Category: Fair Trade Shop

Where to get fair trade merchandise

Giving Goodness Guide: For Him

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Giving Goodness Guide: For Him

A personally curated list of some of my favorite products from companies that are committed to fair trade, socially conscious, and/or eco-friendly practices making it much easier to give goodness and enjoy the twinkle in his eye. Explore and maybe find some favorites of your own. Before you buy anywhere else check out these brands to find a better way to give. Because it matters how we shop.

Shopping for the men in my life is always a “fun” challenge.  Themes I’ve noticed over the years include but are not limited to; Functional, comfortable, delicious, and fun.  This keeps the field wide open if you’re willing to look and be creative. Cheers!

Be sure to check out my Giving Goodness: For Her and For Littles Guides as well for more ideas of great places to shop – because it matters.

 

WHAT IS a Certified B Corp? You might be familiar with the fair-trade mark but what is a B Corp?  Look for and seek out this symbol when you shop. Many of your favoritebrands (thank you Ben & Jerry’s!) are working really hard to do good for you and the world. Let’s support them with our loyalty and shop like it matters. Learn more here: https://bcorporation.netScreen Shot 2018-12-03 at 4.07.44 PM.png:  Screen Shot 2018-12-03 at 3.06.33 PM.png

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Patagonia: Literally Anything from Patagonia is my favorite. They are top in quality and customer service and leading an important charge by doing brave things for the environment and for its workers.  Also check out REI- they carry Patagonia products and have their own fair-trade certified line of apparel. My husband wears his Nano jacket 3 out of 4 seasons. And now he can stop wearing your sweatpants all the time 🙂  https://www.patagonia.com

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DoneGood: Well, this website pretty much did all my work for me.  A classy and quality collection of gifting ideas from companies that are doing Good.  Start Here EVERY DAY. Not just during the gifting season but for shopping year round. Here are a few of my favorite finds on this site – some that I’ve purchased through before and some fun surprises. Plus, often they offer exclusive discounts through their website. https://shop.donegood.co

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TenThousandVillages: A strong staple of the fair-trade community with an extensive gathering of interesting, useful and beautiful products that anyone can appreciate and enjoy.  I shop here regularly and with gusto because I always find something great and you likely have a store nearby.   

https://www.tenthousandvillages.com

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UnitedbyBlue: Sustainable, durable goods from a Certified B corporation with a lifetime guarantee on their bags and jackets. AND their stuff is cool. Sold. https://unitedbyblue.com

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Pact: All organic and fair trade basics that are actually affordable for the whole family.  Yes, Please.    https://wearpact.com

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Etsy: Where to go for unique, hand-crafted or personalized anything. Plus, if you shop right there’s nothing more fair-trade than buying directly from the person who made the item. Etsy.com

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UncommonGoods: Unique, interesting, and fun gifts for everyone.You will find things here you never knew existed and be delighted that they do. A Certified B corporation with a sense of humor and some creative ideas. If your particular person likes a particular thing you’ll probably find something fun here. https://www.uncommongoods.com

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Project Marley:  Headphones, turntables, and speakers made with sustainable materials and the purchase supports Project Marley- to support global reforestation. Not a certified B corp or fair trade but a good cause and their audio line is attractive and performs well. https://www.thehouseofmarley.com

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Toms – The origin of the Buy One, Give One Concept. They have comfy and stylish  shoes  and classy sunglasses for the whole family .

https://www.toms.com

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OutDoor Gear:  Even the world of high-performance outdoor gear is going for Goodness.  Patagonia is a great place to start but they are just the tip of the iceberg. Check out these companies that are working hard to make adventure goods for good if you’re guy is looking to get outside.

