They changed their name and moved farther north into downtown Evanston but carry the same unique fair trade items, and still at reasonable prices. I took my daughter here to find a gift for her friend and she loved it. In under 30 minutes she had several items picked out and we quickly and easily spent over $100. read more

A staple for gifts (for yourself or others) & a store you can feel great about supporting!

I've been in this location several times. I love fair trade and this store does have wonderful and creative items. They have expanded their jewelry selection recently and I have my eye on a few pieces. The store is airy and beautifully laid out. My disconnect is with some of the staff. There is always plenty of staff in the store, which is unusual because it's not a huge store. I read in another review that some of the staff is volunteer, though I don't know if this is true. The last time I was in the store one particular employee was very friendly and helpful. There happened to be a fairly large staff meeting going on. I got the impression that some of the people in the meeting were from other stores or districts. They had table set up in the back corner of the sore blocking off a fairly large section of the jewelry department. They were also discussing matter during store hours that I didn't feel customers needed to hear. Why would you not having the meeting before or after the store opened or off location? There was also a staff member or employee sharing gossip about another store manager that had gotten rude to someone else in the company over the phone....he was sharing this information quite loudly with the staff member that was helping me off on on. Very unprofessional About a year ago I was shopping in the store and I picked up a small gift for a friend. A friendly staff member rang me up and I pointed out the item rang for much higher than it was advertised on the floor. A manager informed me it was a mistake and basically told me to bad to sad and refused to honor the floor price. Even the staff member that was assisting me was shocked. I get the impression that they feel that their items and mission sells itself and that they don't have to represent these philosophies themselves. read more

Gather - Home Decor Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

New location on Chicago Ave., in Evanston but still wonderful items and gifts. Helpful staff who even nicely tied ribbons on the fair trade gifts I bought. My friends all loved the necklaces and soaps. If you are looking for gifts from the heart this is the place to go. Thank you! read more

I came in looking for last minute Christmas gifts and was instantly greeted warmly and told to ask if I needed anything. All of the women working were really nice and helpful, one woman in particular (I wish I had gotten her name!) helped me pick out some goodies for my family. I love knowing everything is fair trade and there are so many cool unique gifts to browse through! They have the most gorgeous quilled cards if you're looking for something extra special. I'll be back! read more

I wish I could give TTV a 5 stars reviews since the items they sell are fair trade and beautiful, but thanks to the terrible and unethical manager (Joseph Meyer), I am giving them a one star review. Please don't take me wrong, the concept of Ten Thousand Villages is great; it's just this location in Evanston that has suffered many changes that go against what the company preaches. I volunteered there for more than seven years. The business relays on their volunteers a lot and I loved being part of that team until I witnessed an unfair and unjustified dismissal! An 80 years old woman who worked there for over ten years was mistreated and disrespected contradicting everything they suppose to promote (kindness, respect, love, etc.). I can't pretend that is irrelevant when they suppose to help people from other countries but mistreat their own. read more

This is one of my very favorite places to shop. Everything you find here is made by hand and purchased directly from the artisan from all over the world. I have found things ranging from soaps, coffee, chocolate, music, clothing, things for home, jewelery and much more. It's a new collection every time I visit. Every purchase you make here will be unique, it will not only bring you much joy it will also help the artisan and a community. A proud member of the IFAT, the international fair trade association. for more information visit www.tenthousandvillages.com Here are some other sites where they carry ethnic crafts. For Mexican folk art http://ethnicaweb.com/index.html For ethnic items form all over the world. http://www.novica.com/ For Handicrafts from Sri lanka http://fromsrilanka.com South African artisans handcrafting serving accessories and jewelry. http://www.jacarandastyle.com read more

Fairly Traded Goods. Word. They are the best. Tired of ripping off the developed world by buying inexpensive goods made by exploited workers? Shop here. Seriously, there are some very nice things in this shop and they are not all super-expensive. They are mostly the products of skilled hands in other countries, and there are many beautiful and unique items to be had. Need a drum made from an animal hide? It's here. What about an impressive, hand woven wool rug? Check it out. Many of the items can be used in your house and put Pier 1 to shame. Stopping off in this shop is totally worth your time and your dollars. read more

This was my first shopping stop while spending an afternoon in Evanston. The shop is a bright, open and inviting space, and the employees are very friendly. A lady eagerly approached me, asked if I'd been there before, and then took the time to explain that everything in their shop is "fair trade." The artisans in other countries make a fair wage for the goods they produce. Warm fuzzies, everyone! Okay, let's shop. The jewelry reminded me a lot of what I see at World Market, and it is displayed nicely in color groupings. Most of the jewelry was in the $20-30 range, which is fair for the more unique pieces. They also had bangles made in India for $6/each. Most of the shop is filled with decorative and household goods. There were a lot of pretty dishes and serving bowls on display, which would make great gifts for a mother, housewarming party, or bridal shower. There's a small corner dedicated to chocolate and coffee, so I suppose there is something for everybody here. Although I left without making a purchase, it's definitely a nice shop to check out. read more

