas even offers its artisans hands-on training to refine their skills and produce better products, manage their businesses and incomes, and improve their health and the health of their children.

You can learn more about Global Mamas by visiting their website: http://www.globalmamas.org/

We’re excited to announce that jewelry, clothing and accessories by Fair Anita will be available at the 2018 Eau Claire Global Market!

Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Fair Anita sells fair trade products that are made by over 8,000 marginalized women in 9 countries. This unique company started in 2009, when founder Joy McBrien endeavored to learn about violence against women in Peru, which has one of the highest rates of reported domestic violence in the world. Upon learning that jobs are one of the most important ways for women experiencing domestic violence to improve their situations, McBrien founded Fair Anita.

“Our artisans are incredibly strong, talented women who have amazing stories,” said Anna Bottila of Fair Anita. “Some of them have overcome prostitution. Others live with HIV/AIDS, Polio, or fistula. We work with a group of women who earned their first paychecks working with us. What’s exciting is that as Fair Anita grows, our partnerships grow as well.”

Fair Anita pays its artisans at least three times their country’s minimum wage, ensuring that long-term employment and business development opportunities are available for their partners. Fair Anita also strives to promote skill development, providing networking opportunities and using part of its profits to support other causes that further the company’s mission.

2018 Eau Claire Global Market attendees can look forward to seeing a plethora of new products from Fair Anita, including clothing, scarves, home décor and jewelry.

“Our founder spent three weeks this spring in India, Vietnam and Cambodia working with artisans on new designs, and the two of us spent two weeks in Ethiopia in June,” said Bottila. “We typically draw out designs and email them to our artisans, so to be able to work hands-on with them was really helpful. We can’t wait to share the new designs with our customers.”

You can learn more about Fair Anita by visiting their website: http://fairanita.com/