What if we told you you could own your very own Ewok-meets-Aarnio hanging treehouse? Canada-based Tom Chudleigh creates these bubblicious Free Spirit Eco Spheres that sway amidst the coniferous forests of the Pacific Northwest. Available for purchase or for rent, they offer a whimsical new way to experience the outdoors.
As the holidays come to a close, the gifts have been given, the cookies have been eaten, and your Christmas tree is more than likely starting to look a little crisp around the edges. It is at this point in the holiday season that the realities of the Christmas tree dilemma start to sink in. If you have a live cut Christmas tree like the majority of the US population, you are probably beginning to contemplate how to dispose properly of the tree. This point in the cycle always seems so sad, considering this tree probably took at least 10 years to cultivate and grow and was cut down for a just a few weeks of holiday pleasure.
There are better, greener ways to do the Christmas tree thing (and we’ll talk about them in detail below), but if you already have a cut tree, your best option now is to send your little tannenbaum to a better place through Treecycling. These days, most communities have treecycling centers, where you can drop your trees off without hassle and know that they will go on to start a new life providing mulch, landscaping or erosion prevention.
For treecycling locations near you, look here >
As we head into Christmas and a frenzy of gifts and gluttony, try to take a moment to step back and remember what the holidays are really about. We found Brian Smith’s story about Recycled Christmas a while back and thought it an inspiring example of what the holidays could and should really represent: celebration, thoughtfulness, and giving part of yourself.
Jewelry always makes a great gift. Whether you lean bohemian or mod, there are a variety of sustainable yet stylish adornment options to lend that added something to your look. Check out our suggestons below for the perfect eco stocking stuffer…
READ MORE >
Last year we got super excited about a recycled steel pipe menorah by Grand Idea studio. While that steel pipe menorah was just a DIY design idea and wasn’t actually for sale - this year we’ve come across a very similar steel pipe menorah that you can actually purchase for $99, from a company called Notschlock
Of course this makes us wonder a bit about where the designers got the idea….. but hey - I guess you can’t patent ideas! Since Grand Idea Studio seem to have no plans to sell their recycled-pipe menorah idea, we’re glad to see someone making such a clever design available for purchase.
For me, nothing induces a good case of eco-guilt like Christmas tree lights. They may be gaudy, cheesy, blazing examples of over-consumption festooned across our streets, but I love them. But this year, it’s time to break free from this dysfunctional relationship and invest in a few strands of LED lights to twinkle my greenery. Compared to traditional Christmas lights, I’ll be using 1/10th the amount of electricity to light the small LED’s, and 1/160th for the larger bulbs. Beyond the expected energy savings, LED strands also burn brighter so my tree will be more jolly than my neighbors’ tawdry displays. LED’s are also significantly more durable, meaning my holiday cheer will survive the elements and twinkle for years to come.
Kids love the holidays- for the cheer, the joy, the abundance of cookies, but mostly, for the gifts. This year, why not give green gifts that are healthy, educational, and eco-friendly. The little ones will love them, and you’ll feel great about giving them. Warning: excessive cuteness ahead…
BABY ELEPHANT - $22
Does it get any cuter than this? Handmade by artisans in rural Kenya, the adorable little elephant is is made from natural wool yarn, natural vegetable-based dyes, and is sure charm anyone; big or small.
KIDSONROOF PLAYHOUSES- 20-40 EURO
Every kid loves a playhouse. And now with the simple cardboard House and MobileHome from Kidsonroof, you can feel good about buying one for the kid in your life. Kidsonroof donates 5% of its profits to Unicef projects, and you end up with a great gift for your child or younger sibling- a hideaway, fortress, dollhouse, or secret place to hide from monsters. Choose from the larger-sized House, which arrives as a blank slate of white cardboard, just asking to be painted, drawn on, and covered in stickers, or the more portable MobileHome, a perfectly-sized cottage for your child’s family of teddy bears.
