Silk Road Bazaar: Fair, Fresh and Fun

By Emmi Kern

Infant feet seem to get a lot of attention, from parents counting toes at birth to games of “This Little Piggy” in toddlerhood. Friends and family –– especially grandmas –– love shopping for adorable socks and booties that will cover those little toes. Although babies technically do not need shoes until they begin walking, foot adornments of all kinds are popular accessories for little ones, simply for the aesthetic value as well as for warmth during the cooler months.

The search for the perfect baby shoes usually begins with the “aaaaww” factor. Are the shoes colorful? Are they soft? Do they sport characters that babies might like? Of course, today, many parents are looking for more than cuteness in a baby shoe; many are also concerned with quality and craftsmanship, especially if the child will be wearing the shoes while learning to walk. Eco-conscious shoppers may also have questions about whether the materials used are sustainable and safe. Companies like Silk Road Bazaar are stepping up to create baby shoes that meet all these criteria.

Silk Road Bazaar is a company that sells felted artisan clothing and crafts. Their Felt Baby Booties are among their best-selling items, and with good reason; they’re soft enough to keep baby’s feet cozy and warm, yet they’re sturdy enough to support the feet when the time comes to take those all-important first steps.

The booties come in several designs. Patchwork is a combination of several colors woven together in a classic quilt-like design. Red and blue both feature brightly colored felt flowers on a solid background. The remaining choices are animal themed booties that represent all 7 continents; Penguin for Antarctica, Koala for Australia, Panda for Asia, Giraffe for Africa, Moose for Europe, Deer for North America, and a Parrot of South America. A frog and an eagle round out the animal line, although a ladybug and a butterfly are in the works. They’re hoping to introduce princess and ninja booties in the near future.

Silk Road Bazaar endeavors to practice good business ethics by working with artists in remote areas of Kyrgyzstan. Many of these artisans are women who are single mothers or living in a culture where work opportunities for women are scarce. The company pays these individuals a fair wage and gives them the tools to market their skills and build business experience they may not have gotten otherwise.

For more information, contact www.thesilkroadbazaar.com