One World Market was started in 1991 in the basement of Watts Street Baptist Church in Durham, NC. The Mission Group at Watts Street began to dream of a full-scale, non-profit retail store. On September 16, 1992 One World Market opened for business in a brick and mortar store located on Perry Street.

As a non-profit, we focused on providing fair wages to low-income craft persons. In 2001, the store moved to its current location at 811 Ninth Street.

Over 25 years later, sales at One World Market continue to provide a sustainable source of fair pay that helps ensure a living wage for thousands of people in developing areas.  We work with artisans who live in over 70 different developing countries, giving them access to the US market to sell their handmade crafts. All of our artisans are paid under Fair Trade standards, ensuring that they make a livable wage for their country.