THIS INTO THAT DIY PROJECT BOOKS- $12 in Target stores
Tiffany Threadgould (aka Tiffany Tomato Designs) knows how to turn trash into treasure. And now with her brand new book series of This Into That DIY Recycling projects, your kids can follow in her footsteps. From turning cereal boxes into table soccer, t-shirts into belts, and soda bottles into jewelry holders, these books are chock-full of great projects that encourage recycling and repurposing everyday materials. Series includes Fabric Fashions, Garbage Games, and Plastic Pizzazz.
+ $12 in Target stores
OEUF HUG-ME SWEATER- $88
Oeuf is a line of sustainable products for babies and small children. The company tagline is “good design for all ages”, and some of their precious essential knits are designed around the concept of knitting people together through clothing. The ‘hug me’ sweater and ’squeeze me’ mittens, which feature child-size mitten pockets sewn into the garment, are the perfect designs for connecting parent and child. Oeuf’s knitwear is made from azo-free dyed alpaca wool, hand knit in a fair trade relationship between the NYC based company and a group of knitters in Bolivia.
SECTOR 9 BAMBOO SKATEBOARDS- $119-$179
While you may not love the idea of your child tearing down the street on his brand new skateboard, you’ll feel great knowing that it’s made from super-sustainable bamboo. These kid-sized boards from Sector 9 come in short and long-board versions and prove that bamboo isn’t just for housewares and flooring anymore!
OWL BACKPACK- $54
Handmade by artisans in rural Kenya, the perfectly-sized and super-fuzzy owl backpack will have your child toting in eco-friendly style. The pack is made from natural wool yarn, natural vegetable-based dyes, and is the perfect size for all your child’s sleepover goodies- toothbrush, books, and pajamas.
SPEESEES CLOTHING- $16 AND UP
Speesees clothing line for babies and small children isn’t just ridiculously cute, it’s clothing with a conscience. The company’s mission is to be “fun, fair and organic,” both in the products they make and the way they do business. All their clothes are manufactured under Fair Trade Practices and made from organically grown, handpicked cotton. What’s more, 1% of all online retail orders go towards educational supplies and resources for the children who attend Zari Pada, the local elementary school in the village where Speesees is manufactured. And if that weren’t enough, the clothes are just so darn cute. We love the witty “human” t-shirt and the super-stylish flap skirts.
DUBBLE FAIR-TRADE CHOCOLATE- £0.50
While the idea of your children on a chocolate-induced sugar high Christmas morning may make you crazy, knowing that Dubble chocolate benefits over 45,000 cocoa farmers of the Kuapa Kokoo cooperative in Ghana should put you at ease. Farmers are guaranteed a fair and stable price, and the chocolate is so delicious you may just have to eat it yourself. To save the kids from cavities, of course.
+ £0.50 a bar from A Lot Of Chocolate
HAVE FRIES WILL TRAVEL- $11
They say that the books you read as a child are the most important and influential. Get your kids thinking green from the start, with the endearing story of Rock, an eco-rap singer, who buys Tiny, a smelly diesel car, at a used car lot. Rock converts Tiny to run on biodiesel, and the two embark on an exciting roadtrip visiting senators, soybean farmers, and encouraging others to use biodiesel all along the way. With an introduction by Daryl Hannah and Grassolean Solutions founder Charris Ford, the book is a great story with an important lesson for the little ones.
SIGG BOTTLES- $17
Get rid of those old-school “sippy” cups and upgrade to these colorful and durable SIGG bottles. Recommended for ages 2 and up, these reusable bottles are made from a solvent-free, eco-friendly powder base coating and a completely inert inner lining that will never leach harmful chemicals. Plus, we love the colorful graphics and super-functional flip-top.
MAKE-YOUR-OWN CHEWING GUM KIT- $13.50
The kids will love making their own bubble gum from scratch, and you’ll love them learning about rainforest preservation while doing it. The kit is both fun and educational, and comes with everything you need to be blowing bubbles in no time: pelletized Chicle (natural tree gum), peppermint and tutti fruiti flavoring, confectionery sugar, and corn syrup.
ANIMAL PUZZLE- $98
Designed by Aoi Huber Kono and manufactured in Switzerland, this adorable animal puzzle uses sustainably-harvested maple wood and non-toxic plants to provide hours of entertainment. Six puzzles in one, the puzzle’s six sides include an elephant, monkey, lion, owl, rabbit, and bear. Or get creative with your own animal hybrids like a “monk-owl” or “elephabbit.”
