Ten Thousand Villages is a fair-trade shop that carries merchandise from at least thirty-eight countries. It is woman-owned and displayed the LBGTQ+ Pride Flag in its window. Here you can find a wide variety of hand-crafted goods. And there is quite a myriad of objects on display. There are a large number of hand-woven bags, rugs and tapestries for use or display (or both). One wall is almost entirely devoted to jewelry. And there's a very large collection of pottery, including bowls, dishes and coffee mugs. This place is an excellent place to shop for those who are intrigued by foreign cultures. And the prices are extremely reasonable. And besides for being reasonable, you can find nice pieces in the under ten dollar range, well into the one hundred and fifty or more. There really is something for any budget. I was greeted when I entered the store and asked if I needed help...but was not asked every five minutes (something that I see as a major plus). Check out was a breeze with the clerk on duty. I will definitely come again. read more

Ten Thousand Villages - Home Decor Near Me - Pasadena, California

I was on my way for groceries after my shift when I saw this cute shop that shares a parking lot, but with just about 20 minutes left until closing time. The manager Laurel was so kind and welcomed me in! She answered all of my questions and explained to me how to the items are sourced and selected for the shop. This is a BEAUTIFUL shop with the most incredible selection of affordable gifts and treasures. Bright, cheery, and well-organized. I didn't intend to buy so much, but I found something for each member of my family and a few friends, too. My favorites were the ornaments, children's area, kitchen items (aprons, dish towels) and the beautiful jewelry!! I had so much fun browsing and I am thrilled with my purchases. Thank you, Laurel! You are running a fab shop here in Pasadena and I can't wait to return! read more

See all

Great place to find a birthday gift from all over the world. I enjoy their customer service

Ten Thousand Villages Pasadena is a great shopping experience if you would like to find a unique, hand made, gift for someone special. The merchandise is all Fair Trade and made by artisans around the world. There are hand made housewares, games, scarves, jewelry, beautiful items made from Sari's, and BASKETS GALORE! You can find something special for most anyone on your list. The store is a beautiful, and peaceful place to be. Its always great to give a gift that lifts an artist! read more

I love that they support artisans from around the world. My experience with their exceptional customer service recently prompted me to write this 5 star review. I received my order promptly and Sarah personally fixed the mistake I made on the order I placed. read more

I had to pay postage to return product expecting a refund. They're very inflexible and would only give store credit since I was 2 days outside of their return window. I explained the post office was closed due to the fires but they didn't care. They lost a great customer. read more

Got the cutest stuff today and super wonderful to be supporting such a great cause! I love how you are helping others by supporting these products and they are unique, practical and adorable. I am definitely coming back to get more items. Great home decor, jewelry, beauty products, jewelry, food, cards. Seriously fun stuff! And the volunteers are really helpful. read more

This place smells of apple cinnamon on a crisp September morning and is filled with amazing gifts your favorite elementary school teacher or homemaker would probably adore! I purchased a handmade compass as a gift for a client, and had a great time perusing the store with my dog and getting to examine the unique selection of items they have from all around the world. They often have different promotions and sales that benefit local nonprofits, including the Pasadena Humane Society. read more

Fair trade it's from around the world. Jewelry from India to Glassware from a Palestinian Israeli coop! Items from around $5 to over $100... All made by artisans who have been paid for their work. The Pasadena store is on S Lake near California with lots of free parking in the Von's parking lot. read more

Ten Thousand Villages - This rolling bar cart arrived today from 10,000 villages in Pasadena. - Home Decor Near Me - Pasadena, California

Came in here for some Christmas gifts, and I have to say that this place smells so nice. The prices are steep but the goods are cute and for a great cause. I ended up getting some nice paper star ornaments for my Christmas tree and a cute card that was made from rape survivors. The staff are also very nice. The store is neat and had some nifty wares like a bike pizza cutter. I think I'll be back to buy some nice home goods in the future for myself. They also occasionally give a portion of their profits to local causes as well. They have cute fair trade pouches, cards, ornaments, kitchenware, jewelry, and more. Definitely stop in and support this store. read more

This is a great place to buy little gifts, I always find something there. And I love knowing that my money is going to a good cause.

Cute place, great selection, great prices, great service! I had a wonderful time chatting with the employee and found exactly what I needed.

