DC Shopping: Amani DC

I was in the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood in Washington, DC over the weekend for a swap event and stumbled across a cute and socially responsible shop that I thought I'd share with you. Amani DC is the US retail location and warehouse for Amani ya Juu, a women’s stitching and peace-building project based in East Africa. The store offered unique bags, jewelry, linens, and other items in beautiful prints, colors and fabrics.

According to the organization's website, Amani ya Juu (meaning “higher peace” in Swahili) or Amahoro ava Hejuru (in Kinyarwanda).

I admittedly shop pretty regularly at big-box retailers in my city, but it's nice to support an organization that emphasizes fair trade practices and providing opportunities to women in Africa. The women who create the goods of Amani DC are from Rwanda, Burundi, Congo, Uganda, Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia as well as other African countries.

So if you happen to be in the Mt. Pleasant area, check them out!

Neighborhood: Mt. Pleasant
Location: 3166 Mt. Pleasant St NW Washington, DC 20010
Phone:202.536.5303
Website: www.amaniafrica.org
Hours: Tuesday: 10:00 to 6:00; Wednesday: 10:00 to 6:00; Thursday: 10:00 to 6:00; Friday: 10:00 to 7:00; Saturday: 10:00 to 4:00; Sunday and Monday: Closed