Lexington, KY - When Teresa Hendricks graduated from the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce at the University of Kentucky with a degree in business and economics, she moved to Antigua, Guatemala, to learn Spanish.
Sixteen years later, after finding her husband, Eduardo del Pinal, starting a family and opening a local retail shop (in addition to learning Spanish), Hendricks moved back to Lexington, her hometown, and started her wholesale company, Lucia's Imports, partnering with many of the artisans and cooperatives she had met and worked with while in Antigua. In November of 2007, she opened Lucia's World Friendly Boutique, her Woodland Triangle retail outlet. The store stocks its shelves with eclectic items, such as men's and women's apparel, jewelry, scarves, messenger bags, and other trinkets from around the world - India, Nepal, Kenya, as well as Guatemala.
Earlier this year, Lucia's World Friendly Boutique and Lucia's Imports were accepted into the Fair Trade Federation, a trade association that "strengthens and promotes North American businesses fully committed to fair trade," according to the organization's Web site, www.fairtradefederation.org. The application process is rigorous, and applicants must prove that they are committed to following the principles and practices of fair trade, such as creating business opportunities for disempowered producers, fair pay and safe working conditions.
Hendricks' two companies are the only businesses in Lexington affiliated with the Fair Trade Federation; other state members can be found in Berea and Louisville.
Certainly, Hendricks' experiences in Guatemala helped cultivate her global business ethic. "You talk about poverty here - and there is - but so many people (in Guatemala, and around the world) live on less than $2 a day," she said.
Another tenet of the federation is a commitment toward building sustainable practices around the globe, so when groups of people learn a particular skill set advantageous to a certain region, the opportunity to monetize that skill is always available. "Everybody can help people, and it's not charity," she said. "It's teaching people skills and allowing them to earn an income so they don't remain in poverty."
For further reading on fair trade visit www.fairtraderesource.org. On May 9, Lucia's World Friendly Boutique will celebrate World Fair Trade Day by participating in the "World's Largest Fair Trade Coffee Break" from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., offering fair trade coffee and chocolate tastings, music and a rain garden building party.
Lucia's World Friendly Boutique, a member of Local First Lexington, is located at 523 E. High St., for more information call (859) 389-9337. For more information on Lucia's Imports, visit www.luciasimports.com.
The Local Color column spotlights local businesses and business owners who help fortify Lexington's unique cultural identity as well as its economic backbone. If you would like to make a suggestion for upcoming candidates, e-mail robbie@smileypete.com.