If you need a gift, you can't go wrong with this shop. They have the most unique gifts for any recipient, plus, you can feel good about your purchase knowing that it's helping others. Scarves, candles, jewelry, toys, dinnerware, household tools, etc. The selection is fantastic. They have street parking out front or a parking lot in the rear (shared with Pavilions). The helpful staff are very happy to assist you. read more

I was a volunteer at Ten Thousand Villages Pasadena for many years at the South Lake Avenue location, with a hiatus in NYC and at the Alexandria, VA store too. That was many years of inspiration and awe for the artisans that create the handcrafted products for a fair and dignified wage. And as a volunteer, my soul was nourished by the thought that I was making a positive contribution in the world. #BeTheChange #BuyTheChange #ShopYourValues read more

I wanted to browse for something unique to put up in my office. I found this little store. What caught my attention was the name. Something I really wanted to incorporate into my space. Ten Thousand "Villages." And so I found each item in this store is unique. Each item made by the hand of a woman, man or child. I was touched. The item I bought was from Guatemala. What a treasure this store it. Stop in and take a look read more

See all

This is my favorite store in all of Pasadena (and maybe all of California). There are so many unique gifts. I recently bought my husband some of the fair trade socks that support clean water and other development projects in the developing world. It's so awesome to be able to buy a gift and know you're supporting the people who made the item! Ten Thousand Villages is a gem. Be sure to join their mailing list as you will be updated about upcoming events like succulent planting, fair trade day, and more. This is more than a store -- it's a place to meet your neighbor or possibly your next best friend. It's also a great place to volunteer! read more

I used to love Ten Thousand Villages and will try again. But yesterday I needed a gift and went by there to find a unique something. If that was the first time I had ever been there I would not go back. The sales person barely said hello and when I asked her where an item was she pointed at something. She did not talk to me or try to engage at all and I was the only person in the store. I was disappointed in the whole experience. read more

Cutest gift store with the most helpful volunteers (if I do say so myself ;-) Check the Google page for the most current info regarding safety during the pandemic. Keep on keepin' on, but also, keep on shopping smart! read more

The concept is worthy. Support a whole bunch of female artisans from around the world (mostly third world countries). The products are gorgeous and useful and the pricing is just right. Perfect household items to gifts for the family and friends. Looks can be deceiving.....tiny shop with much more than the eye can see! I think I spent some three hours in there with my buddies. read more

So interesting place with so many extraordinary items. I love it, I love to make gifts from this shop and receive them in answer. The staff is cool also, they really love their jobs and make the customer happy. read more

Ten Thousand Villages - Home Decor Near Me - Pasadena, California

If you want a great place to shop for gifts, whether for yourself or others, this is the place!! The products here are fair trade, and the store is a non-profit. Most of the staff are volunteers. In fact, after shopping here several times, I decided to volunteer. The products at Ten Thousand Villages are amazing -- creatively made and beautiful. One of the best things about shopping here is that the gifts you buy are unique, not likely to be found in the traditional stores. One of the other good things about shopping here is knowing that every purchase you make helps the artists, who are from developing countries, make a better life for them self and their family. What could be better than this: you bless artists with deep needs while also blessing the recipient of the gifts you buy!! read more

Absolutely love this store! Best unique gifts and amazing jewelry. Such a gem in Pasadena!

Such a great store!! Would very much happy to support developing country and help creat jobs at there. Recommend!!! Parking is on the back of the store, using the same one as Pavilions. read more

What an amazing store. The staff are helpful and knowledgeable about their products & the mission of the company. I look forward to shopping here again. read more

********** My 650th Review ********** This is one of those shop you must visit if you want some unusual gift and the time same time want to help someone who is needed. All of their products in the store is from third world country but is though fair-trade which mean the worker are paid in good and fair wage in their country standard of living. The most amazing part is that every single items is made by hand (hand-craft). Each item has its own story, history, which listed in their website, staff is super friendly, and more remarkable thing is that they are mostly non-paid volunteer. I had to admit is not easy to find the stuff I wanted, but the staff help make the process easy and gave me good suggestion. They are volunteer who donate their time and not getting paid, service is better than 90+% paid workers. There is also a yelp check-in offer in one item, which makes even better deal. Parking is not too bad but it shares by several business. Some of them item make me wow, how they do it with just their bare hand! Instead of gave out usual boring choice of gift card or stuff animal, gave this place a look. read more

Think Pier-One-type gifts and decorations but all fair-trade and a focus on sustainable production. The store is inviting, the staff person on hand was friendly, and after perusing the website, it was nice to check out some of the items in person. In addition, this store carries some organic bath/beauty items. Trying to be a more educated consumer and making responsible choices with your money isn't alway easy. A store that only stocks fair-trade goods makes the task of finding a unique gift enjoyable and super-easy. Super-easy, like your mom. SNAP!! Knowing that people in India or Malaysia did not get bent over the counter when it came time to compensate them for their work made me happy. And for this deliciously good karma you think you'd be paying bling-bling prices, but don't fear, prices are reasonable and unlike the frustration imparted by shopping at the mall, I left feeling kinda relaxed. Look for the store name on the red awning. Grab parking on the street or, if you're a rebel, sneak a spot in the Ross parking lot around the corner. read more

