Social Responsibility
For 50 years, Garland's has worked directly with Native American artists of the Southwest, many of them across several generations of the same family. Here's how we work, and why.
Our mission
Our core mission is to directly support independent Southwestern Native American artisans and their cultural traditions. We hold the utmost respect for the Indigenous art of the Southwest, and it has been a privilege to develop close friendships with many artists and their families.
We consider our artists partners in this business, and we're committed to always working with them fairly and honestly:
- Artists set their own retail prices.
- Artists are paid up front and receive the majority of the retail price.
- We buy directly from the artists, so we can guarantee authenticity and genuine materials in everything we sell.
We consider ourselves stewards of these special pieces of art, and we're honored to share their beauty and their stories.
Philanthropy
Garland's has supported many Native American and local causes over the years, but we believe our biggest impact comes from direct financial support of our artists and their families in times of need.
Since the 1970s, Garland's has supported hundreds of Native American families: providing funds during emergencies, helping with funerals, covering rent and car payments, and giving advances on large rugs so weavers have an income during the many months it takes to weave them. These artists' work helps our business thrive, and it has been a meaningful privilege to pay them well and to support them when they need it.
Education
We see ourselves as stewards of handmade Native American art, and part of that responsibility is helping preserve the Indigenous cultures of the Southwest by sharing them. We have spent decades learning from these artists and their cultures. The work we sell is not only beautiful but full of meaning and symbolism, and we pass on the artists' stories and traditions to our customers with respect and care.
ATADA
Garland's is a longtime member of ATADA, the Antique Tribal Art Dealers Association, which is dedicated to the highest standards of ethics and integrity in collecting Indigenous art.