Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
At first glance, Rosemary Grove (101A W. Argonne, 314-984-0897, rosemarygrove-online.com) appears to be a typical gift shop, complete with stationery and greeting cards, picture frames and jewelry. But a closer look reveals the jewelry ($18 and up) is made from bamboo, and the picture frames ($28) are created from banana-leaf fiber. All of the store’s offerings are eco-friendly and Fair Trade–certified, meaning the goods came from developing countries where the workers were fairly compensated.
Owner Sarah Wood opened the store in 2011, after reading Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide. The book describes how women in some developing countries are exploited and abused, but how they often earn economic freedom through fair trade. “It was such an inspiration that these women could move on,” says Wood. “They have opened their arms to new opportunity and a fresh start, instead of curling up in a corner and feeling sorry for themselves.”
The women’s struggles resonated with Wood, who’s a single mother. In fact, she named the store after Rosemary Beach, Fla., the first place she traveled with her children after her divorce. “It was empowering,” she says, “and that’s what the store is all about.”
Beyond empowering women in developing countries, Rosemary Grove helps local charities. It also assists others in selling fair-trade goods. “Nobody is left out of the process,” she says.
Wood hopes the local store’s approach can have a global impact on poverty. “It can’t be fixed by one particular strategy, but fair trade makes sense,” she says. “If you give women economic empowerment, then everything starts to shift.”