RUBBERWOOD TOY KITS- $24 and up
These adorable little figurines from ImagiPlay come in themed kits and are made from eco-friendly rubberwood and non-toxic lacquers. Grown primarily for their sap, rubber trees are cut down in their prime, and their wood often ends up unused and wasted. From the collection of woodland animals to the arctic and rainforest collections, the figurines give the rubber trees one more chance to be put to good use.
+ $24 and up from Worldwide Child
MIYIM STUFFED ANIMALS- $35
What better way for your kids to enjoy the holidays than to snuggle up next to the fire with their favorite cuddly stuffed animal? MiYim plush toys are one part adorable, one part pure and organic, made from only the best organic cotton, grown free of chemicals, pesticides, and herbicides. What’s more, the soft colors are acheived through the company’s PureWaterWash process, which brightens the natural cotton using entirely plant-derived dyes (the pale yellow hues come from gardenias). We love the Peaceful Dreams collection of sleeping bears, dogs, and lambs that will make great naptime companions for your little ones.
Let’s face it: we live in a gadget culture. And around this time of year, gadget consumption peaks as people head to Best Buy and Sharper Image to pick up shiny new gifts for their friends and families. Since we can’t fight this trend, we thought we’d suggest some cool eco-friendly electronics for your favorite gadget geeks this year.
TWIG THUMBAIL USB DRIVE - 79 Euro
No gadget freak will be able to resist the Oooms Twig USB stick! Available in Europe from one of our favorite clever Dutch designers Guido Oooms, these engaging yet functional gadgets are available in storage capacities ranging from 128MB to 1GB.
IPOD COZY BY PRO’TECH’D- $8-$14
A cute and cozy way to protect your iPod is the iPod Cozy from sustainable design company Pro’tech’d. Handmade from 100% certified organic cotton from Peru, the Cozies feature handmade buttons and are so adorable we wish they made them for humans! Available for iPods, Nanos, and Shuffles.
WIND-UP DIGITAL RADIO- £89.50
Who knew listening to music could be entertaining, energy efficient, and a good workout all at the same time? With Freeplay’s Devo wind-up digital radio, you can enjoy all the benefits of high-quality digital radio and portability. A great gift for your music-loving, on-the-go friend, the Devo is powered by your own muscle and provides an hour of digital music, or 36 hours of FM radio at normal volume.
MINI SOLAR FLASHLIGHT- $21
For just $21 you can own the world’s smallest self-powered LED flashlight. This is a great way to introduce family and friends to solar power while keeping an eye out for their safety as well. This little gadget requires no batteries and will last longer than you do, so you never need to worry about it running out of juice.
$21 from Compact-Impact
RECYCLED PLASTIC NANO CASE- $19
For your iPod-addicted friend, the Jimi recycled plastic Nano case provides both protection and eco-friendly style. Made from 100% recycled translucent polycarbonate (closely related to bullet-proof glass), the case features a belt/armband clip and swappable faceplates.
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BAMBOO COMPUTER MOUSE- £17.99
Your computer-savvy yet eco-friendly friend will love this bamboo mouse that combines modern technology with sustainability. The mouse works like any other, but the case is made from bamboo instead of plastic. Also available are matching bamboo keyboards and monitors!
VOLTAIC SOLAR POWERED BAGS - $199 - $250
These solar bags never cease to amaze us, and make a great gift for that nomadic tech-geek in your life. The Voltaic messenger bags and backpacks are mobile power generators, designed to charge all your little gadgets with the energy of the sun. With no power outlets they charge cell phones, cameras, PDA’s, and MP3 player, making them ideal for that gadget-lover-on-the-go.
SOLIO UNIVERSAL SOLAR CHARGER - $100
Like a smaller, sleeker version of the Voltaic backpack, this chic little device will charge your electronic gadgets cordlessly - using the suns energy. Perfect for today’s mobile lifestyles, the Solio Universal charger makes a great useful gift that won’t break the bank.
