A Very Green December: Our Gift Guide 2006

It’s the holidays, yay! Time to start thinking about that perfect present for your mom, you dad, your best friends, your co-workers, your dry cleaner, your brother’s wife sister’s cousin, your waxer (maybe that’s just us?) In any case, this year consider giving “green”. No, not cash (though we assure you that’s always appreciated!), but cool, chic gifts that are made of more sustainable materials. Or gifts that give back to the people who actually grow or make its materials.

Not only did we comb magazines, websites and stores to find the hippest holiday gifts possible, the gifts listed below are incredibly satisfying to give and receive; they “help minimize social & economic inequalities, reduce the impact of our consumption on the environment and help create a better and sustainable world.” Tiny Tim would be so proud. So here they are....

GREEN IS THE NEW PINK GIFT GUIDE 2006

COFFEE, CHOCOLATE and OTHER GOODIES
Instead of the usual, try sending organic honey and cashew nut package or a pound of coffee from growers in Mexico who are being paid a living wage to grow and harvest the coffee beans. The following companies all practice FAIR TRADE, an alternative system of trade which counteracts this system of international free trade, corporate control and global policies by giving the farmers and workers a living wage for their work, which can sustain them and also create opportunities for social and economic development . In other words, you (and the lucky recipient of your fabulous gift), don’t have to feel guilty as you snack on these items.
www.agreatergift.org – This website has tons of gift ideas, but what we love most is their fabulous and chic selection of fair trade gourmet chocolate, as well as their wide selection of fair trade coffee. We highly recommend the line of “Just Coffee” that they sell. The motto of “Just Coffee” (aka Caffeine with a Conscious) is “Pure organic Arabica coffee that is grown, harvested and marketed in a spirit of Justice”. Hard to argue with that!

www.wholefoodsmarket.com – An amazing market devoted to environmental issues. They sell gift cards and gift baskets and most of their products are organic or free trade.

www.worldcentric.org/store/index.htm -- Oooh! We love this site’s fair trade gourmet gifts, especially their teas, honey, dried fruit and cashews. Yum!

CLOTHING
As we only recently discovered, cotton is actually not an easy crop to grow. It depletes the soil, takes lots of land and releases many toxins into the air (and don’t even get us started on sweatshops…) Organic cotton is the first step; it helps reduce the amount of toxins in the air and soil. However, hemp and bamboo are a better alternative fiber for clothing and they are very soft and have great shape. The hemp and bamboo shirts we tried were even better than a cotton tee, even a C & C. We swear. Here are our top picks:

www.btcelements.com – All types of organic and hemp clothing, and lots of it very trendy (they even have an organic cotton bubble dress). But what is especially exciting are their sexy organic denim jeans

www.satorimovment.com – Instead of shopping at Urban Outfitters, try this site. Great printed tees and sweatshirts for girls and everything surfer bra on your list.
www.noenemy.org – The best stuff is for guys, we especially like the cool hoodies. Buy one for your little bro.

HOME
Everyone loves getting pretty things for their house, especially moms, aunties and couple-friends.

www.bambuhome.com/html/products.html -- Tons of colorful bamboo bowls and platters that we really want for ourselves!

www.btcelements.com – Gorgeous blue and cyan glass goblets and tumblers, using glass 100% reclaimed by wine bottles.

www.branchhome.com – Lots of cute home stuff like organic wool pillows.

www.earthtechproducts.com/gifts-for-special-occasions-gifts-for-treehuggers.html - Great home decor including chic sea glass plates and platters, vases and trays

http://www.re-modern.com/accessories.html - Modern style Bowls and vases, great for mom or grandma or your newlywed pals.

