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Purchasing Sustainable, Local Handicrafts
I love to travel. I think travel is so enriching, exciting and inspiring. Among all of the great opportunities travel presents, I have to admit that one of my favorite parts of traveling is buying handicrafts. I find it nearly impossible to turn down an opportunity to buy a work of art directly from the artisan who made it. I have countless beautiful baskets made from woven palm leaves, bright scarves woven on traditional looms, necklaces carved from coconut, bracelets strung with seeds of rainforest plants, an so, so many little trinkets carved from seeds, woven from grasses, dyed with natural plant dyes, and on, and on. I love them all. The reason I love them is that each item reminds me of the moment I bought them and of the artisan who made them. They are more than just objects – they are symbols with a story. I try to jot down in my journal the name of the artisan and if possible take a photograph of the artisan with his or her craft. To me this makes the object I am buying so much more valuable! When I wear a bracelet, use a basket or admire the 6 foot long blowgun hanging in my house, I think about the person who made it. How much effort went into making it, where it was made, what it is made of and what the person who made it is doing now…
In addition to being a great experience for the buyer, handicraft production is a vital way for people in communities near tourism businesses to make an income directly from tourists. By purchasing directly from an artisan, you are not only providing important income, you are showing that you value the skill and creativity of the artist. I work hard to be a responsible consumer and let my purchases show what I value. This is typically traditional crafts or crafts made with sustainably harvested resources that showcase the creativity of the artist.
I am so fortunate that I have had the opportunity to travel to the far corners of the globe and I have met so many wonderful artisans in each place. The downside is that my collection of treasures is growing a little out of control!