DIY KYOTO WATTSON - £350
If you’ve got a little money to spend and are concerned about energy consumption, the DIY Kyoto Wattson makes a great holiday gift. The cute little device is essentially a stylish, souped-up energy meter that provides a simple means of understanding how much energy your home consumes. The gadget takes measurements of overall domestic energy consumption, then displays the reading both numerically and “non-verbally,” with an ambient red light that dims according to how much power your electronics are sucking through the outlets. Although its made in the UK, you can order from anywhere in the world by emailing the DIY Kyoto people directly.
GLOW IN THE DARK GLOW BRICK -£20
We’re not sure if this counts as a gadget, but we love it. The Glow Brick is a clever little cordless light made from a phosphorescent lightbulb (yes, a REAL lightbulb) embedded in a block of acrylic. It requires no electricity and can glow for up to three hours, “powered” only by light it soaks up from the sun or other artificial light sources, making it as energy-efficient and eco-friendly as it is engaging. (Warning: this is more of a nightlight than a “lamp” - i.e. it is not very bright).
ECOPOD HOME RECYCLING CENTER- $328
This compact and efficient home recycling center is the ideal gift for the environmentally-conscious yet high-tech homemaker. Designed by BMW Designworks, the EcoPod collects and compresses all your recyclable material, from aluminum cans to plastic. The space-saving, uber-functional unit also stores your recyclable glass and paper in the removeable bins in the top lid.
Today we continue our Green Gift Guide with clever suggestions for the woman in your life: green versions of a girl’s favorite gifts including chocolate, fuzzy sweaters, and jewelry. Indulge your girlfriend, mother, sister, or best friend this holiday season….
PULL-TAB PURSE BY ESCAMA- $93
This versatile, glitzy yet practical handbag is made from over 700 aluminum pull-tabs from soda cans. The Socorro purse by Escama is a great example of turning everyday objects into clever design. Hand-crocheted and lightweight, it features a zipper closure, nylon lining, and an inside zip pocket. Making it even more green, the bags are produced by cooperatives of Brazilian craftswomen, and are individually signed by the artist who made it. A great gift for your eco-friendly yet always stylish girl friend.
DECONSTRUCTED SHAMPOO BOTTLE RING- $48
The bold and stylish O-U Ring by Studio 1a.m. is made from deconstructed shampoo bottles, encapsulated in polycarbonate, aluminum, and rubber. Different parts of bottles mean no two rings are alike! Also available as a pendant necklace.
3Form Ecoresin Bracelets - $5
Here’s the perfect gift for the archilady in your life (and we know there are a lot of you out there amongst our readers). Any designer who is into sustainable interiors is familiar with 3Form, the company that makes beautiful sustainable resin.
Now, in what we can only describe as a brilliant interdisciplinary move, 3Form has branched out into sustainable jewelry. These lovely ecoresin bracelets are only $5 a piece, and every purchase helps the environment, because 3Form donates 10% of proceeds to the Rocky Mountain Institute.
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PERFECT ORGANIC BATH AND BODY- $10 and up
What girl doesn’t love super-soft, shea buttered skin? There are tons of organic bath and body lines out there, but we love Perfect Organics for their purity of product, design, and packaging. Their mission is simple: “to create wholesome organic products unrivaled in perfection, purity and effectiveness.” Their 100% pure and natural lip balms, lotions, and body washes are just the thing for your mother or sister. Try the Shea Butter, with ingredients extracted and clarified naturally, without the use of hexane/solvents or other chemicals.
+ $10 and up from Perfect Organics
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LOOOLO SCARVES- $150 and up
These beautifully knit scarves are not only warm and gorgeous, they’re organic, biodegradable, and compostable. Designed by Joanna Notkin of Canadian company Looolo, the soft and snuggly accessories are made from Organic wool, ramie (in the linen family), viscose and zero impact dyes. The perfect winter gift for your always-cold girlfriend or grandmother.
Street Sign Bracelets- $24
Designer Stephen Hartlzer designs these wonderful recycled bracelets using old street signs and precision cutting and polishing. No two bracelets are the same! The bold colors and cuff style make this a perfect holiday accessory. Handmade in the USA.
