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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Our View: Haggen still at risk ... Jeffrey Gillespie: An annihilation in the Arctic ... A new act for an old building ... Our View: Haggen still at risk ... Jeffrey Gillespie: An annihilation in the Arctic ... A new act for an old building ... BUSINESS PROFILE Business Profile: Hill Station offers bazaar crafts from India Comment By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Jul. 6, 2015 at 7:37 PM Updated Jul 6, 2015 at 8:27 PM By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Jul. 6, 2015 at 7:37 PM Updated Jul 6, 2015 at 8:27 PM » Social News A colorful, mostly-India import bazaar in the heart of the Railroad District, Hill Station offers a dazzling array of unique, hand-made, folk art as home décor and apparel accessories.  Located at the corner of 4th and A streets in Ashland, Hill Station dedicates itself to preserving the works of creative folk all over the world, with 70 percent of it from India, says owner Farinaz Wadia, a native of a fishing village on India's west coast. How did you get here?   My husband Travis Luther and I met in Bombay in 1987, when he was an exchange student. He’s a native of Washington state. We tried living in Washington, but the months of drizzling rain inspired us to locate in Ashland seven years ago. We loved the cosmopolitan flair here. We have a daughter Aisha. We opened Hill Station two years ago and also, as Indika, sell goods on the Internet and at trade shows. What is your goal and mission at Hill Station — and where does the name come from? In India, during the British times, they would escape the heat at small communities up on hilltops. Here, artisans had the opportunity to directly present one-of-a-kind folk art of rural India. With mechanization and mass markets, these crafts are being lost. It’s heartbreaking. We want to help preserve them with fair trade, meaning we pay them what they ask and we don’t support any sweatshops or child labor. What’s for  sale now at  Hill Station? Pillows, linens, tapestries, scarves, ceramics, baskets, gallery art, both local and from all over the world. These tiny cars are handmade from tin cans in Madagascar. These fish are made from oil drums in Haiti. The hand-embroidered muslin tunic is from Pakistan. The mosaic bronze elephants with mirrors are from India. How is it working selling unique items? At trade shows, buyers will ask for 60 of something, but we sell only one-of-a-kind. Each product stands on its own. The tapestries became so popular in the 1960s that most became mass-produced but we sell only the unique ones, hand-stamped, so the craft is carried on with dignity and pride the flame of tradition for more generations. The products all have beauty, durability, authenticity. You won’t find the goods or prices you see at Pier One or Wal-Mart. These are an homage to a time when people worked more slowly and created with great quality. John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]. By John Darling For the Tidings DailyTidings.com By John Darling For the Tidings Posted Jul. 6, 2015 at 7:37 PM Updated Jul 6, 2015 at 8:27 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501