The Dedham Women's Exchange features handcrafted items from many artisans from our surrounding community. We also have a curated selection of fine gifts, housewares and decorative items sourced from top vendors.
The Dedham Women's Exchange features handcrafted items from many artisans from our surrounding community. We also have a curated selection of fine gifts, housewares and decorative items sourced from top vendors.

About

Our Story

Our story dates back to 1914 when the Contentment Tea Room and Women’s Exchange opened in two rooms of a private home at 82 Court Street in Dedham, Massachusetts.  It was comprised of a tearoom, food shop and handiwork shop and provided a source of income for women for whom jobs were scarce or not considered appropriate.  After several moves over the years, the Dedham Exchange moved in 1948 to its current location at 445 Washington St. in a small barn which it later purchased in 1953.

On the surface, the Exchange may look like other gift shops, but it isn’t.  The Dedham Exchange is a non-profit gift shop run by volunteers assisted by talented staff.   Its mission is to support artisans and educational and philanthropic organizations in the community.  Today the Dedham Exchange represents about 200 artisans who hand-craft everything from ceramics, glassware, woven textiles, and woodwork, to hand sewn and hand knitted baby items and much more.  We carry a beautifully curated mix of quality hand-crafted and commercial gifts for every occasion.

Dedham Now 

Giving Back to the Community

We take pride and joy in giving back to the community.  The proceeds of the Dedham Exchange are donated to a number of philanthropic and service organizations in the community focused on the needs of children and challenged adults, and college scholarships have been granted to local high school students.  Here are some of the recipients of our donations in recent years:

Circle of Hope
Dedham Community House
Dedham Education Foundation
Dedham Museum & Archive
Dedham Square Circle
Dedham Youth Commission
Dress for Success Boston
Hale Education
HESSCO Meals on Wheels
Lifeworks Inc. of Massachusetts
Riverside Community Care
Westwood Youth & Family Services
Wily Network

    The National Federation of Woman's Exchanges

    The Dedham Exchange is a member of the National Federation of Woman’s Exchanges, an organization of Woman’s Exchanges across the country which help women achieve economic stability through consignment and sale of fine quality, handmade items. The founding of the first Woman’s Exchange in Philadelphia in 1832 marked the beginning of what is the oldest continuously operating Woman’s Exchange Movement in the country.

    Our retail store

    445 Washington Street

    Dedham, MA 02026

    10 AM - 5 PM Tuesday - Saturday

    Closed Sunday and Monday

    781-326-0627

    dedhamexchange@gmail.com

    Get directions