Local Global Finds: Stories for Today and Tomorrow

Not to scare anyone, but there are only four and a half months until the holiday season will be officially in full swing. Rather than running around buying trinkets that last for a few months or are snatched from the leftover pile at Garden State Plaza, the smart shopper will start planning now to win the title of “Best Gift Giver”. Local Global Finds checks every box for a unique gift that will last a lifetime and comes equipped with a story all its own. 

Maria Luisa, a Rockland native of over four decades, ran her brick and mortar shop in Nyack for 38 of those 40 years before making the transition to an online based shopping experience with occasional pop-ups. Throughout this transition, her missions have remained the same – to spread the word about the importance of ethical consumption, to work with global artisans and to never stop pouring into her community.

As part of her mission, Maria Luisa believes that curiosity is a crucial first step towards ethical consumption. She encourages shoppers to ask critical questions regarding the story behind an item. “Who makes your products? How are they compensated? What do you know about them and what do you know about the folks who were actually bringing back the products?,” asked Maria Luisa. If distributors cannot answer those questions, then it becomes clear that ethical production and consumption are not a central part of their mission. 

Hearing the terms “ethically sourced ”or “global artisans” can bring up misconceptions surrounding the look of items. “I think a lot of people think about ethically sourced products as something traditional to the country it’s coming from [and that] it’s not necessarily suited for your environment. And that is not true.” 

All aesthetics are represented on localglobalfinds.com, from minimalist to maximalist to somewhere in between. Scrolling through, visitors find products such as full length robes upcycled from vintage saris, olive wood salad servers hand carved in Kenya from fallen trees, and adorable felt “dapper frogs” crafted by women who were at risk for human trafficking but now have a fair income and a safe work environment. 

Knowing these stories allows buyers to bring items into their homes with pride knowing that each purchase supports the well being of individuals who need the support the most rather than contributing to the coffers of the Bezos, Musks or Zuckerbergs of the world. “A sustainable product is actually peace of mind,” shared Maria Luisa. “Knowing that there is no guilt to the purchase. And if you have products that tell a story and you can share that story, then it’s a ripple effect.” 

A portion of the proceeds from a number of items purchased on Local Global Finds directly supports the community of Rockland County through the ML Perez-Whittingham Scholarship. This year, the ML Perez-Whittingham Scholarship has granted $6,000 in scholarships to Rockland teens furthering their education, bringing total scholarships to $25,000 since its inception in 2016.  After hearing the story of her own mother having to give up her education while in middle school to help support her family, Maria Luisa knew that as soon as she was able to she wanted to empower the next generation of young adults to “…go to the next level and build their own opportunities.” 

This upcoming holiday season, gift wisely, knowing that your presents will have stories to tell for generations to come while also having a positive impact directly, locally, and globally. Come find Maria Luisa at one of her pop-ups on September 28th at the Forest Hills Makers Market, October 4th and 5th at Nyack Village, or October 11th at the West Village Market. Shop online at localglobalfinds.com.