TYPEWRITER KEY RING- $63
We love the simplicity of these bold, adjustable rings made from vintage typewriter keys set into sterling silver fittings. Made without the use of epoxy, the rings are durable, one-of-a-kind, and are just the personalized gift for your female coworker or sister. The original recycled typewriter jewelry is here. Choose your letter for jewelry that’s one-of-a-kind. Made with genuine, vintage typewriter keys set in 100% sterling silver fittings.
ANNA COHEN SWEATER- $255
During the cold winter months, there are few things better than a big fuzzy sweater. We love this voluminous white cowl neck sweater by Anna Cohen, made from 80% organic cotton and 20% recycled poly.
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GREEN DIAMONDS & ECO-FRIENDLY JEWELRY - $200 and up
Everyone knows diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but now you can buy the exquisite gems with a clean conscience. Brilliant Earth is the leading supplier of certified conflict-free diamonds from Canada, and also donates 5% of all its profits to Diamonds for Africa, a non-profit that directly benefits local African communities harmed by the diamond industry.
An even better choice in our opinion is to go for “cultured” diamonds and completely bypass the mining thing altogether. Greenkarat is the first stop for completely sustainable fine jewelry, and uses cultured diamonds, rubies and saphires instead of mined ones, and 100% recycled platinum and gold in their jewelry. They even do custom orders!
+ $550 and up from Brilliant Earth
+ $200 and up from GreenKarat
Verē CHOCOLATE- Gift Boxes starting at $20
If diamonds are a girl’s best friend, chocolate is a close second. Verē chocolates are made from the best, sustainably grown, pesticide-free cocoa beans, and “handmade” Verē’s own state-of-the-art Manhattan factory. Most of the truffles, brownies, and bars are organic, gluten-free, and vegan, not to mention ridiculously delicious.
It’s that time of year again, and today marks the start of our Holiday Gift Guide here at Inhabitat. Our first installment is Cheap Gifts Under $30- wallet-friendly green gifts that are great for co-workers, stocking stuffers, or the yearly white elephant party. Read on for the best cheap gift suggestions, and stay tuned in the next few days for more gift ideas for her, him, pets, and more!
YULE TREE TO BE - $22
Give the gift of a tree this holiday season, and encourage family and friends to nurture Christmas trees (instead of chopping them down year after year as tradition goes). With a little care, you can watch this baby Christmas tree grow each year from a mere seedling to a majestic Noble Fir. We think it would make a lovely housewarming gift or memento for a baby’s first Christmas.
PLANT-ME PETS- $20
These quirky little creatures, made of decomposing natural latex rubber, sprout into melons, tomatoes, and pumpkins. So cute you may not want to plant them, Plant-Me Pets make great desktop companions and are the ideal gift for that impossible-to-buy-for individual on your list.
WORLDCHANGING BOOK- $25
Edited by Alex Steffen and Inhabitat’s own Sarah Rich, this is the quintessential guide to living sustainably. Usually we at Inhabitat focus on design and building, but this whopper highlights just about everything, from technology to politics. 600-plus pages of ideas and innovations will no doubt inspire, intrigue, and have you thinking it is indeed time for change.
+ $25 from Amazon
HAND MADE FINGER PUPPETS = $12
Are you dying of cuteness yet? I can’t look at these pictures without cooing. These adorable finger puppets are handmade by artisans in rural Kenya, using natural wool and vegetable-based dyes. We can’t think of a better stocking stuffer for a small child (or a parent of a small child).
+ $12 from Branch
MINI SOLAR FLASHLIGHT = $21
For just $21 you can own the world’s smallest self-powered LED flashlight. This is a great way to introduce family and friends to solar power while keeping an eye out for their safety as well. This little gadget requires no batteries and will last longer than you do, so you never need to worry about it running out of juice.
+ $21 from Compact-Impact
ORIKASO DINNER SET- $27
Great for your outdoorsy hiker friend, the Orikaso line of flat-pack dinnerwear is durable, leak-proof, and easy to clean. Just throw it in your backpack and fold into cups, bowls, and plates in seconds. The dinner set comes in a reusable packing sleeve, and is made from Greenpeace-endorsed polypropylene.
