Zip-together sleeping bags. (For a cause!) Photo by Bobbi Lin / Food 52.
Tis' the season. As you scribble your gift lists, consider a few of these phrases: fair trade, socially conscious, sustainable. We put together an eclectic mix of unique ideas (from sleeping bags to artisanal measuring spoons) that give back.
Chock-full of vitamins A and E, the moisturizing oil has been used in Morocco to treat rashes, bug bites, skin infections, and more. Through Argan Project, argan nuts are delivered directly to each employee's home, allowing Moroccan women to work at their own pace and balance at-home responsibilities with employment. The user ends up with healthy, dewy skin while supporting fair trade employment for women in Africa. ($12)
The indulgent gift box covers all bases for when a chocolate fix is needed, whether mid-adventure or after a long day. This is a responsible treat, as the beans are ethically sourced. And with quality beans that speak for themselves, the bars use minimal sugar). Alter Eco follows fair trade standards and engages with the communities from which beans are sourced. Their projects include working with a women’s cooperative in Peru, a laptop donation program in Bolivia, executing zero-impact planting, and making wrappers from compostable material with non-toxic ink. ($18)
Founded in 1996, the Ellilta program has helped more than 1,000 women escape prostitution with a 90-percent success rate. The blankets are handwoven by such women, who now have safer employment that can take them into their older years. Made of soft, organic cotton, the blankets make a multi-purpose gift for travelers who value both style and comfort. It's small enough to pack on a hike but large enough to toss over the shoulders on a chilly night. ($78)
Both rugged and stylish, it's just the thing for the man with a “boots on the ground” mentality. The Parks Project works to inspire Americans to care for more than 84 million acres of precious parklands. They partner with 30+ conservancies and work with volunteers to plant native species, educate youths about preservation, and keep wildlife thriving in parks. It's a cause to inspire your next adventure. ($36)
Give the gift of travel from home: Cooking and baking brings flavors of the world into your own kitchen. These pieces are as beautiful as they are useful. Hardy, chocolate-grained Tzalam wood is carved into teaspoon and tablespoon measurements by seven artisans in the Yucatán. The process takes half a day, and The Citizenry pays employees fair trade wages for their work. Ten percent of proceeds are invested back into artisan communities. ($75)
The unique quilt would make a lovely housewarming gift for a cosmopolitan traveler. Anchal Project provides full-time employment for craftsman, including healthcare benefits and education workshops to female artisans. Made in Ajmer, India, the six-layered fabric has a story of its own, recycled from vintage saris, so each quilt is one-of-a-kind. ($198)
Add flair from distant lands to your gift-giving with an embossed leather journal. The patterned elephant on the cover is reminiscent of India, where Trades of Hope employs artisans in efforts to end the cycle of poverty for as many people as possible. Every purchase helps their female artisans send their children to school. ($44)
Let the aromas of earthy essential oils transport you to another time and place — perhaps to the communities across the globe who now have access to solar-powered light, thanks in part to your purchase of a humble soy wax candles with cotton wicks that was hand-poured in Brooklyn. Starling Project has donated more than $150,000 to UNICEF for solar projects in underdeveloped countries. ($55)
My Red Tea creator and mother of two Kim Koen grew up in South Africa drinking rooibos, a delicious plant with healing properties. Entirely organic and ethically sourced, the tea offers traditional health benefits, like health-boosting vitamins and antioxidants, and soothes flaky skin and diaper rash. Ten percent of the company’s profits support education in the farming communities from which the plant is sourced. ($19)
What traveler doesn't need a chic toothbrush on their travels? For each one purchased, Boka donates one to Surge, which works for better sanitation and cleaner water around the world. The activated charcoal toothbrush reduces smelly bacteria, the floss is free of both teflon and petroleum, and the minty-fresh toothpaste made with natural ingredients is better for you and the environment, wherever you may be swishing. ($16)
Created by Barebones Living, a Utah-based company focused on artful and quality supplies for outdoor adventures and gardening, the sleeping bag is perfect for adventurous couples. Quality items serve basic needs; the company give tents to refugees and gardening tools to people in underdeveloped regions of the world. ($100-190)
Everybody could use a reusable water bottles with a classy twist. The lid moonlights as a stemmed cup...perhaps a portable wine glass for a romantic picnic? Preserve imports the funky Dutch-made Dopper bottles and makes sure to offset transportation emissions. Dopper Foundation puts five percent of proceeds towards programs that work to ensure clean drinking water in developing countries. ($16)
Give a pair of sleek sunglasses to the most subtly chic of friends who can imperceptibly prowl around town wearing fashion with a cause. For the special edition, which mimics the elusive snow-leopard’s coat, Westward Leaning partnered with Snow Leopard Trust to protect the cat beauties through habitat conservation efforts. ($225)
Handmade in León, Mexico, with vegetable-tanned leather, the timeless men's staple makes a handsome accessory, especially as a carry-on. Nisolo employees receive beyond fair trade wages and worker benefits, with the average Nisolo producer's annual income nearly doubling– a testament to working consistent hours with a stable salary. ($268)
Comfortable and luxurious, the scarf has a culturally savvy look that would make a great gift for a traveler who pops between countries regularly. Woven in Tamil Nadu of Southern India, a world-renowned region for delightfully textured and absorbent cotton. Bloom and Give produces almost no ecological footprint and gives an exceptionally high donation rate: Half of profits go towards education programs for girls in India. ($60)
The mission is always possible. Whether carrying your packed lunch to the office job, picking up groceries for the family, or traveling to a foreign country with nothing but one tote and one suitcase to your name, this reusable canvas tote will inspire conversations. For each purchase, Feed will donate 10 school lunches to children in need. ($25)
Each sisal bowl takes female artisans of the Kwizera Cooperative in the Muhanga District of Rwanda two days to weave. The bowls and baskets make excellent gifts for design-conscious travelers who love global accents, and who are glad to know that every purchase helps keep Rwandan women employed in their time-tested craft. ($25)
We have so many more ideas for globetrotting foodies, the best travel books of the year, essentials for frequent flyers, gadgets and inspiration for adventure travelers, and unique finds for armchair travelers.
We make every effort to ensure the information in our articles is accurate at the time of publication. But the world moves fast, and even we double-check important details before hitting the road.
