I love local flea markets and craft fairs, provided the cool stuff outnumbers the lucite “keepsakes” and fell-off-a-truck tube socks by 3:1. Last year on a jaunt through the Ybor city market in Tampa the sigOth came across the wonderful imports from Chi Chi Amor.
The business is a true labor of love for the globally-minded owners who track down eco-friendly, fair trade items, mostly from Guatamalan artisans. Scour the site for the kinds of clothes that demand to be worn barefoot in the summer sun – Naturally dyed bright basics for kids, organic cotton tanks, and my favorite, the floral embroidered white dresses and tops that my girls would live in every day of summer if it were up to me.
They’ve just added fun little gifts too, like a colorful fabric elephant bank or handmade baby booties from recycled cotton huipil, a traditional Mayan garment.
Hit the website and go nuts. It’s not exactly as fun as an open-air market, but it’s certainly cheaper than airfare to Tampa these days. –Liz
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