Celebrate the fall harvest with Fair Trade tablecloths and napkins at all Global Exchange store locations in San Francisco, Berkeley, Portland, Washington D.C., and Virginia! If you buy a tablecloth and four napkins, we’ll throw in four FREE napkins!

A selection of Global Exchange 100% cotton table linens originate from Southeast Rajasthan, India, where an income-generating program has enabled women to make four times the average wage of the area. The program began in response to the Ranthambhore National Park,  which was created to enable tigers to live and move freely in their habitat. However, the establishment of the park displaced villagers, who were resettled in areas without access to wood, water, and traditional farming lands.

The Dastkar Ranthambhore Income Generating program was created in 1989 so that displaced villagers did not lose their livelihoods. Today, 360 women from four villages are part of the Dastkar Project, which is completely self-sustaining through the sales of their craftwork. The women even have developed a unique own microloan system, in which they act as their own bank, providing loans to each other.

You can support this incredible project with every tablecloth-napkin purchase at your local Global Exchange store. The tablecloths, which are block-printed with natural dyes, are available in two sizes – 60″ x 60″ and 60″ x 90.” Purchase a tablecloth and four napkins, and we’ll throw in four more napkins, for free. Offer lasts through November 25, 2010.

Want more ideas to help Fair Trade your Harvest Table?

Sustainable teakwood cutting boards from Guatemala for preparing and serving your Fair Trade foods.

Hand-painted dishware from Tunisia.

Vetiver placemats from Bali.

Did you know that the average American consumes more than 700 pounds of paper a year? In fact, the paper industry is the fourth largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the United States.
If someone uses three paper napkins each day, 1,095 paper napkins are wasted every year. Multiply that by the American population, and you may see why 25% of landfills consist of paper waste.

One way to reduce your carbon footprint is as simple as switching from paper to cloth napkins. Choosing cloth napkins reduces waste, saves trees, and adds color and beauty to your dinner table!

Come visit your local Global Exchange store this fall and check out our 100% cotton block print tablecloths and napkins. When you buy one set (one tablecloth and four napkins), we’ll throw in four additional napkins for FREE!

Handmade in India, our Fair Trade table linens are created with the ancient technique of “block printing.” The time-consuming process begins with a piece of teak wood, which is intricately carved by a block maker into elaborate designs. The block is dipped into natural dyes of indigo, pomegranate, palm sugar, and other minerals, and pressed firmly onto stretched fabric. Many designs and colors are layered onto the fabric, until the final piece is complete.
Go green this season by switching to cloth napkins!