Aug 7, 2010

The California Gift Show Highlights World Style Stories at the July Gift Show

Los Angeles, CA – The California Gift Show featured five outstanding World Style Stories from select exhibitors at a special celebration in Kentia – The Global Marketplace on Friday, July 16. This vibrant division of the California Gift Show is home to hundreds of exhibitors that source products made by artisans from around the world with mindful business practices – these companies are ethical, responsible and serve to strengthen communities with minimal impact on the planet.

These exhibitors were invited earlier this year to submit their stories about the products they make and the people who make them for consideration. All of the submissions were featured on the California Gift Show website leading up to the opening of the show, and will remain online until the January market. Five stories were selected from over 40 that were submitted and then included in a special display located within Kentia to bring attention to the good work that these companies are doing to strengthen communities around the world.

The winning entries, along with their 100 word essay were:

Bridge for Africa Foundation, www.bridgeforafrica.org
Bridge for Africa is a fair trade, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the dignity of work and self-sufficiency in African communities. BRIDGE is an acronym standing for: Building Resources to Inspire Dignity, Growth and Empowerment. For 4 years, we have brought quality crafts to the buyers at the California Gift Show, helping thousands of artisans in South Africa, Namibia, Swaziland, Kenya, Zambia, and other countries with consistent work and a living wage. Together, we have enabled them to shape their own lives and thereby advance hope for future generations.

Handmade Expressions, www.handmadeexpressions.net
Although Handmade Expressions has only been in operation for 4 years, it has managed to form strong partnerships with over 30 artisan cooperatives all over rural India. Working with such a diversified workforce can be challenging, especially when striving to stick by fair trade standards (fair wage, development help, and no exploitation). However, the human connections we have with our partner artisans keeps us going to places that need a reliable partner to help them sell bags, jewelry, and other gifts in North America. We have strong hope in our system, which values human welfare over just profits.

One World Projects, www.oneworldprojects.com
Morca Coal Project: Jewelry Made from Coal – Helps Children Out of Working in Coal Mines. The community of Morca, a mountainous area in the town of Sogamoso, Colombia depends heavily on coal mining to sustain its residents. Unfortunately, working in the mines is dangerous, and many have lost their lives due to collapses and inhalation of poisonous gases. In 1995, the Colombian government established the Morca-Boyaca workshop to keep young men and boys out of the hazardous mines. The boys attend academic classes and learn the skills needed to transform the coal into beautiful and intricately carved jewelry. With partners such as One World Projects, there is hope that enough demand for the jewelry will be created; the workshop has the potential to eradicate child labor in underground coal mines and provide a better quality of life for future generations of Colombian youth.

Puresa Organics, www.puresaorganics.com
Puresa Organics is an Environmental + Humanitarian company, dedicated to creating global awareness on Human Trafficking, and empowering women world-wide through employment, in the making and sales of our organic bags.

Tesoros Trading Co, www.tesoros.com
A Million Hearts for Haiti – The Hand/ Eye Fund
100% of Tesoros’ Handmade Haitian product the proceeds being used to recycle into projects to help the artisans of Haiti reestablish their enterprises. The HAND/EYE Fund, in partnership with Tesoros Trading Company, Charity USA, and a growing list of non-profit groups, importers, sales reps and retailers across the nation, help Haitian artisans get much-needed commerce flowing through Haiti’s culturally and economically important artisan businesses with the “A Million Hearts for Haiti” program. “Million Hearts” will generate an estimated $1,000,000 to benefit Haitian artisans through the sale of hearts made by them in stone, metal, paper mache, sequins and fabric, vetiver root, recycled materials, and more. A portion of the purchase price of each heart will be donated to the HAND/EYE Fund’s Artisan Grant program. The program, already assessing the needs of artisan businesses on the ground in Haiti, gives cash grants between $50 and $2000 to artisan businesses who apply for funds to replace earthquake-shattered equipment and shelter, or other assistance needed as a result of the devastating disaster. With part of the $25,000 already raised for Haiti by The HAND/EYE Fund, a representative has been hired in Haiti to assess the needs of artisan workshops in Haiti. The HAND/EYE Fund supports skilled artisans in their struggle to earn decent livelihoods through preservation of ancient traditions, innovation of new ones, exploration of new markets, and educating the consuming public about the cultural and economic importance of their work.

The celebration took place in the spectacular, newly designed hall to mark the re-branding of Kentia – The Global Marketplace. A special presentation on stage at the center of Kentia unveiled the winners and included refreshments as well as a give-away of live silk screened tote bags for the first 200 attendees. The bags were silk screened with logo art from the five World Style Stories companies. The totes were donated by Puresa Organics which was founded by top model, Giselle Meza. The bags are Fair Trade, organic and handmade by women rescued from human trafficking.

“We are pleased to highlight the stories behind the diverse and socially conscious products within Kentia and to offer this outstanding resource to buyers shopping the California Gift Show,” said Pam Williams, divisional sales director, L.A. Mart and California Gift Show. “Kentia offers unique products, with compelling stories of companies that are doing good things, while producing amazing gift lines.”

“The World Style Stories submitted by our exhibitors were incredible and inspiring,” stated Frank Joens, vice president sales, California Gift Show. “As a company that believes in sustainability and conducting business responsibly, we are proud to be able to help these companies get their message out into the retail community in a meaningful way.”

ABOUT L.A. MART and CALIFORNIA GIFT SHOW
L.A. Mart® is a registered trademark of MMPI. The California Gift Show® is a registered trademark of MMPI. Beckman’s Handcrafted Gift Show is a registered trademark of MMPI. L.A. Mart is home to nearly 200 permanent year-round, residential, decorative accessory and gift showrooms serving the retail and interior design industries. The California Gift Show Temporaries feature over 800 temporary exhibitors of lifestyle merchandise, home décor and furnishings, in the newly enhanced and expanded Temporaries at L.A. Mart and Los Angeles Convention Center making the California Gift Show the preeminent market for gift and home furnishings products on the West Coast. L.A. Mart is located at 1933 South Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90007. For more information call 213-763-5800 or visit www.californiagiftshow.com or www.lamart.com.

MMPI is a trade show and property management firm, specializing in managing buildings devoted to wholesale showrooms and commercial office space. MMPI produces more than 300 trade shows, market events and conferences each year.

MMPI manages The Merchandise Mart and 350 W. Mart Center in Chicago; Market Square, the Suites at Market Square, Hamilton Market, Plaza Suites, Furniture Plaza and the National Furniture Mart in High Point, N.C.; the Architects & Designers Building and 7 W New York in New York; the Boston Design Center in Boston; the L.A. Mart in Los Angeles; and the Washington Design Center and Federal Center Southwest in Washington D.C.

Vornado Realty Trust, owner of MMPI, based in New York City, is a fully integrated real estate investment trust. Vornado’s common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are traded under the symbol VNO.