Apart from providing a chain of shops with high-quality crafts, the foundation also gives rural Thai women the training and materials to set up artisans' cooperatives.

WITH competition tightening for high-quality American Indian crafts, Tedd Schwartz has developed stratagems for getting some of the best objects.

S Map Most of the revenue from the high-quality crafts here goes directly to the artisans; some of the rest goes to charity.

An attractive gallery displaying high-quality crafts produced in the Teifi Valley, including leatherwork, pottery, woodturning, basketry as well as paintings by local artists.

For anyone interested in high-quality Mozambican crafts, it's an essential stop.

The showrooms at Galeria Indigo, Allende 104, (52-951) 514-8338, www.galeriaindigo.com, display a broad range of high-quality crafts, weavings and both abstract and folk art.

There's a Lebanese restaurant offering a set lunch (RM43; closed Monday) and a well-stocked shop selling beautiful high-quality crafts products and art books.

For something especially Canadian try The Quest (1023 Government Street; 604-382-1934), which sells high-quality crafts made from coast to coast, including the Arctic.

D Map For high-quality crafts from around Mexico, visit this government-run shop.

Opened last March, the museum also has a large gift shop with high-quality Mexican crafts, including delicate silver filigreed earrings and embroidered tunics.