Brought an empty 32 oz bottle to fill up with bulk Dr. Bronner's pure castille soap. It came out to $21 with tax. When I mentioned that I'd pay $16 for the same amount at any other store, she tried to justify why I would pay the extra cost from bulk with bringing my own bottle. When I mentioned I would not be returning for this, she said she was sorry I felt that way. Very odd way to treat a customer. read more

Nice shop with good quality of products made around the world by people in economically challenging locations with a goal to support them in sourcing the products from them at prices to provide a (at least that is the impression I got). The prices were on the middle to upper range for gifts. read more

A variety of jewelry and home decorating items. Affordable prices. Enjoyable . Unique products.from all over the world. Personable staff with good service. read more

I lovelovelove Ten Thousand Villages!!! It's one of the few stores that I actually feel good in my soul shopping at. All of the employees are volunteers, and EVERY SINGLE ITEM they sell is fair-trade, meaning that the artisans from around the world are paid a fair, living wage for their products before they're even sent to this store, guaranteed. I just love making an impact in some small way on the global community. Yes, their stuff is pricier but it's all super high quality, and sweatshop-free. You've got to come check out this store- it's gorgeous! They have everything to outfit your home- pillows, artwork, candles, blankets, mirrors,... They have toys, books, handbags, scarves, garden décor, plus lots of items representing each country- African singing bowls, Asian tea sets, Russian nesting dolls, Nepalese rain sticks, to name just a few. Their coffee is delicious! They have a wide selection of ground and whole bean from around the world, all organic and all fair trade. They also always have samples available. Their chocolate selection is incredible!!! Try the white chocolate with strawberries- the brand is called 'Divine,' and it is indeed divine. The have just recently started carrying clothing. Adorable dresses, skirts, jackets, etc. Get on their email list- they often send out 25% off one item coupons, and they also have a reusable bag that gets you a percentage off every time you shop. My favorite part of the store is the jewelry section. From $5 beaded bracelets, to $100 silver necklaces, with every price point, material, design and color in between that you can think of. It's a vast collection to look through- absolutely beautiful accessories. Ten Thousand Villages is easy to find in old town Overland Park. Next time you're in the area, stop in and see some incredible products you won't see anywhere else! read more

Crafted Collective - Couldn't resist getting these beauties on my most recent trip here. - Arts & Crafts Near Me - Overland Park, Kansas

This is a beautiful shop that sells fair trade items. The company is actually a non profit organization. It's very near the Overland Park farmer's market. I love to pop in before or after to hit the market. They offer beautifully crafted fair trade items from more than 35 countries. There's lots of home decor items, jewelry and other accessories. They also have fair trade organic coffee, chocolate and jams too. They actually offer volunteer opportunities to help keep their overhead low. Check out their website to learn more. The ladies in this shop of very friendly and don't pressure you. Yes I know this is fair trade, but some of the prices seem high for things we could buy at a home decor store. But my guess is that people get a good feeling buying here knowing they are supporting international artists. Definately stop in, your sure some wonderful items and enjoy browsing. read more

I wasn't expecting this place. I thought it was just another JoCo women's attempts to run a high-end home decor shop post retirement - but no, it's not. I'm sure the reviews describe is well - 10,000 Villages sells merchandise from only third-world countries. The twist is, the store doesn't profit from their goods - the village from where it came from does. It's a nonprofit home decor shop. So what better place to shop? Honestly, if you want authentic, cultural pieces for your home no one else will have with the added bonus of knowing that every dime you spend goes to someone how really needs it - shop at 10,000. Pottery Barn can kiss its ass - you know?! The first time I came here, it was right at close. The woman told me so and as I turned to leave shouted to me, "But you have to stay a few minutes and look - won't you?!" I looked for just a few minutes but left promising I'd be back the next day. She was so kind to let me in. I saw the most beautiful quilts - quilts that high end stores try to duplicate lacking the heart and soul that makes it worth anything. They also sell Asian porcelain pieces and South American children's toys and African woven purses and scarves - everything is so rich with cultural loveliness. The next time I want to buy something, a gift for a friend, my mother, my grandmother - I'm coming here. read more