A current assortment of Fair Trade finds. Always unique and quite fashion forward. What's not to love about handmade items that don't look like they came from a craft show in a high school gymnasium circa 1999? Highly recommend checking them out! read more

Fair trade heaven, as they say "representing the diverse cultures of artisans in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East." Anything you buy there you know the artisan was given a fair price for his creation. Think of it as a classier, smaller, at times more high-end and way more ethical Cost Plus World Market. (I do love Cost Plus World Market too- but my conscience feels better with Ten Thousand Villages.) They do have a range of prices. I have gotten wall hangings and wall art there, some jewelry, awesome carved wood boxes, etc. The place is somewhat pricey for some things, but that's only because the artisan got properly compensated. I'd say the quality of craftsmanship is generally higher in Ten Thousand Villages than at Cost Plus. It's a good place for gifts for others, though I always get gifts for myself there! They also always offer you a sample of fair trade coffee, if you're a coffee person. I guess in my ideal world they'd offer a sample of fair trade tea too but they don't. They have a lot of rich colors in the store and it's pleasant to browse, plus my beloved Dave's Rock Shop is just up the street! read more

I love how everything here is made by people who are paid fairly for their trade or craft.... The people who work here are volunteers, very kind, and not at all pushy. It's great how volunteers make for a great experience - since they are there because they want to be there, not because they have to. I love the jewelry, although I didn't get any on my most recent visit. They have decor for your home, winter accessories, tons o' coffee, and a little section of musical "instruments". Do you need anything from Ten Thousand Villages - probably not. But is it stuff you will appreciate - more than likely, especially when you are supporting artisans world wide. read more

Still a great place to get Fair Trade items at a reasonable price. I finished up my Christmas shopping here and am very happy (as always) with what I found. Shopping here is a way to do good on so many levels. read more

Fair Trade=GOOD! It's a cute and charming little place to go, and a great place to get presents! All my winter paraphernalia is from here! And what could be better than free samples almost every time you go? There is pretty much something for everyone here! read more

This store has non-profit status and is run largely by volunteers! What a concept. The items that they sell are fair trade, meaning that the artisans get a fair price for what they make. The store is filled with items from all over the world. The store is so big, that it feels like a museum. The prices are fair and the selection is amazing! It is a wonderful place for finding a great gift. read more

Gather - Home Decor Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Every time I go here I leave happy. Everything from the wonderfully pleasant people who work here, to the little treasures all over, to what each item is doing to help a part of the world -- it's all just amazing. I always find something perfect when I go shopping here for any occasion(they have so many awesome/cute/beautiful things), and the whole ambience/experience alone keeps me wanting to go back. Wonderful place, definitely recommend. read more

Love this store...fair trade goodness. I came in looking for something creative to put my makeup brushes in the bathroom and one of the store volunteers surprised me with the perfect thing...a crushed used glass bottle! How different and unique to put on the counter in the bathroom. He had an incredible eye though I was doubtful a guy could envision what I wanted in terms of a makeup brush holder. I also bought a natural fiber lamp and asked them to pack it nicely as I'm moving soon. They did with a smile and even gave me some extra boxes for my move! These boxes have handles and are super sturdy. TTV is just fabulous, come in here to treat yourself and learn why we need to pay attention to and support fair trade. read more

Great place for finding the perfect gift and knowing that the person who made it was properly compensated. Beautiful, quality, unique. Only problem is, it's hard to leave without finding one or two must haves for yourself. read more

On the shelves and displays in Ten Thousand Villages you'll find all sorts of fair trade items, from coffee to finger puppets. The store layout is easy to navigate, and there are many interesting items to check out. The staff are friendly, kind, and helpful, and they aren't pushy. We bought a bag of Cafe Chicago (ground beans), and it made some great coffee using my home coffee maker. read more

How can you say anything but good things about this store? The only next best thing would be living in a communal village where you would cut out the middle man. I love this store, its purpose, its mission, the people working there, and the people who are making home items beautifully and authentically. The store itself is colorful and charming, with lots of things to look at and admire. read more

This is a great shop when you need a gift on the fly -- choose from home goods, coffees and yummy soup or baking mixes, kid stuff, decorations during the holidays, jewelry and more. The staff, mostly volunteers, is so kind and it makes for a peaceful shopping experience. Added bonus -- it's fair trade stuff. read more

This is one of my favorite places to shop in Evanston. They have a wide variety of items - tea and coffee, lots of jewelry, delicious chocolates and tons of hand made crafts. It's a fair trade/not for profit store that is helping to make a difference in the world. The staff and volunteers are always friendly and helpful. read more

