Shop Heart of Haiti at Macy's for the Holidays

Today is Cyber Monday and lots of folks are shopping online for great deals. I've written before about Heart of Haiti, the collection of artisan-made goods available exclusively at Macy's. The working fair trade partnership between Haitian artists and a leading American department store is especially compelling at this time of year, with holiday gift shopping looming large and everyone watching Miracle on 34th Street for the umpteenth time. 

My feelings about shopping are complicated. I love to buy pretty things, true, but I'd also like my purchasing power to mean something. If I can buy hostess gifts that also help build economic security for artists, that's a no-brainer. Macy's Heart of Haiti and Rwanda Path to Peace Collections do just that. There's something for almost everyone on your list, from jewelry to baskets, quilts, ceramics and metal home decor.

Macy’s Heart of Haiti upholds the belief that “trade not aid” is a powerful way to create sustainable work and much needed financial opportunities. The initiative allows opportunities for the artists to work with US designers, helping strengthen international artisan relationships and making their products viable in the US market. The Heart of Haiti campaign pays in excess of fair wage to the talented artisans who create the product, giving them the dignity of work and economic self-determination.

To date the program has employed 780 artisans, which has improved the lives of over 6,200 individuals. The Heart of Haiti initiative provides artists with an opportunity to make a living, feed their families and pay their children’s school fees.

This bracelet is hand-carved from cow horn. Talk about upcycling!

We've been inundated with news of how Hurricane Sandy has affected US communities but it's important to think about how it has impacted Haiti's fragile recovery process, too. While you're making your holiday gift lists, please consider purchasing goods from a fair trade vendor, like Heart of Haiti! Your dollars do make a difference.

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and the WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that I received the bracelet pictured above to facilitate this review, which is part of a Fair Winds Trading/Heart of Haiti awareness campaign by Everywhere. Rest assured, however, that all opinions are– as usual– entirely my own.