See all

The name may be a slight exaggeration, but 10,000 Villages really does sell items from all over the world. Based on the "trade not aid" concept, 10,000 Villages, which bills itself as the world's oldest and largest fair trade organization, strives to put money in the hands of global artisans by bringing their wares together for sale to consumers in America and Canada. Browse around the store in downtown Overland Park, and you'll see familiar items, such as Indian textiles or pots and vases with distinctively African decoration. But others, such as Asian jewelry and South American pottery, are more exotic. A staff member greets me every time I walk inside, so if you ever have a question about the origin of an item - or how it's utilized - you won't have any trouble finding someone to ask. The employees milling around 10,000 Villages are actually comprised mostly of volunteers. In line with the organization's mission, they forgo payment to ensure more of the profits are returned to the artisans who created the items - most of whom are women. Fair trade won't solve the world's problems, but it's an important step toward making life better, and more dignified, for impoverished people everywhere. read more

Crafted Collective - 10,000 Villages - Arts & Crafts Near Me - Overland Park, Kansas

I never expected to come across a shop like this in Overland Park. With decor heavily African and Indian, you quickly begin to wonder what's the story behind this place? As you walk about, products keep popping up and shouting handmade and I felt right at home. With all fair-traded merchandise, 10,000 Villages is nonprofit, putting the dough straight in the hands of artisans around the world. You'll find deliciously scented cinnamon tea boxes and recycled paper trivets and coasters. The olive oil came from Palestine and Indian scarves and pottery filled in the gaps. The earthy, organic feeling of the shop was tended by ladies who were extremely nice and willing to chat the day away. For me, this place is a keeper. read more

Crafted Collective - Arts & Crafts Near Me - Overland Park, Kansas

See all

This is one of those places where I have shopped dozens of times and have never thought to write a review. My bad. This store deserves a few good words. First, the whole purpose of this store is to help artists, particularly in developing parts of the world, to earn a fair living. Ten Thousand Villages is a network of stores that operate on a non-profit basis. In fact, when you go into the stores, you'll probably be greeted by a very pleasant human being who will tell you why the store exists. You might not know it, but everyone working in the store is doing it on a volunteer basis. How cool is that? This store is filled with some super-stupendous stuff. There are tons of household decor items, toys, jewelry, soaps, chocolate, coffee (LOVE the hazelnut coffee). I rarely go into this store with anything specific in mind, but I can never leave it without buying something. read more

This place caught me off-guard in the middle of downtown Overland Park. I mean, really? Kenyan, Nepalese, Indian goods? Well, the volunteer working must have seen the confusion on my face and quickly explained that Ten Thousand Villages is a non-profit that gives all proceeds back to the village the goods came from. Awww! I then imagined my money being handed to a girl half my age thinking, "its about time!" So i perused the shop, noticing how everything was color coded (interesting). I liked how the stickers had the place it came from right on the object. Most of the items seemed cheesy, I mean sure they may have come from that area, but it didn't feel authentic. It was meant to be made for tourists because that's the crap we buy on vacations to decorate our houses showing that we've been there. I'm not sure how many villagers actually have cheap pink wood giraffes as a knick-knack. Though what do I know... I did appreciate the jewelry section, which had unique and affordable necklaces, rings, bracelets and earrings. Also, the whole kitschy area near the jewelry was nice too, with wallets, bags and interesting mementos. read more

Crafted Collective - Arts & Crafts Near Me - Overland Park, Kansas

See all

This place is awesome! I like how the people who make the items are also the people who reap most of the the profits. They have all different kind of items, from home decor to toys, musical instruments, and purses. Many of the items are really unique, from the woven kitchen baskets and bowls and the bamboo furniture. The sales people are really nice and helpful; they are knowledgeable about the products and where they come from. I know that there is quite a mark-up on these though, a coin purse is $14 and a scarf is $38. It does make me wonder if the people get ALL the profits, or just a sliver a it? read more