RECYCLED PLASTIC NANO CASE- $19
For your iPod-addicted friend, the Jimi recycled plastic Nano case provides both protection and eco-friendly style. Made from 100% recycled translucent polycarbonate (closely related to bullet-proof glass), the case features a belt/armband clip and swappable faceplates.
AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH on DVD- $17.99
Al Gore’s influential documentary on global warming is a must-have for anyone on your list who owns a DVD player. For those who missed it, Gore presents a wide array of facts and information in a thoughtful and compelling way, stressing the gravity of worldwide environmental problems. An Inconvenient Truth is not a story of despair but rather a call to action to protect the one earth we all share.
POTION BRAND GREETING CARDS- $18 a box
When it comes to holiday greetings, you can do no better than the holiday cards from Potion Brands. Uber stylish and suitable for folks of all faiths, these cards are also printed with environmentally responsible inks on a cardstock with 20% PCW. You can order them by the box or with custom imprints. And as a little holiday bonus, enter the word, “petitgreet” into the promotion code at checkout and receive a darling set of free gift tags.
RECYCLED BIKE GIFTS - $13
Charm the bike nerds in your life with these thoughtful handicrafts made from recycled bicycle parts. The simple but elegant Tea Light Holder is made from recycled freewheels and cogs, and candles even come included. The picture frame shown above is made from a recycled chain and costs $38.
BAMBU BOWLS- $12-15
These colorful bamboo bowls are hand-coiled, shaped, and given a food-safe waterproof finish. Produced in Vietnam by manufacturers committed to environmental protection and fair labor laws, the bowls are a perfect housewarming gift for holiday parties.
$12-$15 from Re:Modern
VINTAGE RECORD SNACK BOWL - $26
A perfect gift for the record nerd in your life, the vintage record snack bowl gives new life to damaged or unplayable old vinyl LPs. Great for nuts, popcorn, and conversation starting, you can even custom tailor your bowl down to genre of music (although you can’t choose individual artists).
BAMBOO COMPUTER MOUSE- £17.99
Your computer-savvy yet eco-friendly friend will love this bamboo mouse that combines modern technology with sustainability. The mouse works like any other, but the case is made from bamboo instead of plastic. Also available are matching bamboo keyboards and monitors!
+ £17.99 from Nigel’s EcoStore
3Form Ecoresin Bracelets - $5
Here’s the perfect gift for the archilady in your life (and we know there are a lot of you out there amongst our readers). Any designer who is into sustainable interiors is familiar with 3Form, the company that makes beautiful sustainable resin.
Now, in what we can only describe as a brilliant interdisciplinary move, 3Form has branched out into sustainable jewelry. These lovely ecoresin bracelets are only $5 a piece, and every purchase helps the environment, because 3Form donates 10% of proceeds to the Rocky Mountain Institute.
LUMEN BY ADAM FRANK- $48
The holidays are often called the “season of light,” and Adam Frank’s Lumen oil lamp is just the thing to light up the dark holiday nights. Lumen comes in five different nature-inspired designs that project a shadowy image on the wall when lit.
IN VITRO ORCHID - $30
Anyone can send a bouquet - this is the high-tech way to send flowers. A nutrient-rich gel supplies all that this orchid needs to grow in its sterilized test tube. No water or maintenance necessary - biotechnology does the work for you. When the plant reaches the top of the tube simply transfer to potting soil (not included).
+
$30 from Uncommon Goods
DESIGN LIKE YOU GIVE A DAMN BOOK - $35
This groundbreaking book on humanitarian design from around the world is a must for ALL designers. Inspire the designer in your life and feel good about donating to a worthwhile cause while you are at it. All proceeds from the book go to funding Architecture For Humanity’s important work providing shelter in impoverished and disaster-relief areas.
$35 from Architecture For Humanity
DECONSTRUCTED SHAMPOO BOTTLE RING- $48
The bold and stylish O-U Ring by Studio 1a.m. is made from deconstructed shampoo bottles, encapsulated in polycarbonate, aluminum, and rubber. Different parts of bottles mean no two rings are alike! Also available as a pendant necklace.