I love to go in this shop! They have so many unique things that are handmade from different countries. The people who work there are volunteers and know a lot of information on the items. They make nice unique gifts for just about anyone! Some of the items in the store can be quite pricy but, it is hand made! read more

I like a lot of things in the store (though I can rarely afford them) and appreciate the presence of Ten Thousand Villages in the North Shore retail scene, but the manager is an absolute headache. I honestly sigh in relief when I walk in and he's not on the floor. He's pushy, he's fake polite, and he essentially stalks customers across the sales floor. I have literally put down my potential purchases and walked out rather than deal with him before. Pretty sad to have one person be such a depleting presence in a store. read more

Another delightful browsing destination on Main St (see also: Wine Goddess, Oliver's Toys, and the Rock Shop). This double-size shop has plenty of room for a huge variety of ethically sourced items. Their jewelry and accessories section is particularly impressive. They also have great seasonal rotations, and regular visiting rug-sale events. The shop is well organized, and the staff are, without exception, friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable. If you're trying to buy something special for that hard-to-buy-for MIL/SIL/coworker, stop by Ten Thousand Villages, and enjoy complimentary coffee while you browse to boot! read more

A great place to pick up some uniqe hand crafted home decor. A little pricey but hard to find the quality and pieces anywhere else.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Ten Thousand Villages, but my Chicago location recently closed, so I've had to make the trek to Evanston when I need gifts. The store is nicely laid out and spacious, but I have to say, the manager is not Ten Thousand Villages calibre. He was very condescending to me as a customer, and I heard him speaking the same way to one of the younger employees in the store. This still has to be my location, because again I LOVE this organization, but hopefully management will change soon. read more

I find something amazing every time I visit, and I live around the corner so I visit a lot. Staff is very friendly and helpful. It's all fair trade so I feel good shopping here too. read more

Such a great place for gifts for both adults and children, and it's my go-to place for coffee beans. I'm in full support of its fair trade mission, and the all-volunteer staff is very friendly and helpful. I go here so often though I sometimes wish they'd get some new items a little more often. Still, I love what they have available, which is a lot. read more

Great place to buy gifts! They only sell fair trade items made/produced in other countries. Lovely jewelry, knitted and loomed accessories, table linens. Great atmosphere to shop...my 21 year old daughter loved it! read more

I love this store. It is great for wedding gifts, birthday presents, mother's day presents, and more. The staff are sweet and wonderful, and the products are organized- color, style, section, etc. They have a great selection of mugs, rugs, and soaps. Shop here- it supports a wonderful idea and hard working people. read more

My daughter and I stopped in here on our way home Saturday. The staff were all friendly and cheerful, they helped when we asked for it and were not at all pushy or overbearing during our visit. Everything in the store is lovely and the layout is clean, intuitive, and fun. The prices were all very reasonable and the craftsmanship of everything was stellar. I definitely plan on becoming a frequent customer! read more

Sorry to rain on the politically correct parade, but this operation is a mess. I was there in early November, 2010. The staff was hopelessly incompetent, unable to process routine transactions or wrap fragile pottery for transport home. Rude, too. Yes, the merchandise selection is fun...but should it hurt this bad to shop so good? read more

I love these fair trade stores featuring international arts and crafts. The first one I ever went to was in Toronto, Canada, and I have been a fan ever since. I have frequented the Evanston store several times over the last year and a half, and I have found the same high quality products on sale, many at a reasonable price, some on the slightly more expensive side. They sell everything from textiles for wall decor, knickknacks, and garden items, to toys, world music cds, and fair trade coffee. I have bought things here for myself and for friends. Last year, I bought several little menorahs so that my friends' children could have their own for celebrating Hanukkah. These menorahs were made in India, I believe, and from recycled bicycle chain. These gifts were not only inventive and socially and environmentally conscious, but were also practical (they stood upright and worked for lighting the candles, and you could even adjust their shapes) and very attractive. My friends' children were very excited and enjoyed using these menorahs to celebrate the holiday. This is really a great store. read more

volunteers for employees? what a heist! if you cannot make it by paying employees, DO NOT HAVE EMPLOYEES!!! i do not understand how the granolas that want foreign craftsman to get paid a fair wage think that it is ok to not pay the employee that is in front of them, trying to live in the community with them. read more

when i lived on own in evanston i used to pass here on foot a lot! i go sometimes. its kinda and really expesive esp i looked at jewerly and stuff. one time i saw a sale. i got some earrings ( i wear now they are bronze like plastic drop earrings) and stuff. it good. but cheap. considering getting expesive necklace. one time they even offered me coffee! i got in tiny cup! :) good job! fancy! GO GO GO GO GO!- read more