10 Great Christmas Gifts - Part 2

Last week I published the first half of my ethical and sustainable Christmas gift ideas... and now here's the second part! 

Letzte Woche habe ich den ersten Teil meiner ethischen und umweltfreundlichen Geschenkideen geteilt... Hier nun die Fortsetzung!

Buying clothes as a gift is not easy... it's hard to get not only the size, but also the style and look right. Which is why vouchers for a clothes shop are always a great idea... and what better way to encourage someone to make a more ethical choice than to buy them a gift certificate for a fair trade label? There are so many cool ethical brands out there selling beautiful and trendy clothes. Komodo, the London-based green label, for instance sells vouchers of different values and you can even get them emailed to you. Convenient! 

Kleider als Geschenk zu kaufen ist zwar eine gute Idee, aber gar nicht mal so einfach. Geschenkgutscheine für das Liebelingskleidergeschäft kommen daher immer gut an. Gibt es also noch einen einfacheren Weg, jemanden zu ermutigen, mal fair trade Kleider zu kaufen als durch einen Gutschein für ein verantwortungsbewusstes Label? Heutzutage gibt es unzählige coole ethische Kleidermarken, wie beispielsweise das deutsche Label Armed Angels. Das hippe fair trade label verfügt über ein riesiges Sortiment und bietet Gutscheine ab €10 an.

Coffee pod machines are everywhere these days... they're clean and very easy to use. They also, however, produce a lot of waste and the pods can be rather expensive. The dutch company Coffeeduck had the ingenious idea to produce refillable pods! This way you protect the environment and save money at the same time. We bought a set a little while ago and they work perfectly. Just make sure to stuff them tightly with strong, finely ground espresso to get a good strong cup of coffee. They are available for Nespresso and Senseo and Coffeeduck ship world-wide. What a neat and cheap little gift!

Kaffeekapselmaschinen, wie die von Nespresso, stehen bald schon bei jedem zu Hause. Sie sind total einfach und sauber zu benutzen, produzieren aber jede Menge Abfall und die Kapseln sind auch nicht gerade billig. Die holländische Firma Coffeeduck hatte die geniale Idee, auffüllbare Kapseln herzustellen. So schützt man die Umwelt und spart zugleich noch Geld. Wir haben uns ein Set der Kapseln gekauft und sie funktionieren einwandfrei. Einfach starkes, fein-gemahlenes Espressopulver verwenden. Die Kapseln gibt es unterdessen für Nespresso und Senseo und Coffeeduck liefert in die ganze Welt. Ein nützliches und preiswertes kleines Geschenk.

Ok, this one's a bit on the pricier side, but one can never go wrong with a piece of beautiful jewellery. Looking for something extra special for your girlfriend, fiancée, wife, mum? Brilliant Earth sells a gorgeous range of ethical fine jewellery. Their diamonds are from pure sources and they donate 5% of their proceeds to help those harmed by the diamond industry. They're also environmentally conscious. The lovely pendant above for instance is made from recycled silver. Brilliant Earth recently introduced a fair trade gold range and - for anyone who is planning to pop the question at Christmas time - they sell stunning engagement and wedding rings!  

Der nächste Vorschlag ist eher auf der teureren Seite, aber mit richtig schönem Schmuck kann man dafür nichts falsch machen! Bei Brilliant Earth gibt es grossartigen fair trade Edelschmuck. Die Diamanten werden nur von reinen, ethisch-vertretbaren Quellen bezogen und Brilliant Earth spendet zudem 5% ihres Einkommens an die Opfer der Diamantenindustrie. Die Firma ist auch umweltbewusst. Der hübsche Anhänger oben ist aus wiederverwertetem Silber. Vor kurzem hat Brilliant Earth zudem eine fair trade Gold Kollektion eingeführt. Und - sollte jemand für Weihnachten oder Neujahr noch andere grosse Pläne schmieden - sie verkaufen auch wunderschöne Verlobungs- und Eheringe!

A watch made from wood... now that's a truly unique gift. This one is perfect for the man in your life... we all know how hard they are to buy for! These cool and contemporary looking watches by the brand Wewood are made reusing surplus industry wood of the highest quality. Due to the natural colour and pattern of the wood, every watch is different. Working together with the charity American Forests, Wewood will plant a tree for every watch they sell. They also have a stunning line of women's watches.