Kammok:  https://kammok.com

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Tillak Their line is limited to a few products but they are some real good-looking ones. https://tillak.com

Cotopaxi:  Best known for their great packs and their mission to alleviate world poverty. Plus, you can create your own pack for those that know exactly what they want and they want it to last. They have mens and womens apparel, gear, and down.  Look for the Llama. https://www.cotopaxi.com

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Toad & Co: Environmentally and socially conscientious company with seriously great style. https://www.toadandco.com

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OTHER GREAT PLACES TO LOOK:    

WARBY PARKER:  Where I always buy my glasses they also have super good-looking sunglasses and a really easy and fun try before you buy program that lets you find the perfect fit.  A Buy One, Give One company.

https://www.warbyparker.com

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BETTER WORLD BOOKS: An online resource for new, used, audio books, and dvds.  Committed to supporting education and literacy programs and reduction in waste.  We can do so much better than Amazon!  

https://www.betterworldbooks.com

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Flor De Cana:  Need a last minute gift? Heading to a party?

“Flor de Cana is a 5th generation, single family estate premium rum from Nicaragua. Naturally aged and enriched by an active volcano and Fair Trade certified.”  The International Rum Conference named Flor de Cana 25 year the “Best Rum in the World” in case you have a real enthusiast and available on Drizly.com for 1 hour delivery if you’re really in a bind. And we thought fair trade wouldn’t be much fun?
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Have other favorite products or companies that you love to support? Send them my way and comment below to share what you’ve discovered.  Cheers!

Looking for more? Find More Fair Trade or B Corp Retailers and Brands here:

https://www.fairtradefederation.org

https://www.fairtradecertified.org

https://bcorporation.net

 

 

 

 

 

Giving Goodness: For Littles

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Amy’s Giving Goodness Guide:  For Littles

A personally curated list of some of my favorite products from some of my favorite shops dedicated to fair trade and socially conscious practices.  Explore and maybe find some new favorites. Before you buy anywhere else check out these brands to find a better way to give. Because it matters how we shop.Screen Shot 2018-11-21 at 3.31.05 PM.png

Kids of all ages are so fun to shop for because their eyes light up and they don’t know how to fake joy – it makes them wiggle and laugh. Here are my top picks for giving goodness this season and all year round from companies that are committed to fair trade, socially conscious, and/or eco-friendly practices making it much easier to give goodness and enjoy all of those happy little giggles.

Be sure to check out my Giving Goodness: For Her and For Him Guides as well for more ideas of great places to shop – because it matters.

 

Uncle Goose: How incredibly charming are these Michigan-made, sustainably-sourced, non-toxic and universally considerate blocks?!  They can be found in 6/7 continents and 23 languages. Yes – swedish to swahili. Uncle Goose has upped the game on this children’s classic. https://unclegoose.com/about/

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Etsy:  Personalized Superhero Capes –

Because we Need more Superheroes in the world. Whole superhero outfits can be personalized with colors, symbols, and letters.   https://www.etsy.com/shop/CapesAndMore

Etsy is also a great place to check for ANYTHING before going to the store.  They have an excellent selection of handmade wooden toys, personalized puzzles, or unique art.

 

United by Blue:  Perhaps my new favorite company.  Sustainable, durable goods from a Certified B corporation with a lifetime guarantee on their bags and jackets.  AND their stuff is cool. Sold. In their words, “We’re part of an awesome group of for-profit companies that meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.”                                                     https://unitedbyblue.com/#

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 TEGU: These magnetic wooden blocks are so much more than meets the eye. These versatile blocks are sustainably and ethically made in Honduras and good for developing multiple skills for kids as they develop from ages 2-8+.  They are guided by the shaker proverb “Do not make something unless it is both necessary & useful; and if i is both, do not hesitate to make it beautiful.”                                                               https://www.tegu.com

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Fair Trade Winds: A fair trade staple for cute kids items.  https://www.fairtradewinds.net

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Cuddle + Kind :  Ethically produced hand-knit dolls that help feed children.  Bonus: They’re adorable. https://cuddleandkind.com

 

Krochet Kids: Every product is signed by the person who made it. They have stylish apparel and bags for men and women as well as a fun line for kids. Cozy hats and mittens are an easy fair trade swap!https://www.krochetkids.orgScreen Shot 2018-11-21 at 10.02.51 AM.pngScreen Shot 2018-11-21 at 10.02.18 AM.png

