Shop to Bring Joy
Joy Instead of Mourning
Feeling discouraged at all the darkness in the world? Below we highlight our favorite brands which are offering people who have come out of the darkness of poverty, exploitation, persecution or neglect the opportunity to discover real joy and a new life. Follow any of these brands to hear their inspiring stories and bring a bright spot to your inbox or social media feed. Buying their products will bring joy to your home, not only because of the handcrafted beauty, but also because the story behind how they were made will bring a smile to your face every time you look at them!
(NOTES: Prices and availability may change without notice. If you buy through some of these links, a small amount will come back to help support our mission.)
Designed for Joy
Read the stories of women in North Carolina who have come out of trafficking, homelessness, prison or addiction to discover hope. Designed for Joy is aptly named because their beautifully designed accessories bring joy to both the women who buy them and the women who make them!
Starfish Project
"Restores hope to women escaping human trafficking and exploitation in Asia." Buy their incredible jewelry and help bring hope and a new life to these women! (I love my Starfish Project bracelet. And I love how each piece of jewelry comes with the name of the woman who made it so you can look up their story.)
Rethreaded
Their mission is "to renew hope, reignite dreams and release potential for survivors of human trafficking." Read some of their stories of transformation here. And browse their meaningful collection of jewelry, accessories, pet products, food, coffee and gifts.
Amani Ya Juu
Watch this video about a visit to the Amani Kenya sewing center and your smile will match the joy exuded by the women who work there! Then shop their amazing collection of handcrafted home decor, accessories, toys and baby goods to bring joy to your home, like they have to mine.
Freedom's Promise
"A faith-based, nonprofit organization that partners with indigenous Cambodian groups to prevent human trafficking and child exploitation by transforming communities." From building playgrounds for kids to creating fair trade jobs, they are bringing joy. I love their upcycled fair trade bags!
Shop With a Mission
I am a frequent customer of this shop and their products have brought lots of joy to my household an everyone I've given them to. But I love browsing their site and reading the stories of transforming joy behind every product they sell!
Rosie's Boutique
“Rosie's greeting cards exists to create jobs for mamas in Haiti." Their hand-embroidered greeting card sets are beautiful and fun to give, and will bring joy both to the recipient and the maker of the card!
Sak Saum
"Dedicated to the prevention, rescue, restoration, transformation, and rehabilitation of vulnerable and exploited women, men and children." They sell beautifully-made fashion and accessories (Read their story of coming from tears of sorrow to tears of joy.)
Rafiki Foundation
"Every purchase goes to support widows in Africa." Shop their beautiful collection of products handcrafted by widows and read the stories of the amazing widows who create them and how they have found joy after the pain of their past.
Above Rubies
"A livelihood project created to help widows and single mothers" in the Philippines. "Every piece carrying hope and every purchase an expression of love." Their fun amigurumi crocheted toys will bring a smile to your face.
Rahab's Rope
"Giving hope and opportunity to women and children at risk or forced into the commercial sex trade." Their fair trade toys, apparel, home goods, gifts and jewelry are beautifully made. Check out their videos to learn more and follow them for fun sales and inspiring stories of transformed lives!
Eternal Threads
“'Weaving hope and justice' to improve the lives of women and children who are at risk from extreme poverty and trafficking." Every product I buy from them is as beautiful as the story it tells (my favorite story is the story behind the baskets pictured above.)
The Lemonade Boutique
Sells beautiful products made by women who "take life’s lemons and make lemonade." They offer women's fashion that gives back joy to the women who make it and will bring joy to you in wearing it (as well as bring lots of compliments, like I frequently get on my purse above!)
Zambeezi
Their fair trade, organic soaps and lip balm are helping bring joy both to beekeepers in Zambia and to the customers who use their products (which smell heavenly!) Check out their #PeopleThriving blog to bring some brightness to your day (and while you are there, you can read our feature on this blog!)
Beza Threads
"When you purchase from Beza Threads, you don't just give joy to a loved one--you empower & give freedom, hope and life to a former slave in Ethiopia."
Bring joy by purchasing their beautiful scarves, leather bags, backpacks and wallets.
Eden
“Together with women rescued from human trafficking, they create jewelry that carries their stories.” Those stories of past pain turned to joy shine as beautifully as the jewelry they sell!
Mercy House
Mercy House Global has been bringing joy for the past 10 years, from rescuing pregnant teen moms in the slums to creating dignified jobs for women in poverty, to building relationships with newly arrived refugees, the stories will cause you to rejoice with every purchase you make from their fair trade gift shop.
PeaceCYCLE
"Changing lives through empowerment, environmental education and employment." They take the plastic bags which otherwise litter the streets of Haiti and upcycle them into beautiful creations. Follow them and watch their fun videos to see the joy they take in their work!
Elegantees
Provides hope "to survivors of sex trafficking in Nepal" who sew their truly elegant tops and dresses for women and girls as well as men's tees. (Me and my girls love our matching Elegantees tops!) Read this blog for a firsthand account of how they are bringing joy through their sewing center in Nepal.
Women of Hope
Meet the women behind this brand and their stories of overcoming past struggles to find hope, then shop their gorgeous jewelry, ornaments and dog leashes, so you too can share in their joy.
WorldCrafts
The stories of the artisan groups from around the world who sell through WorldCrafts will warm your heart. Shop their amazing collection of fair trade products, every one of which has a beautiful story behind it.
Vi Bella Jewelry
Vi Bella means “beautiful life.” Every purchase of their beautiful jewelry and accessories brings life transforming joy to the artisans who make them (not to mention the joy you will get from wearing them!) Read one of those stories here.
Hands Producing Hope
Their mission is "to bring opportunity and hope to families in isolated communities around the world." Shop their beautiful handcrafted gifts and home decor to join them in bringing hope and joy.
Azizi Life
"Azizi Life partners with rural Rwandans to bring fair trade beauty to your life and theirs." Shop their beautiful handcrafted home decor to experience that beauty for yourself. Check out their blog for inspiring stories to bring some encouragement to your day.
HUGG Mission Market
Equipping young men who have aged out of orphanages in Haiti with "Jesus and jobs." Watch this video to see how they are bringing joy and changing lives in Haiti. And shop their lovely home decor and accessories to share in that joy.
Petite Palm
Purchase their beautiful handcrafted baby items to support dignified jobs in an area where unemployment is high. And read their story to see the joy on the faces of their team in Haiti who creates their products.
Vickery Trading Co.
Their gorgeous kids clothes are "handsewn with love by refugee women" and are bringing joy to the kids who wear them as well as the refugees who create them as they build a new life in the U.S.