Inside Ten Thousand Villages on South Lake Avenue, hand-knotted rugs hang beside recycled sari baskets, handcrafted jewelry shares shelf space with specialty coffees and teas, and every price tag tells a story that stretches across 30 countries.
On Saturday, May 9, 2026 — World Fair Trade Day — the nonprofit store will host a $50 gift card raffle and invite shoppers to find Mother’s Day gifts the day before the holiday, on Sunday. Visitors can enter the raffle by stopping by the counter and answering a question.
“This is the biggest day in the fair trade industry, since we are a fair trade store and one of the first fair trade organizations in the United States,” said store manager Laurel Murrieta.
The occasion also marks a milestone.
The Pasadena location opened in June 2006 as the first Ten Thousand Villages store in California and approaches its 20th anniversary next month.
“That’s a big deal for a brick-and-mortar to celebrate 20 years,” Murrieta said.
Ten Thousand Villages traces its origins to 1946, when founder Edna Ruth Byler purchased handmade embroidery from artisans in Puerto Rico and sold the pieces from the trunk of her car back home in Pennsylvania. Eight decades later, the organization connects more than 20,000 artisans around the world with shoppers who value ethically sourced goods, according to the organization’s website.
Murrieta noted that every purchase supports artisans striving to earn a fair wage and build better futures for their families. The store relies on volunteers and welcomes new applicants in person.
If You Go Date: Saturday, May 9, 2026 Time: 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Location: 567 South Lake Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101 Admission: Free Parking: Street parking and private lot with free two-hour parking Website: tenthousandvillages.com/pasadena Phone: (626) 229-9892