BABY
For all the fashion-forward, eco-chic tots on your list.

www.hipandzen.com - simple, colorful baby gear
www.btcelements.com – cute dresses, ruffles bloomers and other holiday outfits

BATH/BODY PRODUCTS
Yes, believe it or not, chemicals in your hair products, soap and facial products are bad for you!

www.natures-gate.com – The most comprehensive line of anything and everything bath and body related. Their products are all ecologically safe, environmentally friendly and cruelty free. They even wrap their products in 100% recycled packaging.
www.organicselections.com – Don’t let the crunchy green granola website deter you, they have a great selection of organic lotions, soaps, moisturizers and makeup

BAGS, TOTES, WALLETS
Who can’t use another bag?

www.ecoist.com - SUPER GLOSS ALERT!! We love, love, love the clutches, wallets and yoga bags on this website! They are all made from recycled gum wrappers, movie posters and other fun stuff, and they plant a tree for every purchase. (FYI, Jess wants the hot pink sparkly gum wrapper purse, Lyd wants the Keira Knightly Pride and Prejudice yoga bag)

www.organicselections.com – Simple, but very functional hemp tote bags

www.alchemygoods.com – GREAT SITE FOR GUYS. Their motto? “From junk to Funk”. They have 100% recycled (they use everything from inner tubes to seatbelts from cars that have been junked) messenger bags, wallets and business card holders that actually look hot and manly.

JOURNALS, STATIONARY, PAPER GOODS
Great for friends, party hostesses and co-workers.

www.branchhome.com – We love their recycled gift paper cards and stationary
www.2kh.com – If you want to get someone a journal, this is THE PLACE to get it from! Beautiful and hip recycled leather journals (they also have glossy passport holders and luggage tags) that aren’t too pricey (only around $26).


OUTDOORSY
Much to Jessica’s confusion, we have included outdoors apparel for the people who don’t live in LA and actually experience weather.

www.patagonia.com – A very socially and environmentally conscious company.
www.ibexwear.com - Beautiful wool wear for the chilly winter weather

FOR THE PERSON THAT HAS EVERYTHING
www.tenthousandvillages.com - An amazing website which acts a virtual marketplace for artists all over the world. You’ll find tons of one-of-a-kind, handmade gifts from almost every country. And because of the site’s extensive fair trade policy, you can rest assured that when you buy something the artists are being fairly paid with safe working conditions.

AMAZON
This Internet giant sells more than just books. It tons of holiday gifts, including music, stuff for the house, electronics and more. If you want to make your Amazon purchases MORE GREEN, start using the “Search Amazon” link on our website—a portion of whatever you end up buying gets donated to our Green is the New Pink non-profit organization. (P.S. you can do this all the time, not just during the holidays!) Also, remember, An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore’s documentary about stopping global warming is available on Amazon and makes a great gift!

IF YOU LIVE IN L.A.:
We scoped out some amazing, trendy eco-conscious stores that are great for holiday gifts.

Natural High. 2400 Main St., Santa Monica, CA 90405. (310) 450-5837
Soft, luxurious men and women’s clothing made from hemp, organic cotton and bamboo material.

Regeneration. 1649 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock, Ca 90041. (323) 344-0430
We know what you’re thinking. Eagle Rock? That’s not L.A.. Oh, but it is, and this funky store which offers eco-conscious clothing, furniture, home décor and cosmetics is worth the drive.

Thrift Stores. Obviously, vintage is re-using at it’s best. Expert Lydia’s favorite thrift haunts:

The Way we Wore. 334 South La Brea Ave., L.A., CA 90036. (323) 937.0878
A bit pricey put it has all the vintage Valentino, Escada and Balenciaga a girl could ever hope for (La Brea),
Jet Rag. 825 N. La Brea, L.A., CA 90038 . (323) 939.0528
Very reasonable prices and great gifts for angsty teens (La Brea)

Whole Foods and Trader Joes. Multiple locations.
From gourmet organic foodie gifts to their eco-conscious lines of bath and body products to gift cards, these markets, which are both so committed to environmental causes, are always a great place to shop for gifts.

Green Charities and Philanthropies
Always a great gift idea. Watch out for our next posts for our ideas on the best ones around.

So besides doing your part to be green this holiday season, with these gift suggestions, you may not have to step foot in one over-crowded, stuffy, fighting with mean moms in minivans over parking spots, MALL this whole holiday season!