Eine Uhr aus Holz, das ist doch mal was Besonderes. Dieses Geschenk ist perfekt für den Mann in deinem Leben... Wir wissen ja alle, wie schwierig es ist, für die Männer ein passendes Geschenk zu finden. Diese modernen Holzuhren der Marke Wewood sind aus qualitativ hoch-stehenden Holzresten der Industrie.  Durch die Verwendung verschiedener Holzsorten entstehen die Farben der Uhren auf eine ganz natürliche Art und Weise. Die gemeinnützige Naturschutzorganisation Organisation American Forests pflanzt zudem für jede verkaufte Uhr einen Baum. Wewood hat natürlich auch eine tolle Frauenkollektion! In der Schweiz gibt's die Uhren übrigens auch bei Changemaker.

Socks might be the most traditional and clichéd Christmas gift there is. Having lived in Ireland, I've really come to appreciate a pair of warm woolly socks. These quirky hand-knitted socks by Peopletree are made from recycled wool yarn, so they will keep your feet warm and your conscious clean. If you're looking for something a bit more stylish or refined, try Lowie - they always have beautiful woolly accessories.

Zugegeben, Socken sind wohl das klischeehafteste Weihnachtsgeschenk überhaupt. Nachdem ich aber in Irland gewohnt habe, weiss ich ein paar warme wollene Socken so richtig zu schätzen. Diese kuscheligen Wollsocken von Peopletree wurden von Hand aus recycling Wolle gestrickt. Da bleiben die Füsse warm und das Gewissen rein. Wenn du was stylischeres suchst, dann schau mal bei Lowie vorbei - die haben auch immer schöne Wollaccessoires. 

That was it. I hope you found my suggestions useful and I wish you all Merry Christmas!

Sarah

Pack your Bags!

Summer has finally arrived and how! Ireland has literally never been this hot. So get out there and enjoy the sun while it lasts. To accompany you on your romantic picnics, outdoor barbeques, trips to the beer garden and leisurely walks along the sea, I've gathered a selection of fairtrade and eco-friendly bags for you. Beautiful and practical, they will carry everything you may need, especially your clear conscience.

Let's start out with one of my all-time favourites from home: the Freitag bags. Freitag have been making super cool bags out of used truck tarps since 1993! The integrity of their designs is beautiful. They use seat-belts as bag straps and old bike tubes as lining. Freitag is also one of the last companies to still manufacture their goods in Zurich. Being Swiss, the quality of their bags is phenomenal. A Freitag bag will truly last you a life-time (believe me, I've seen it.). They don't just do courier-style bags by the way, at Freitag you can get funky laptop bags, totes, wallets, and backpacks too and no two Freitag products are the same. I particularly love the hand-bag model Joan (bottom right in picture). As you can see in the quirky 'How-to-use-video' here, it can fit anything from a baguette to a rolled up sleeping mat. The smart straps at the back of the bag, mean you can fix it to the handle-bar of your bicycle. Love it!

Planning on going to the beach? HandCrafting Justice sells the perfect summer tote for any beach adventure.  These beautifully simple canvas bags are super handy and their size means they will hold everything and anything you may want to bring with you. HandCrafting Justice provides access to Fair Trade markets for handmade goods created by enterprising women in the developing world. Their work fosters self-reliance and the creation of economic opportunities and networks, enabling women to achieve long-lasting success, lifting themselves and their families out of poverty. The artisans set the price for their goods themselves and HandCrafting Justice pays upon receipt, guaranteeing payment for each artisan. Have a look at their range of beautiful accessories, home-wares and gifts.

If you're going for a night out, but lacking that special accessory, I suggest you check out Escama Studio's fantastic range of handbags. I love the industrial look of these bags and still find it hard to believe they're made from used ring-pulls. Escama Studio is a social enterprise based in California and Brazil. The name means 'fish scales' in Portuguese, reflecting the look of their products. To achieve this unique aesthetic, Escama adapted traditional Brazilian crochet work, marrying heritage crafts with new materials and contemporary design. Eco-friendly, fair trade and stylish - these bags are just stunners in every way.

In case you were looking for something a little more affordable, why not check out the lovely accessory ranges of Earth Squared and PeopleTree. These cute and girly print bags are perfect for summer and retail between 20 and 30 pounds. If you follow my blog, you'll be sick of hearing me go on and on about PeopleTree... Earth Squared is one of my new discoveries though. A registered importer of BAFTS (British Association of Fair Trade Shops) they sell a lovely range of accessories and bags.

