The good news is there is an abundance of cool, conscientious and cutting-edge stuff out there - from recycled tees to philanthropic chocolate (I'm 8 months pregnant and really getting to know chocolate...) So check out my Green Gift Guide. It has something for everyone. And please have a happy, healthy and green 2009!
"The Friend-That-Has-Everything" Green Gift:
- Vintage Cameo Cuff Bracelet from Verde Rocks: Outfit the hip chick in your life with this brass cuff that features a vintage cameo center. Verde Rocks has been featured on Eco Chick, a great site for finding the latest trends in green fashion. (Plus I love that every visit reminds you that Mother Earth is a woman. A lot of people still need reminding.)
- Matt & Nat Grandmaster Magenta Bag: This hot vegan-leather bag is one of my favorites from Matt & Nat, an eco-conscious designer label that started with the challenge to forego animal products for thirty days. I also love their bag recycling program.
- Pangea Organics "Joy" Holiday Gift Set: I flipped over this gift set when I recently saw it featured on ecofabulous - and it's not because it uses my middle name (yes, Joy). It's full of refreshingly yummy items like Indian Green Tea with Mint Soap and Lipcare with Lavender and Cardamom. But the coolest part is that the gift box is 100% compostable, biodegradable, and plantable!
"The Who-Says-You-Can't-Please-Everybody" Green Gift:
- Designer Tees from E Bond: For a $50 donation to Future Weather Productions (our film project!!), you'll be the first to wear this exciting new t-shirt produced from recycled concert t-shirts by Stay Vocal, a ReUse company. Featuring an artful rendering of tree rings by Anthropologie designer E Bond, it's a unisex gift with a purpose: to raise awareness of global warming.
"Hot Hubbies, Boyfriends or Maybe-he-will-be-in-2009-Guy" Green Gift:
- RickShaw's "Zero Waste" Messenger Bag: Your man will love this locally-sourced, completely recyclable nylon messenger bag. The Zero? The amount of waste generated to produce it.
"Coolest Green Gifts for Your Little Member of Generation Z":
- Manny & Simon Wooden Animals: These adorable eco-friendly gifts make a great toy or decoration for a nursery.
- Organic Infant Sacque from The Little Seed: Recently featured on the Celebrity Baby Blog (your baby can be a celeb-u-tot too!), these cozy sleepers are available on The Little Seed, a boutique founded by green goddess Soleil Moon Frye (aka Punky Brewster).
- EcoTots Art Time Easel: Just the thing for budding young artists and environmentalists. Constructed from just three pieces of 100% formaldehyde-free, Forest Stewardship Council Certified/environmentally friendly SmartWood®, it features a durable, 100% non-toxic water-based finish.
Theo Chocolate: Okay, okay, maybe Oprah discovered them last year for O Magazine, but they make my favorites list too. Theo is the only organic, fair trade, bean-to-bar chocolate shop in the US. Even more importantly, their chocolate is DELICIOUS. It was hard to decide on which bar to select as my favorite. I had to go with the namesake of my childhood hero, The Jane Goodall Bars. According to the site, proceeds from the sale of these chocolate bars benefit cocoa farmers, promote conservation in the tropical rainforest and directly contribute to the Jane Goodall Institute’s efforts to save chimpanzees, develop community-centered conservation efforts and direct youth education programs around the world. A guilt-free treat in my book!
If you are a cinephile, patron of the arts or simply a person concerned with global warming, we hope you keep Future Weather's fundraising efforts in mind as you're gifting this year. We plan on shooting this important story of a girl coming to terms with global warming in 2009, but we can't move forward without the help of supporters like you. Proceeds from our Holiday Fundraising Drive will go to support our production and our green filmmaking guide.
Happy Gifting & Happy New Year!
