Screen Shot 2018 12 22 at 10.16.15 AM Sojourns-Fair Trade, where Birmingham meets the world — Sojourns -Free Trade owner Melissa Kendrick (center) surrounded by customers. Photo by Pat Byington for Bham Now

“Where Birmingham meets the world.”

That is the best way to describe Sojourns – Fair Trade, located in downtown Birmingham at 2017 3rd Avenue North.

Alabama’s first Fair Trade Store

Established 13 years ago in the Magic City, Sojourns-Fair Trade is the first wholly fair trade store in the state of Alabama. The local independent store works with 400 artisan cooperatives in 59 countries. 60% of the artists they work with are women, who are the most marginalized in the world. About a third of those women have either been liberated or protected from sex trafficking .

None of the items are from sweat shop labor, child labor or forced labor.

“We are working with the most vulnerable, poorest populations in the world to give them hope, dignity and a better tomorrow,” said Melissa Kendrick, owner of Sojourns-Fair Trade.

10% to local non-profits

IMG 6358 Sojourns-Fair Trade, where Birmingham meets the world — Collection of Alabama ornaments at Sojourns-Fair Trade. Photo by Pat Byington Bham Now

Along with its global approach to Fair Trade, Sojourns gives back locally.

One such example is its collection of Alabama ornaments.

“We had a lot of people asking for Alabama ornaments, so we first designed a Birmingham ornament with the skyline,” added Kendrick. “We give 10% of our annual profits to local non-profits, so we decided use our products to raise awareness of about certain groups. We created the Alabama watershed ornament that supports the Black Warrior Riverkeeper, Coosa Riverkeeper and Alabama Rivers Alliance. We couldn’t leave out the Cahaba, so we created the Cahaba lily ornament. Then people wanted a generic Alabama ornament, so we crafted a Sweet Home Alabama ornament that supports Alabama Arise.”

Each ornament is made by an artisan from Ecuador.