And saving the best for last, I want to introduce you to this beauty from fair trade label Nkuku:

Hand made from leather, dyed using extracts of tree barks and plants by a co-operative in Rajastan, the Savannah shopper is almost too beautiful in its simplicity. Each of the bags is lined with a colourful floral cotton fabric complementing its plain exterior. Nkuku is an eco-friendly fair trade home and lifestyle label with a clean and gorgeously simple aesthetic. Apart from bags, Nkuku sells a range of rustic home decor wares that I would love to fill my apartment with. The label's notebooks and journals are also to die for.

What about you? Which bag did you like best? Or are you in love with a different bag entirely? Let us know!

A Magpie's Nest

When it comes to ethical and sustainable shopping, jewellery is possibly one of the easiest things to find. Drumming up some fair trade and environmentally friendly jewellery makers for this week's blog was no hard task... however, choosing which gorgeous pieces to include was much more difficult!

Just like the magpie, I love glittery things, especially if they come in the form of beautiful necklaces, earrings or bangles. So here's my selection of jewellery that will make you sparkle on the outside and leave you feeling great on the inside.

Golden

You can't beat a bit of gold. Timeless yet fashionable it helps to spark up any outfit. Here are some of my golden favourites.

One: Hand-Made hammered brass cuff and ring with a wood-like effect from Made. Operating under fair trade and ethical principles, Made's goods are all hand-made in their workshop in Kenya. Made has collaborated with names such as Louis Vuitton, Tommy Hilfiger and Top Shop. Prices range from £20 - £40.
Two: Cute disc earrings engraved with leaves in copper and brass from Peopletree, one of the UK's biggest fair trade fashion houses. At £10 its incredibly affordable.
Three: Stunning Fern Leaf Wedding Bands made from certified fair trade and fairminted 18ct gold and Fallen For You Leaf printed bangle made from recycled sterling silver coated in 18ct gold. Both items are made by CRED Jewellery. Pioneers in ethical jewellery since 1996, CRED specialises in fair trade classical jewellery, engagement rings and wedding bands... Just in case you were considering popping the question! The wedding band also comes in 100% recycled platinum... good to know.
Four: Brass statement necklace also from Made. This necklace is a strong choice and ideal if you want to add a bit of spike to an outfit.

Colourful

Tired of the endless grey weather? Bring out all the colours of the rainbow with some of these fresh and happy pieces.

One: Multi-coloured choker incorporating beads and semi-precious stones. Shared Earth has made it their mission to improve the livelihood of disadvantaged people in developing countries and contributes towards keeping traditional skills alive that would otherwise be lost. Shared Earth has been selling fair trade goods and promoting ethical practice for over 20 years.
Two: Peacock bangle, also from Shared Earth. I've been a little obsessed with peacocks lately, so absolutely love this piece, and at £6.95 it's a steal!
Three: Brass hoop earrings with mint green glass beads from Peopletree. Yes, we're back to the mint green, just in love with that colour at the moment.
Four: Johari's Tabaka necklace incorporates unusual handcrafted paper beads and hammered brass triangle. 

Unusual

The accessories below may look normal, but each item comes with a bit of a twist. Looking for jewellery with a bit more to it? Then you'll love these pieces made rather unconventional materials.
 
One: Golden necklace with a blue stone made from recycled glass, from Made.
Two: These cute studd earrings from Peopletree are made from recycled sari fabrics. Hand-made in India, only £6!
Three: Environmentally friendly earrings from Urban Lace. These earrings are carved from the inner tubes of old bike tires which Urban Lace collects from local bike shops! They make deadly bracelets, necklaces and masks as well.
Four: Call Me Necklace from Hearts. As the name suggests, this fashion necklace is made using old phone cord. Hearts' mission is to sell accessories and jewellery that are vehicles for change. With every purchase from Hearts you help make the world a more sustainable, ethical and better place. Check out their 21 core values here.
Five: Up-cycled pendant necklace incorporating a bullet shell, also from Hearts. The necklace is made by a stay-at-home mum and designer from Alaska, who incorporates her daily finds and discarded items into her creations. Prices for Hearts jewellery vary, but generally start from about $20.
Six: Bracelet made from old parachutes and military material. Peacecord bracelets are made by women in Afghanistan. Peacecord ensures fair labour practices, creates employment and opportunities for artisans and disadvantaged women and provides them with training and education. What a great way to support the cause of women for only $15!

Favourite Find

And finally, I just want to share one of my favourite finds with you. I just recently bought this beautiful brass leaf necklace at Hibiscus Flower, a great fair trade fashion shop in Edinbufgh (there's more to follow on that one!). Like some of the pieces above its from Johari and I can't wait to wear it. Johari, which means "something precious" in Swahili is a social enterprise that works to empower vulnerable young adults in Kenya. 100% of the profit from Johari's sales are used to fund community projects run by the Johari Foundation. The programmes provide for children and youn adults educational, vocational, social and basic needs and help them to a better future.