A beautiful store with a beautiful purpose. With such a horrific rift between the world's rich and poor, the affluent and not-so-fortunate, it's nice to know that one can help out, even in the smallest ways. The fair trade products produced by artisans around the world (Guatemala, Peru, Pakistan, India, China, Chile, Kenya, Mexico, the Phillipines) are well-crafted, original, and the kind of stuff you just *have* to have. Even my husband (who dislikes shopping, unless it's for electronics and dvds) spent a considerable time in the store admiring all the handiwork and kept pointing out items he thought I'd like to buy. THAT is a major score!!! I will be frequenting Ten Thousand Villages for all my holiday gifts this year. I know all my friends and family members will love the housewares, jewelry, and accessories. :) read more

I can't believe I hadn't heard about this place before! I had a bit of time to spare recently and happened to walk into Ten Thousand Villages thinking it was a small boutique like any other. I walked in through the parking lot entrance and was immediately intrigued by several jewelry displays. One of the staff welcomed me in and pointed to a sign saying that all jewelry was 25% off. I found most of the jewelry to reasonably priced (15$, 30$, 45$) - especially because each piece was so beautifully crafted. The next section I looked at had little handwoven purses, also in a variety of colors. At this point I started to look around the shop and noticed all kinds of giftable goods, from fine chocolates and hand soaps to wind chimes and wall decor. When I wandered closer to the register, one of the ladies attending the store asked me if I had ever heard of Ten Thousand Villages before. I confessed that I hadn't, that I only walked in by chance, and she brought me a brochure and a sample of one of their chocolates. Ten Thousand Villages is actually a nonprofit organization, and is essentially an outpost for selling goods made by artisans in over 30 countries around the world. I had no idea that there are actually hundreds of locations across the US, but this is one of two in Southern California. The organization focuses on building relationships with disadvantaged artisans all over the world and offers them a way for their goods to reach a much larger consumer base. Although I spent over an hour browsing at the Pasadena location, their on-line catalog has a much larger amount of items on sale. She even said I could order an item online and have it shipped to the Pasadena location, and if I didn't like it, I didn't actually have to buy it! If you are looking for a unique, meaningful present for someone, I suggest browsing their website and if you like the kinds of item you see, visit one of their locations. Shopping there is part of the experience! I had a wonderful experience shopping at Ten Thousand Villages, and hope to support their cause more often in the future. At the end of the day, I walked out with three handwoven bracelets for my sisters and mother and a hazelnut dark chocolate bar for myself, but the best thing I walked out with was feeling like I was connected to the rest of the world, in a way my Iphone could never replicate :-) read more

I've passed this place by myriads of times without knowing what it was. Today, there was a man giving out free raffle tickets. I refused at first, but I returned to the store after my trip to Fresh & Easy. Ten Thousand Villages is a non profit organization that sells hand made items from over 38 different countries. It carries music, pottery items, ornaments and so much more. There's a broad and diverse selection of gifts from various continents. Five stars for the noble cause! read more

The concept behind this store is one that can't help but make you want to buy something. Now, I want to buy something when I stop at a gas station with drunk bums hanging all over it or at a store that sells nothing but computer paper, but that's me. But you, you will be compelled to buy something here too! So what did I fall victim to? An alpaca wool blanket made in Peru that is so soft it almost makes you want to fly straight to the Andes to nuzzle an alpaca in person, until you remember Alive and that nowhere in that movie were there alpacas, only people eating each other. But seriously, the detail with which the blanket edges are finished is impeccable and it does make me feel good to help support individuals in Peru versus Walmart or Target's corporate entities full of bald white men who frankly, do not need my patronage to make ends meet. The store had lots of other lovely items. There was the Peruvian wind chime made of shards of porcelain that had been pressed with lace while still wet slip to leave their pattern. At $35 I would have bought that too if I had an actual patio to put it out on. There were beautifully carved wood bowls from Nigeria, children's toys from India, and other items you can actually use in your home rather than just souvenir stuff to fool people into thinking you're cultured and well traveled. Overall it's a store worth checking out and if like me you get a warm greeting from the store manager that shows you how much he wants this place to succeed and keep helping the little guys, you'll want to help too. read more

I always walk by this place--it's just up the road from me, but never walk in. However earlier in the year, I felt compelled to go in there for some unknown reason. And buy some gifts for friends and for myself. The ambience was very nice and the people were sincere and friendly. I think I avoided the place before thinking that I'd run into some seriously hard core "kum bah yah" types who would make me feel bad about everything I buy that's not fair trade or what have you, but that was certainly not the case. read more

