Photo by Porapak Apichodilok
When the holidays arrive or a loved one’s birthday is just around the corner, our thoughts race as we think of all the things we would love to give as gifts.
Although our first instinct is to jump in our cars and rush to the nearest mall, there is a better way to tackle gift-giving...and that is with gifts that give back!
Choosing to support local artisans by buying handmade gifts has many benefits. When you buy handmade gifts you not only support the people that make them, but you make a positive impact on the environment as well. Artisanal gifts are always unique and are crafted with so much love! You can’t go wrong.
Read on to find out more reasons why selecting handmade gifts is always better and how choosing them makes a positive impact on artisans and the environment.
Eco-friendly Practices
Photo by Artem Beliaikin
Handmade products, for example, jewelry and clothing, are never mass-produced. Each product is carefully made by artisans, using only the necessary materials to create their beautiful items.
Mass-produced products generally require machinery to make enough products to meet the demand. When products are made with machinery, there is often a lot more waste created and the machines require more resources, like fuel and water, to function.
When you buy gifts from local artisans, you can rest assured that it is in the best interest of the artisan to minimize waste for maximum profits on materials needed.
Locally made products are also responsible for fewer carbon emissions as they don’t require large trucks to move stock around as a big factory does.
All products in the ShopatMAP store are ethically sourced in small quantities with a low environmental footprint.
Quality over Quantity
Gifts made by a talented artisan’s hands are crafted with love and hard work. Handmade jewelry and products are finessed to perfection by the artisan and are a much better value for money.
The skill and time put into each item creates a product that is meant to last and often lasts much longer than machine-made jewelry or products.
There are many advantages of handmade products over machine-made products – quality is a big one. Manufacturers prefer to make their items in bulk and source the cheapest materials possible to make meeting the demand as profitable as possible.
For larger manufacturers, profit is more important than superior product quality. Thankfully, the opposite is true for artisans. Product quality builds a good relationship with customers and helps to establish an artisan’s reputation and business.
A handcrafted, artisan gift is a gift that lasts! At ShopatMAP we make sure that every product is ethically sourced and of high quality from skilled artisans worldwide.
Support Real People & Families
Photo by Nicholas Githiri
Every time you buy a handmade product from an artisan, you directly support the hands that made them. Most of the time artisans are fully reliant on selling their works to survive and support their families.
When you buy handmade gifts from artisans you can know and feel good about where your money is going.
All items in our ShopatMAP marketplace support artisans in a disadvantaged situation. When you view a product in our store you can see which artisan the item was made by in the product description.
One-of-a-Kind Products
A great reason to choose a handmade gift is to give a gift that is completely one-of-a-kind!
Each product made by an artisan is unique. Even if there are multiple pieces of the same designed product, each piece will have slight variations, quirks, and subtle differences in the material used to make it that much more special.
One-of-a-kind gifts are so much more meaningful to the receiver as there is only one of that specific item available in the world.
A Personal Story to Tell
Photo by Robin Thakur
An artisan-made gift is a gift with a deep story to tell. Each handcrafted item of jewelry or handwoven piece of fabric has a unique history behind its origin and the loving hands that created it.
A gift with a story is thoughtful and more special than a factory-designed, machine-made product. When you give a gift with a story, you honor the people that made it, cultivate the traditions and culture of the artisan, and bring more meaning to the gift that you give.
You can find the story behind many of our artisans in our featured Meet the Artisan stories found in our Mindfully @ MAP blog. Share these uniquely personal artisan stories as part of your gift from ShopatMAP.
Made with Love
Handmade gifts have an authentic feel that factory-made products just don’t have. Artisans are passionate about their crafts and love what they do. Every product an artisan creates is made with skill, focus, and devotion to their craft.
Artisans rely on their products to support their and their family’s livelihood. They strive to create unique products that make a lasting impression on the buyer.
Purchasing a handmade gift from an artisan not only helps to support their business and keep it thriving, but also provides an economic opportunity that encourages them to continue pursuing their business.
Gifts that Give Back Online
Photo by Daria Shevtsova
Gifts are all about showing someone that you care about them. The best gifts that show you care are ones with meaning. A gift that gives back is one of the most meaningful, generous gifts that you can give.
Choosing to buy a handmade gift made by a passionate artisan is a gift that gives back through, and through. At ShopatMAP, each item is made with love by artisans in disadvantaged situations.
With each purchase, you support the individual that made your gift. 100% of proceeds go to Moms Against Poverty (MAP), the active non-profit organization supporting impoverished children around the globe and the disadvantaged communities where artisans are located.
The next time you need to surprise a special someone with a one-of-a-kind gift, make sure to give a gift that gives back in a multitude of ways and one where you know that the impact of your purchase makes a difference.
Written By: ShopatMAP