Right, I'm magpied out! I hope you enjoyed some of my selections... What a better way to change the world is there than by treating yourself (or someone else) to some beautiful jewellery!

Which was your favourite piece? Do you know any other ethical or sustainable jewellery places?

The Loft Market, Dublin

This week I visited the bright and beautiful Loft Market at Powerscourt shopping centre in the heart of Dublin city. The Loft Market is an Irish design and fashion collective providing a space for up-coming Irish designers to show-case their work. The collective was set up in 2006 by the fashion editor of THREAD magazine, Aisling Faranella, and is currently under the creative direction of Kate Nolan. Having faced many ups and downs in its almost 7 years, the Loft market is still going strong and has firmly established itself as the place to find new and exciting Irish fashion design.

I met with Kate on Sunday and over a cup of coffee we had a good long chat about the Loft, its impact, legacy and future.

Kate Nolan, creative director of the Loft Market

As Kate explains, the vision of the Loft had always been to provide an affordable retail space for young, inexperienced Irish designers where they could get their work out into the world, make some of their first steps, gain experience and learn without having to make a huge investment. As Kate recalls:

"Back then, there was no space for ethical fashion and small Irish Design. It was all too expensive. The Loft is a starting point for designers who want to set up their own label."

The Loft supports Irish design and ethically made fashion and would prioritize items "made in Ireland". Kate is adamant that they would not allow any mass-produced garments to be sold there. It's about the one-off piece, the statement design.
The Loft Market was established in conjunction with Powerscourt Towncentre. With its focus on high quality Irish design, it fitted in with the vision of the shopping centre and so Powerscourt allowed for it to be established as a collective. The designers share the rent for the space and are obligated to staff the boutique for one day per week. Occurring no staffing cost and the low rent makes it possible for the designers to make a profit from selling their work at the Loft. Being a collective also means that most decisions are taken collectively. Kate admits that this can be difficult sometimes, as with 20 different designers involved, there are many voices to be heard. However, Kate sees it as the right way to run the Loft, as it is as much the designers' space as it is hers.

When I ask her, whether the designers can make a living and be successful out of selling their creations at the Loft, Kate replies: "Make a living? Absolutely. Success, that depends on how you define it." The Loft designers can support themselves and produce their work without being dependent on the state or other sources of funding. "Having been around for a while, we know what we can offer designers. We can give them a space, a certain amount of kudos maybe, a community and a knowledge base, but we can't guarantee success in the sense of living a champagne-and-caviar-lifestyle." Although Kate has seen designers move from the Loft straight into places such as Brown Thomas.

The Loft Market recently - and quite unexpectedly - moved into a new venue within the Powerscourt centre. Whereas the old space was bigger and had more of a real atmosphere, the new venue has more of a boutique feel about it. While Kate admits that they are still "trying to find their feet" with the new location, she sees it as progress and an interesting development for the Loft.

What I love about the Loft is how versatile it is. From cutting-edge and rather experimental design to more affordable, conventional pieces, there is literally something here for everyone (or every girl, maybe).

Designer Jane Hayden for instance hand-makes these beautiful and unique silk tops, some of which feature large digital prints.

I also adore the cute and feminine designs by independent fashion label tokiki. From her Dublin studio, tokiki designer Carolyn Moore creates comfortable and flattering dresses, often mixing jersey fabric with prints and lace trims. Tokiki's limited edition garments have even been featured in Topshop.

Set up in 2007, label Aliquo makes fashionable and affordable jewellery pieces. Their designs are very accessible and have a whimsical and girly flair. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I know many a girl who would love to wear one of these delicate pieces.

"The Aliquo jewellery collection is all about vintage charm combined with clean, contemporary lines." 

 -Aliquo website

However, if you are not looking for delicate, but for something that shouts a little louder, then maybe these statement necklaces by artist Ina Suliak are the thing for you. Ina's bespoke collections are created by hand in a highly laborious and skillful process that combines bead embroidery with semi-precious stones. Ina's pieces are reminiscent of her background in art and sculpture. 

I hope I have given you a taste for all the lovely things available at the Loft Market Dublin. Make sure to visit it on your next trip. The Loft is open seven days a week! You can find out more on their website or by following them on twitter and facebook.

Have you visited the Loft before or do you know any other great spots for Irish design & ethical fashion? What was your experience? Feel free to share...