CONVERTIBLE PICTURE FRAME- $42
This multi-tasking frame doesn’t just hold your family snapshots- it doubles as a bud vase, then turn it over and it triples as a holiday candle. What’s more, the frames are made from spalted alder, fallen trees that naturally age in the forest. The unique grain and pattern means no two pieces are alike.
TREES FOR THE FUTURE- $45
For a mere $45, have 450 trees planted in your friend or co-worker’s name. Trees For The Future, a non-profit dedicated to planting trees to help the environment and rural communities, has restored sustainably productive life to over 56,000 acres of land in Asia, Africa, and Central America. Your gift includes a Treeplanting Certificate and bumpersticker, plus the warm and fuzzy feeling of knowing you’ve done something good for the planet.
UM FELT BAGS- $38-$114
We love these UM felt clutches, totes, and wallets from Branch Home. The 100% industrial felt accessories are handmade in Oakland, California, and are perfect for your style-savvy and environmentally conscious girl friend.
RECYCLED SAIL BAGS - $25-$150
The totes from Red Flag Designs are great for Mom or Dad, or for anyone who will be ringing in the New Year on a hot weather holiday. The recycled sailcloth bag, shown above, is perfect for carrying all the necessary beach accoutrements and, once home, makes a great reusable bag for the market.
+ $25-$150 from the Red Flag website
FREITAG MESSENGER BAGS- $150 and up
The Swiss company Freitag produces extra-durable and highly-fashionable bags from truck tarps, car seat belts, and used airbags. Each is handcut and uniquely graphic. We love the messenger bags- a great gift for your brother or boyfriend.
+ $150 and up from the Freitag website
ENGLISH RETREADS BAG - $48
For your eco-friendly girl friend, the English Retreads Cruiser could be the perfect gift. Heather English has been designing the rubber bags and belts since 2001, giving new life to discarded truck and tractor inner tubes rescued from landfills.
PIECELILLY PATCHWORK PURSES- $75 and up
Since 2004, Jennifer Farrington has been making these charming patchwork bags from scraps of recycled fabric and textiles, making them great one-of-a-kind gifts for your mom or sister.
+ Starting at $75 from the Piecelilly website
TRASHBAGS- $30 and up
A great gift for your shopaholic friend, TrashBags are made from many different kinds of refuse, including plastic grocery sacks, newspapers, and juice containers.
+ $30 and up from the TrashBags website
VINTAGE AUTOMOTIVE TEXTILE BAGS- $95 and up
Kim White stumbled upon a warehouse of deadstock automotive fabrics from the 70’s and 80’s, and has been transforming them into bags ever since. What’s more, each bag is individually tagged with the year and make of the fabric, so you’ll know if your bag came from a 1982 Mustang.
Its hard to buy gifts for certain people in your life, but you can never go wrong with knit accessories like gloves, hats and scarves. Everyone likes to keep their appendages warm in the winter: men, women, young and old - and you’ll be hard pressed to find something that will be more appreciated than a cozy scarf on chilly winter days. Happily there are a lot of stylish and sustainable options out there in the realm of knit accessories. Here are our top picks:
OEUF CONNECTED KNITWEAR - $33 - $48
Oeuf is a line of sustainable products for babies and small children. The company tagline is “good design for all ages”, and some of their precious essential knits are designed around the concept of knitting people together through clothing. The ‘hug me’ sweater and ’squeeze me’ mittens, which feature child-size mitten pockets sewn into the garment, are the perfect designs for connecting parent and child. Oeuf’s knitwear is made from azo-free dyed alpaca wool, hand knit in a fair trade relationship between the NYC based company and a group of knitters in Bolivia.
DOWNBOUND HEMP SCARVES - $35
All Downbound’s products are vegan, organic, and sweatshop-free, and in addition to this, really cute and affordable as well. An organic hemp scarf or shawl would make a great gift for that eco-conscious special someone in your life.
$35 - $75 from Downbound
F+BP DIE-CUT FELT SCARVES - $100+
Starting at $100, these scarves are crafted from die-cut wool felt coins and rings, structurally stitched together. Made from an imported premium 100% wool felt.