Ten Thousand Villages:  My forever go-to for fair trade everything but this year Ten Thousand has really stepped it up on the kids front.  They have THE best Christmas tree ornaments you can find. Fro the classy and delicate to the felted and fanciful I had so much fun watching families let their kids pick an ornament from the huge selection. Where else can you get a yeti family to hang on the tree together? https://www.tenthousandvillages.com

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One World Futbol:  When you buy a One World Futbol, one is distributed to refugee camps, war zones, impoverished neighborhoods and disaster areas. These are especially designed to never need a pump and are practically indestructible.  Win-Win-Win. Plus! Amazon is offering $5 off of this ball AND free shipping this holiday season. https://www.oneworldplayproject.com

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Patagonia:  For a company that is becoming synonymous with corporate responsibility they sure do make it easy to find some favorites for adventure.  They have a recycling program as well as an ironclad guarantee for returns and repairs which makes buying kids clothes there reasonable and meaningful. Their motto: “Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis”.  Look awesome doing it.                             https://www.patagonia.com

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The Little Market: Think cozy, fuzzy, cute with an excellent mission. https://www.thelittlemarket.com

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Give Back Goods:  A solid collection of giving goodness companies with everything from clothing to kitchenware to pets and yoga equipment.  An excellent resource to stop by and see what you can find before shopping traditional retailers. https://givebackgoods.com

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Sudara: Get them some holiday pajamas that will be great all year round.  Great message, great product, great lessons for kids.                                      https://www.sudara.org

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Athleta:  It’s never too early to get them to recognize the power of the She. Especially from a certified B corporation committed to expanding our ideas of fitness and beauty.  Plus, you can pick up a little something for yourself.                             https://athleta.gap.com

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Pottery Barn Kids: I know! You didn’t know Pottery Barn had fair-trade certified goods either.  Well, they do and they’re unsurprisingly quite lovely. Not a typical pick for Christmas but in case you’re in the market for a bed, a crib, kids furniture or bedding then take a look!  Just search fair trade for their items.    https://www.potterybarnkids.com

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PACT:   Always Organic, always fair trade.  Excellent basics for the whole family. https://wearpact.com

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Uncommongoods: This site rocks.  Unique, interesting, and fun gifts for everyone. You will find things here you never knew existed and be delighted that they do. A Certified B corporation with a sense of humor and some creative ideas. https://www.uncommongoods.com

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Mercy House Global: Classic Fair Trade shop that has fun bundles for kids and home. https://mercy-house.myshopify.com

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Mighty Nest : Though not selected for their fair trade qualities, Might Nest does have a curated collection of kids toys that are certified to be free of chemicals and hand-picked for quality and design.                                                             https://mightynest.com/shop/baby-toddler/toys

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Enjoy! And I hope you find something that will make your Littles Giggle.

Looking for more? Find More Fair Trade Retailers and Brands here:

https://www.fairtradefederation.org

https://www.fairtradecertified.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Giving Goodness: My fair trade/socially conscious gift guide – For Her

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Amy’s Giving Goodness Gift List: For Her

Fair Trade and Socially Conscious companies to support

What can I say – I’m a giver.  That makes me a shopper too.   But that doesn’t mean I can’t be purposeful and dignified in my enthusiasm to find the perfect gifts – in fact it can be a pain-staking process for me and so alleviate some of the struggle I’ve put together this list and whenever I shop at these places I can know my gifting is doing the maximum good.

A personally curated list of some of my favorite products from some of my favorite shops dedicated to fair trade and socially conscious practices.  Explore and maybe find some of your own favorites.  Before you buy anywhere else check out these brands to find a better way to give. Check out the links at the bottom of the page to discover more about how fair trade works to empower and protect vulnerable populations and environments around the world.  Because it matters how we shop.

