The Shared Thread Newsletter - Vol 1

Back in the late '90s, we started something called Global Dialog. The concept was simple: the artisans chose questions they were curious about; we shared them in our catalog, and invited customers to respond. And they did—by mail, since email wasn't a thing yet!

One letter I remember asked the artisans, "What do you do in your free time?" They were stumped. Another time, the artisans asked, "Is it true everyone in the U.S. is rich?" That question got an avalanche of replies.

So much has changed since then—technology, of course, but also how we connect across cultures. These days, it's easy to get lost in the noise of headlines and hot takes. But what we're craving is something deeper. Something human.

Every time you choose to purchase a MarketPlace piece, you're connecting with women who are creating lives of independence and purpose—for themselves, their families, and their communities. That story deserves to be told and shared.

We're inviting you to be part of that story. Write to us. Tell us what moves you, what you'd like to know, or what questions you have for the artisans. Your curiosity, reflections, and stories help shape this dialog—and make it real.

Let's start a conversation that matters!

—Pushpika Freitas | President