Celebrity Philanthropists: Lauren Conard’s The Little Market

Lauren Conrad certainly had a busy week. On Sunday, she got engaged to boyfriend William Tell, and then on Monday, she announced her new philanthropy project: The Little Market.

According to Conrad’s blog, The Little Market will sell handmade products from female artisans around the world through an online store. The fashion designer travelled across the globe with her best friend Hannah in order to find local work produced by women.

The Little Market’s twitter explains the project’s purpose, stating “Traveling the world to ethically source beautiful handmade goods so that you can change the lives of artisans in developing countries.”

The money earned from the products on The Little Market goes back to the communities of the artisans who created them. With the launch of The Little Market, Conrad’s gone from starring in a reality TV show to facilitating a microfinance project.

The Little Market sells anything from an Alpaca knit beanie to a chic white trunk. The website even has a holiday section, featuring a winter wreath made of festive ornaments.

Best of all, the online store allows you to see exactly where these handmade products comes from. When you click on an item, you can scroll down to see the maker. The name of the organization is hyperlinked, and with one click, you learn exactly who crafted the product and how your purchase will help their community.

The Little Market supports organizations like Friends Handicrafts in Nepal, which fights urban poverty by teaching women the art of felting; Rose Ann Hall Designs in Mexico, which helps artisans with disabilities produce traditional Mexican crafts; and Community Friendly Movement in India, which brings the products of marginalized artisans to a larger commercial market.

Now head over to The Little Market and find a gift for yourself, while helping someone else in need.

Click below to see Conrad traveling around the world to find products for The Little Market.