*Stay tuned for the Giving Goodness: For Him and For Littles Coming Soon! 

Ten Thousand Villages:  Probably the largest and most well-known fair trade retailer started from the trunk of a car.   Such diverse and beautiful products I was able to have a wedding registry there 9 years ago. 

https://www.tenthousandvillages.com

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   The Renew Project:  Gorgeous handmade bags by refugee women resettling in Chicago. The Crossbody tote is THE best travel carry-on bag with the leather bottom and multiple inside pockets. And that Edison sleeve might be the classiest way to protect your laptop I’ve ever seen. 

https://renewproject.org   

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The Little Market: Fancy Fair Trade – started by celebrity women with a kickass mission. “OUR COLLECTION OF FAIR TRADE GOODS IS MADE BY ARTISANS IN NEED, INCLUDING REFUGEES, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, FORMERLY HOMELESS WOMEN, AND SURVIVORS OF TRAFFICKING AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.     Can anyone find me a more powerful candle?

 https://www.thelittlemarket.com

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ABLE : Very classy leather goods, apparel, home decor, and jewelry.  What I wish I was always wearing. Their cross-body tote has been featured in numerous publications. 

https://www.livefashionable.com

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Trades of Hope:  You may know a Trades of Hope Ambassador so check with your friends.  Jewelry, decor, bags, accessories and goodness.  Those earrings would look good on ANYONE. 

https://www.tradesofhope.com

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ATHLETA: A certified B Corporation now with a fair trade certified line.  They’re making big moves to make their clothes and factories more sustainable and socially responsible and I give big claps for that. Plus, Athleta has regular, tall, petite, and plus sizes…and a new men’s line (Hill City). Yum. All of my  FAVORITE clothes come from here. 

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Sudara: For the more free-spirited women in your life – or yourself. Every purchase invests in job creation and skill training for women in India who are working to remain free from sex slavery.  A great gift for a new mom when she’s feeling sort of Blah. 

Sudara.org

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Fair Anita: Probably the most affordable of shops – a great place to buy something fun for friends, co-workers, or neighbors.

https://fairanita.com

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PATAGONIA: Literally ANYTHING from Patagonia is amazing.  This company is doing brave work to inspire the business community to do better for its workers and for the environment.  Carried by REI – which has their own fair trade certified products. 

 patagonia.com

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PACT:  All Organic and fair trade certified apparel for the whole family.  Who doesn’t have cozy hoodie and robe on their list this year?

  https://wearpact.com       

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Fair Trade Winds : When in doubt – check this shop out.  An extensive collection of fair trade items with the stories to go with. If you can’t find it somewhere else you might get it here.  

 https://www.fairtradewinds.net

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 Other Awesome Shops to Check out: 

Sol Organics:  I recently bought a set of fair trade, organic cotton sheets from here and they are fantastic. Sheets should last for years and I feel good knowing these were made well in many ways.     https://solorganix.com

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Noonday Collection:  Colorful luggage tags make great gifts!  https://www.noondaycollection.com      

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PrAna : Mens and Women’s outdoor, yoga, and travel apparel.  Products also carried by REI.com, which has their own line of fair-trade certified clothing and is all around awesome. https://www.prana.com        rei.com

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Toms:  Considered the pioneer of the “buy one give one” business model Toms has extended their line beyond the classic canvas shoe to include fashionable footwear, sunglasses, and even apparel.  Though the classic canvas still makes a great gift. https://www.toms.com

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GlobeIn: A subscription box or single item merchandiser from around the world. https://globein.com

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CauseBox: A seasonal subscription or one-time box purchase filled with curated goods from socially conscious brands.  https://causebox.com

Looking for more?  What to better understand the impact of fair trade and why its worth maybe spending an extra dollar or two?  

Find More Fair Trade Retailers, Brands, and the reason it Matters how you shop here:

https://www.fairtradecertified.org

https://www.fairtradefederation.org

Want to add to the list?  Have a company you love to support because of their goodness?  Please let me know about it!