I'm shocked I haven't reviewed this place before. It's one of my favorite stores in Pasadena and definitely is worth the trip to South Lake. These people pull out all the stops at their events: high quality food galore and lovely treatment of teachers. TIP: get on their mailing list for all the deals and sales. The bag sale is awesome - fill a bag and get 20 % off. There are also coupons galore online. And right now there is a tent sale. Sometimes they even have clothes. I hard core love this store and its values, ethics, and world view. Awesome selection of unique jewelry here and soooooo much more. I do not fail to disappoint when I get my presents from here. In fact, I get most of my gifts here. This place is more real and fair trade than Costplus and a better deal than similar boutiques in Old Town Pasadena. Fair Trade ain't cheap but it is worth it, imho. read more

I'm going to Christmas shop here! ... Fair-trade products, some recycled products - hand blown recycled glass cups, recycled newspaper made into coasters and frames - I love this kind of resourcefulness! For more info on Fair-Trade go here: www.tenthousandvillages.com/php/fair.trade/worldwide.movement.php I totally believe in this kind of business. Not only do they have great business ethics, but the products are also amazing! And, the prices are reasonable. read more

The best store on South Lake! Guilt free shopping all the way, as everything in the store is fair trade. 99% of the employees are volunteers, lending there time to support a store with a great cause; helping developing countries sell their handmade goods for a fair wage. The store also hosts fantastic events in the evening occasionally, having nonprofits present on important topics, such as Human Trafficking and the Peace Corps. Really enjoyable store to browse in, especially around the winter holiday's! I always come away with something and every item has a story. read more

I heard about Ten Thousand Villages and came here to find a birthday gift. This store is such a great find for unusual gifts! The thing I love about it is by purchasing something, you are also helping people all over the world. Everything in the store is made in a third world country AND is fair-trade (the people who make these items are paid a fair wage in their country standard of living.) I also love that everything is hand-made - so everything is a "one-of-a-kind." The staff is so friendly and so enthusiastic about being fair-trade. Ask about anything and they will tell you the story about it, where it comes from, how it's made, what kind of craft it is...amazing! One of the most amazing things about this store? Most of the staff is a volunteer - and they love working there! I found my gift and also found a few other great things...I will definitely be coming back again! Get a good deal w/ the Yelp Check-In offer. read more

We were so excited to stumble upon this store!!! I saw it from across the street and knew it was the place for us. There are so many beautiful things inside this store. I picked out plenty of things that I know I will be coming back for. The prices were reasonable. Not cheap but not too expensive for fair trade beauty. The staff was pleasant and helpful. They even gave us a demo of the singing bowl from Tibet. They knew the answers to all our questions. This is a fun place to find a super unique gift for yourself or pretty much anyone you know. I will for sure be back! read more

Love the fair trade items! Fun place To look around! Parking in back that we didn't know about but free and easier than street parking! read more

Sam, the store manager, is so friendly and helpful - he offered a warm greeting when I entered the store. I learned about it from Yelp, and since I was in the area for work I dropped in to pick up an item they special ordered for me that I saw online that they didn't have available in the store. The jewelry and crafts are so impeccably detailed and beautiful, and the prices are more than reasonable. Everything is fair trade and proceeds benefit the livelihood of those who make the items (as it should!) instead of the greedy hands of some corporate giant. I walked out with a buffalo horn and brass bracelet and a gold tiered necklace. I will definitely be back for some unique and good karma inducing gifts for the holidays. I highly recommend this store for unique, quality gifts and an opportunity for goodwill all at the same time! read more

This is like a Cost Plus World Market but you know that it is fair-trade! I came here today because my groupon was expiring, and was delighted to see all the beautiful unique gifts! And everything I asked about was hand-made. I bought a lovely Punjabi pashmina for my mom for Mother's Day, and a beautiful hand made card. The card was especially moving because according to the text on the back of the card, it is made by former prostitutes in the Philippines. The sales reps were very helpful. They explained that the tag on each item tells you which country it was made. They also provided complimentary gift wrapping for the pashmina! My purchase came out to be $28 for the pashmina and $5 for the card (before applying the groupon). I was tempted to buy a few more items from the large clearance section, but that would be too greedy. Maybe someone can come here and buy gifts for me *hint* *hint*. read more

Come here for your holiday gift shopping! All the goods are hand made and fair trade! I have bought a hand painted wood frame mirror and I loved it! It was from Indonesia, it is so unique and I am sure there were limited quantities for each! They also have cute greeting cards, cut and paste style! New products come in pretty often. Look for chocolate samples on weekends :) Online shopping available!! read more