[gallery link="file" columns="2" orderby="rand"] At Global Goods Partners we’re always looking for ways to make your experience better on our website www.globalgoodspartners.org. We just launched some new features on our site to make it easier to shop, navigate and share. Do you ever find it hard to figure out what size a product actually is or what it will look line on? Well, we’re making it easier for you by including multiple images for each product, including images of models wearing our fair trade jewelry, bags, and accessories. Thanks to the lovely Eva Vai for posing for Global Goods Partners! We’re also now working with MyRegistry.com, so if you’re getting married or are registering for gifts, don’t forget to add Global Goods Partners’ products to your registry. Our home décor selection makes a nice addition to any registry. Lastly, we’ve made it easier to share your favorite products with your friends and family through our social media links on each product page. Take a look at our website to see for yourself!

Our first ever Global Goods Partners Sample Sale took place last night in our NYC office!  Although it was raining, we had a great turn out and we are so glad that everyone came to shop for a great cause. The idea of having a Sample Sale was exciting for us, because we usually only sell our goods online.  Our office was colorfully decorated with jewelry, bags, baskets, and scarves. It seemed like everyone found something eye-catching and unique to take home. Along with the beautiful, handcrafted Fair Trade items for purchase, there was a delicious buffet graciously donated by Mooncake, Loving Hut, Dunkin Donuts, and D’ Aiuto Pastry Corp.  We hope nobody went home hungry and indulged in the teriyaki salmon, spring rolls, vegan dumplings, and doughnuts! The event was such a success, that we hope to hold another one, so definitely stay tuned in to the exciting things going on at Global Goods Partners.  Thanks again to all of our supporters who attended the Sample Sale and to Mooncake, Loving Hut, Dunkin Donuts, and D’ Aiuto Pastry Corp. for their generous donations!

Last night we held our ‘Shop for Change’ event at the NYC Charles Nolan store.  The event was a huge success thanks to all of our amazing friends and supporters who came out. Of course the event could not have happened without the fabulous Charles Nolan team, including, Carola Nolan and Sloane Leondis, who helped us make the event a reality.  It’s amazing to see how Charles’ sister Carola has continued to champion the important social causes that Charles dedicated himself to.  At Global Goods Partners we strongly believe in the principles of selling Fair Trade and encouraging women-led development so it’s always exciting for us when we see that influential designers who are committed to educating their consumers about these issues. We were lucky to have our amazing co-founders, Catherine Shimony and Joan Shifrin at the event along with executive director Jennifer Gootman and our dedicated team of interns.  Our original international music playlist and the delicious international cocktails set the tone for a stylish and relaxed evening. We showcased the work of some of our amazing partners from different parts of the world at the event.  The products included beautiful Two Tone Wire Wrapped Earrings from Streetwires in South Africa, Spring String Bracelets from Kiej de los Bosques in Guatemala, Tie Dyed Scarves, Summer Knotted Necklaces, Large Silk Wallets from Artisans Association of Cambodia, Multi-Colored Cotton Scarves and Cotton Totes from Aj Quen in Guatemala, Beaded Necklaces and Seed Bead Earrings from the Maasai Women’s Development Organization in Tanzania, Painted Carry-All Pouches from Chocofibres in Colombia, and Painted Bangles from India made by Community Friendly Movement.  It was a great opportunity for our supporters to see the amazing handmade quality of the items from our producers.  We hope everyone had a great time mingling and shopping and we hope to see you at future Global Goods Partners events!

Thank you to everyone who helped make our collaborative event last Thursday at Weaving Hand in Brooklyn such a success!  We are so grateful to the lovely Cynthia at Weaving Hand for making this event a reality.  After a little schmoozing, we screened a short video from our Bolivian partner Asociación de Artesanos Andinos.  We were so lucky to have Patricio and Carmen from Asociación de Artesanos Andinos at the event, because they spoke to us about the process of weaving from start to finish.  There were also a ton of great questions after Patricio and Carmen spoke. Getting the chance to learn about the practice of weaving, culturally and from a design perspective, was great background before we saw the backstrap loom demonstration by weavers from Desgua, a group that bridges community networks in Guatemala and the United States through social change projects. While we can all appreciate the beauty of a finished woven product that we might see in a store, seeing the dexterity of the weavers while they worked on the looms is a great reminder of how much work goes into handwoven products. We hope that everyone who came had a great time and went home with a wealth of knowledge about weaving!

                  Women in rural Swaziland face enormous challenges.  Though the country is considered one of Africa’s most prosperous, economic opportunity is concentrated in urban areas. Swazi men commonly leave the country to seek work in South Africa, leaving their wives behind to care for their large families. The country has the highest HIV/AIDS rate in the world—the CIA World Factbook estimated that as of 2009, 25.9% of the population is living with HIV or AIDS.   Gone Rural is our Swazi partner dedicated to helping women by providing them with education, healthcare resources, and skills so that they don’t remain impoverished. The organization is now working with over 700 women in 13 communities in Swaziland and making a huge difference in these women’s lives.  The products on our website will show you the incredible basket weaving techniques these women are able to sustain their families with through the help of Gone Rural.  As part of our grant-making program, we will be helping to provide the women of Tibane Community with potable water, sanitation facilities, and training for proper hygiene practices through Gone Rural’s WASH Lavumisa Project. Don’t forget to take a look at the vibrantly woven Gone Rural products on our website!