Photos taken in National Museum of African Art Gift Shop

This trip round I decided to really pay attention to where the majority of the merchandise--particularly in the Freer Gallery of Art, which specialises in Asian art, and the Museum of African Art--came from, and how much the galleries were incorporating their subject matter into their conscious ethos. What I found was a treasure trove of Fairtrade merchandise and transparency that could make anyone giddy. With clear labels as to which items were Fairtrade and who made them swinging from the tags of bags, musical instruments, clothing, accessories and home goods, amongst others, I found myself spending more time reading the labels and the backgrounds of the brands in the store than I did in the galleries themselves.
I had not only found brands that I had heard of, but there were others that were introduced to me there, as well as craft that I was so glad to covet, like stackable recycled plastic bracelets or handwoven fans, which I ended up buying for my family as well. There were also baskets made by the Wolof Weavers of Senegal, and the most stunning fine jewellery coming out of Egypt. I'm still coveting several pieces, that I am contemplating getting before I return to the UK.