2017 Holiday Gift Guide
This holiday season we’re featuring several items that we felt would make great gift ideas and better yet, most of these are fairtrade so the profits go back to bettering communities around the globe. We have hand selected gifts from several social-enterprise brands including; dZi handmade, Matr Boomie and FeelGoodz and will be talking about their stories.
Tree-Free Greetings recently came out with a hilarious and educational game. The cards are printed using 100% solar power in Keene, NH on 100% post-consumer recycled paper, and the game is similar to go fish, however each card has a factoid on it about animal's poo. This is a comedical game that would bring laughter to any gathering.
When you are searching for that perfect something, whether for yourself, a friend, or a loved one, it is amazing to know that your purchase will have impacts far greater than you can imagine. When you shop with Matr Boomie, you can be confident that within each handcrafted piece there is a story of empowerment, connectedness, and new beginnings. Your purchase strengthens this story by fueling access to trade, sustainable employment, and ongoing education for over 1,000 artisans throughout India.
Feelgoodz, was founded in 2008 by Kyle Berner after an inspiring backpacking trip in Thailand. He was walking through a night market in Bangkok when his worn flip-flops finally broke. Needing to find another pair, he walked up to a vendor's display shaped like a tree with flip-flops hanging from the branches. He learned that they were made from high-quality natural rubber, tapped from Thai rubber trees. He found this idea moving and later began Feelgoodz.
For over 25 years, dZi has worked directly with over 1,000 Tibetan, Indian and Nepalese artisans to create, import and market designs that celebrate the beauty of the natural world and the amazing culture of Tibet. Before its incorporation in 1990, there were many interesting events that lead to the creation of the company. Today dZi operates exclusively as a wholesale trading company, employing a staff of 10 people in Massachusetts. In 2007, the Company moved operations from Washington, DC, to Easthampton, MA, where it is now located in an early 20th century mill building. It continues to focus on its close association with its customers and producer partners in India and mainly Nepal.
We recently received these hand-delivered alpaca products from Otavalo, Ecuador and they are an affordable, long-lasting gift that may last over 30-40 years! The alpaca fiber originates from Ecuador where our products are created out of one of the most luxurious fabrics in the world. Alpaca is the warmest all weather friendly fiber, warmer than sheep's wool. It provides great insulation, the air pockets allow for outstanding breathability, keeping you cool in summer, warmer than a heavy jacket in winter and more comfortable.
Alpaca fiber is very soft, much softer then sheep's wool, there’s no itching and scratching its strong natural fibers are silky and durable. Alpaca has no lanolin which makes for a hypoallergenic product, and alpaca is naturally water repellant. It does not pill, stain or create static. It’s very light in weight because of the microscopic air pockets in the fibers and Alpaca products can be passed down through generations. Alpaca fibers are organic and come in a multitude of colors ranging from whites to black, grays, and browns, and alpaca are the most colorful animal on earth. When dyed it takes on a richness second to no other fiber.