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| - In the interest of avoiding "review inflation," I would like to think of a reason to give 4 stars instead of 5 whenever possible. But sometimes places are just the best they can be. Ten Thousand Villages is one of those places.
When you think of a nonprofit store, you might think of a dingy place with low overhead and cheaply made gifts. You feel like you're making a donation rather than purchasing something of quality. Well, Ten Thousand Village does not fit this description at all. The store is beautiful and it seems to fit right in amongst higher-end gift shops selling Swarovski nearby. The handmade crafts they sell are impressive quality. Gorgeous artisan work. Some items may seem more expensive than you'd find at, say, Pier 1, but you've got to think about what you're getting: a handcrafted item for which the artisan gets paid a living wage. You won't find any substitute for carefully and skillfully created work.
The employees in the store are actually volunteers, which means more proceeds go directly to the producers who are mostly women living in underdeveloped countries.
There's also a whole range of items, so you can shop within your price range and find a great gift. I came here for a Secret Santa gift and my spending limit was $20. I bought the Unity Candleholder for $20 exactly and it was perfect. I'm not talking some little cup--this was heavy, substantial Kisii stone from Kenya, carved into two gracefully interconnected figures. A simply beautiful item.
So many great treasures to find here, either as a gift or to treat yourself. Oh, and one more thing! They also have a gift registry! Great for wedding gifts.
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