A wonderful store... that gives back! I bought a beautiful owl figurine... from Nigeria... and I did so with the satisfaction that my purchase was partially beneficial to the place from which it came. I will return to this store when I return to KC... For sure, I will. read more

wow. though i wonder just how much of an item's retail price eventually makes its way back to its maker, i do think every little bit helps, & ten thousand villages has its heart in the right place. if only every cost plus world market would spontaneously combust and be taken over by a ten thousand villages, the world might be a prettier & fairer place. this store didn't seem particularly big, but i could've spent hours browsing the hundreds of colorful, carefully crafted items. coin purses, toys, journals, scarves, serving bowls & utensils, musical instruments, blankets, greeting/holiday cards... you can find something for anyone on your gift list. the prices aren't anything more than you would pay at a normal tchochke store. plus, they had a sale section that day, with most of the things between 20-50% off. volunteers milled around & were available to answer questions with a smile. if i actually lived in KC, this is where i'd go for gifts & decorative pieces for my home. for now, i'll have to plan on a trip to the one in pasadena. read more

I've been visiting this store for all of its ten years. Love it! I buy most of my special occasion gifts here and the recipients love them. I love the ever changing selection and the mostly high quality of the works. My only complaint: I get tired of being rushed as soon as I walk in by a volunteer worker and asked if I've even been to 10K before? Yes! Yes I have, and I'd shop there more often if I didn't have to answer this question every single time. One volunteer there has no concept of personal space and will zoom in within inches to "help" me. But nonetheless I love going back again and again for the most unique gifts, sometimes for myself too. I love the price range, I can always find something awesome I can afford. read more

I like the concept of this store. They have some fantastic coffee available here. There are some very unique items here and I like the concept that buying them helps others. I like to shop here around Christmas time. But I'm the type of person who would buy chickens for someone in Africa and give it as a gift to my family. read more

This is a lovely little store, filled with unique hand made items for your home. All the items are fair trade, so that you can feel good about your purchases. There are usually pictures above the item giving you information about the country of origin and the artisan. I always seem to find something special when I shop. read more

Gifts are a tricky business, especially when you are confident that your friends might be happiest with a simple gift card. But for those of us who prefer to find something that shows true thought and effort (try as I might, I just cannot imagine a way to gift wrap a little plastic card), unique gifts abound at Ten Thousand Villages. Ten Thousand Villages boasts fair trade products. There are often photos and information about the country, community and/or artist who made the objects for sale. The tags themselves on the items also denote country of origin, and, as a courtesy, the price is on a perforated portion of the tag, so you can remove the price while still keeping the information of the tag for the recipient of the gift (assuming you don't just keep the things you buy for yourself). Unique gifts make for special gifts. Whether you are looking for photo frames, beautiful napkins, jewelry or scarves, bowls and tea mugs, or some kind of interesting or adorable tchotchke to adorn your shelves and coffee table, you are sure to find many wonderful things for both buying and browsing. And for those with children in tow, in the back there is a little table with a pair of chairs and paper and crayons for coloring (and for the exhausted parent, nearby is a sample of fair trade coffee!). Ten Thousand Villages is definitely worth popping in. read more

Ten Thousand Villages is a wonderful part of the charming downtown Overland Park shopping area. It carries decorative goods from artisans in poor countries. The shop is "fair-trade" and non-profit. The artisans get fair prices (in advance ) for their goods. The items carried by Ten Thousand Villages remind me of the kinds of things you find at Pier 1 and World Market, at similar prices, but by shopping here you can be sure the artisans are earning a fair price for their hard work. The store is largely staffed by very sweet and friendly volunteers -- it's a project of the Mennonite Central Committee. If you're looking for something to dress up your home, or a nice house gift, do yourself and the world a favor and stop in at Ten Thousand Villages. You're bound to find something you like, and you can feel good about your purchase, knowing that it's supporting an artisan in a poor country. read more