Pedro and I visited Greenheart, in Chicago’s Ukrainian Village/Wicker Park neighborhood and loved this store so much that we already decided to make a return visit when he returns from a trip to California.
From their website:
Greenheart is Chicago’s premier eco-fair trade non-profit shop, carrying both fair trade and eco friendly products. Greenheart carries a variety of goods including recycled accessories and handbags, home goods, gourmet treats, cookbooks, glassware, jewelry, toys, personal care, organic cotton t-shirts and more. Greenheart believes consumers have the power to affect positive World change by supporting sustainable and fair business practices in their purchasing choices.
What is Eco-Fair Trade? Greenheart follows the guiding principles of “Fair Trade”. Fair Trade supports sustainable community development by ensuring that the artisans making the products are paid fair living wages. “Eco” signifies that our products are made using the most sustainable materials and methods whenever possible. At Greenheart, we are both “Fair to producers, and good to the Earth”.
So what’s not to like? The store is filled with lovely items for your home, to wear and to use from around the world. The alpaca sweaters from Bolivia were not only of very good quality, but nicely detailed and a classic style that one can wear year after year, transcending fashion. I resisted the temptation to buy another cloth cross body bag, which when you don’t have a car, these things are incredibly handy for carting books and food around. The ornate, detail shown on the bag (in greens) below show a level of workmanship that exemplifies why Green Heart goes above and beyond the general offerings of unique, artistically beautiful pieces in a Fair Trade and Eco-Friendly setting.
Greenheart
http://www.greenheartshop.org/
1911 West Division
312 264-1625