$100 and up from Fung + Blatt Architects
ALYSON FOX HANDMADE VINTAGE SCARVES - $64
Alyson Fox’s scarves exhibit a fresh sense of shape, using recycled materials and a unique attention to detail. Each scarf is hand-made from boiled wool and vintage fabrics. We love the eclectic-yet-polished look of these gorgeously unique scarves.
$64 from Greenergrassdesign
FELT FAUX FOX STOLE BY MVOS - $80
We love this alternative for the fur fox shawl. No foxes were harmed in the making of this scarf - it’s made entirely out of 4mm brown felt.
$80 from Greenergrassdesign
VIVATERRA LAMBSWOOL KNITWEAR $62 - $139
Created by artisans in Uruguay, these shawls and scarves are knitted from 100% lamb’s wool, which has been meticulously combed and spun by hand to give them their remarkable, cloud-soft texture. Silky to the touch, the undyed merino and corriedale wool blend’s hollow fibers form a thermal layer that helps maintain even body temperature.
$62 and up from Vivaterra
STEWART & BROWN CASHMERE MITTENS - $71.50
These luxurious cashmere knit mittens are practical, yet novel. Stewart+Brown cashmere is purchased and crafted in Mongolia by herders and weavers who continue to practice their centuries-old way of life.
$71.50 from Pangaya
GAIAM ORGANIC COTTON SCARVES - $19
These classic simple organic cotton scarves are a great deal at $28, but on sale for $19, they are an absolute steal.
$19 from Gaiam
GAYLA ROSENFELD MODULAR SCARVES - $224
Gayla Rosenfeld’s modular scarves are wearable sculptures hand made from reclaimed ultrasuede.
$224 from Branch
VARGA’S HANDKNITS -$20-$35
Over at online craft market Etsy you can find great deals on hand made, one-of-kind knit items, such as Varga’s eco-chic knit scarves made out of bamboo and organic cotton.
$20-$35 from Etsy
(More pictures from Ouef - we just can’t get enough of the cuteness).
BAMBU KITCHENWARE - $3 - $30
(Jill)
Bambu makes a line of beautiful kitchenware from environmentally friendly, 100% organically-grown bamboo. In addition to being organic, non-toxic and foodsafe, the company highlights its fair labor policies and socially-conscious manufacturing process. We especially like these Bambu salad bowls.
$18 - $25 from Branch
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ZELLE JEWELRY - $15-$65
(Sarah)
Looking at the Zelle jewelry line, you don’t even notice immediately that most of the components are recycled electronic and computer parts. Liz McLean Knight, who works for an online music magazine and spends most of her time with computers, has made a beautiful line of jewelry that is appealing both because of its quirky details, and because those details don’t wholly define the pieces.
I love the Cat 5 bracelet and the Capacitor necklace, which has teal capacitors in a cascading string that look like gems at first glance. Best of all, they are very reasonably priced, at only $15 for the Cat 5 and $65 for the Capacitor necklace.
MOI NECKLACE - $29
(Jill)
The Moi “wearable electronic radiant light device” is a cute gift for big and little girls alike. The LED pendant can easily transform from a necklace to a bracelet to a hair accessory. I wonder if it could double as a reading light? Powered by a 3V easily replaceable battery, its available in amber, green and brilliant white.
IKEA JONSBERG VASE - $40
(Nicki & Kyle)
IKEA challenged 28 designers to come up with ideas for their new PS line of socially and environmentally conscious products. One of the standouts of this collection are the hand-worked vases by Hella Jongerius. Although she usually creates limited edition pieces that are quite expensive, teaming up with IKEA allowed for a combination of both mass production and hand-crafting. These (rather large) vases are a lovely example of the PS line - and they won’t be carrying them forever.
under $100
STAMP MUGS - $55
(Jill)
Only a British designer could have come up with this witty mug - which transforms those irritating ringmarks that tea mugs leave into a “nice floral pattern”. Go crazy decorating your tablecloth. A tea or coffee-drinker’s dream!
$55 for set of 2, from GreenerGrassDesign
SUBTLE SAFETY RING - $75
(Nicki & Kyle)
Designed by Amanda Knox, Sara Shaughnessy and Kim Hoffmann of RedStart, this sterling sil
