GREEN GIFT GUIDE 2008: For Her
Eco-savvy ladies should be able to enjoy the finer things in life without having to compromise their environmental ethics. There are plenty of places out there to find glamorous green gifts for that special lady in your life, if you know where to look. Read on for our top picks for green goodies sure to please any discerning eco chick.
RECYCLED ICON SCARF AND MITTENS – $20 to $25
Not only is this cozy recycled cotton scarf and mitten set constructed from reclaimed cotton, but takes no hesitation to spread an eco-friendly message with its repeating recycle motif.
$25 Scarf and $20 Mittens from Uncommon Goods
RECYCLED CHAIN BRACELET – $75
Charm the lady in your life with this eco-chic bracelet made from recycled jewelry chains. Made from 9 recycled strands, this bracelet is both elegant, and a conversation starter.
THEO CHOCOLATES – $4 to 40
Theo’s organic fair trade chocolates make a delectable gift that anyone will enjoy.
GINKGO – INSPIRED JEWELRY – $34 to $46
Taking inspiration from natural forms, these intricately-detailed pieces are created using a laser cutter. Molly McGrath, the designer behind them, created her jewelry collection as a a way to creatively explore her surroundings. Combining reclaimed bamboo veneers from Teragren and recycled suede, all her pieces juxtapose contrasting textures to reflect the dynamic that exists between built and natural environments. Her website offers a diverse selection of pieces, including these pretty ginkgo earrings which celebrate the unusual fan shape of the tree’s foliage.
$34 from BTC Elements (left)
$36 to 46 from Molly M Designs (right)
MIKA BUTTERFLY WING SHIRT
With an elegant print of a black-and-white butterfly wing, this asymmetrical top is effortlessly chic. Two black straps represent the butterfly’s antennae while the other side is completed with a flutter sleeve. The top is made of 100% organic cotton, designed by Mika Machida and is made in New York.
SEXY SOLAR POWER NOONSOLAR HANDBAG
Yes, there are lots of solar power bags out there these days, but none are as stylish as these designs by Noon Solar, which can charge everything from your cell phone to iPod while you strut around town. This vegetable-tanned leather handbag is environmentally friendly, super useful (with the cell phone charging and what not), and super stylish. Could your lady ask for more out of a handbag? We think not.
LIQUID CARDBOARD VASES – $25 to 52
Taking advantage of the honeycomb shape of cardboard, Cardboard Design creates these inventive vases and centerpieces out of recycled material. Their Liquid Cardboard collection offers immense flexibility – one piece can be adjusted to create several different shapes and looks.
$25 to $52 from Cardboard Design
ASHLEY WATSON MUREE BAG – $375
We’ve featured Ashely Watson‘s fabulous recycled leather bags several times, but we can’t help featuring her bags again in this year’s gift guide (and her Spring 2009 line looks very exciting as well!). The Vancouver-based designer started making her bags out of old leather jackets in 2005, and continues to take inspiration from, and construct her work out of recycled leather. This Murre Bag stands out for its tote-like shape and large size, making it a great accessory to carry around all a girl’s essentials.
CHRISTMAS ROSES – $47
Charm any lady with these Christmas Roses from Organic Bouquet. The flowers usually bloom in November or December and can be planted with bright sun exposure. Besides bringing a little springtime cheer to the holiday season, these flowers are VeriFlora certified, which means that growers must meet rigorous standards set for sustainable production and fair labor practices among other requirements.
MARISA REY RECYCLED CANDY WRAPPER POUCH – $22
Made from recycled candy wrappers, this cute and unique coin pouch combines design with social and environmental consciousness. Production of the bags utilizes wrappers that were discarded due to misprints and discontinued candy lines, thereby diverting clean materials that would have become waste in landfills.
SOYBEAM CANDLE – $45
The simple appearance of Soybeam candles disguises the meticulous thought behind their creation. The candles, packed with aromatic and eco friendly goodness, contain only organic or wildcrafted oils, GMO-free soy wax, and pure cotton wicks. In addition, the candles are packaged in recycled paper boxes and sealed with seeded paper. With eight wonderful blends, like geranium & rosewood or vetiver & sweet orange, there is a scent for any mood.
BIRCH TREE WOOD JOURNAL – $20
Constructed of sustainably harvested cherry wood, this journal is the perfect place to keep sketches, musings, and whatever else the poetic soul might fathom. All the pages are made of 100% post-consumer recycled materials. The journal measures 4.5 inches by 5.5 inches.
RECYCLED ALUMINUM PULLTAB ESCAMA PURSE – $125
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, girlfriend.
AUTONOMIE PROJECT FINGERLESS GLOVES – $30
Anyone who has had to tie a shoe or use a pencil while wearing gloves knows how bulky fabrics can impede the dexterity of our fingers, which is why these organic cotton fingerless gloves are extra handy. With a traditional cable knit pattern and extra-long length, these are sure to keep hands warm while staying stylish. The gloves come in natural and sage.
KATHLEEN LEWIS BODY LOTION – $22
Keep away with the dry skin this cold season with luxurious & deliciously scented Kathleen Lewis body lotion. Kathleen Lewis lotions are thick, rich, handmade body moisturizers that are formulated with Aloe Gel, Sweet Almond, Grapeseed, and Coconut Oils, Beeswax, Vitamin E, Lanolin, and Grapefruit Seed Extract to soothe and moisturize skin – and they smell great.
$22 from the Inhabitat Shop
PLUM KNICKERS AND CAMISOLE FROM LUVA HUVA – $25 to $40
Give a gift that is soft, sustainable and sexy to your favorite lady this year with Luva Huva‘s lovely bamboo Plum knickers and camisole. Made from the pulp of bamboo grass, these cuties are a touch Victorian but feminine nonetheless. At the current conversion rate….they’re still kind of under $50. We’re cheating a bit because they’re so cute and so soft!
$40 for the Plum Knickers and $25 for the Plum Camisole from Luva Huva
