Prepping for a Green Christmas
Are you ready for Christmas? Yes, I said the “C” word. It is only 4 months away, that’s 120 days roughly. If you start saving $2.00 per day from now until then, you still won’t have enough to buy your child that new SONY PS3 or Nintendo Wii.
But what you can get them won’t cost you nearly as much and will last a lifetime. Plus, if you look around, it may be a one-of-a-kind gift that cannot be replicated.
My Father was into recycling household items and building what he called Art. In one instance, he went from yard sale to yard sale collecting corkscrews. By the end of the summer, he had a collection from every generation and country and created this box frame for it that housed them all on display. I didn’t think much of it at first but he sold it in his ‘odds and ends’ store for a hundred dollars. It wasn’t just corkscrews that he did this with but with fishing lures, antique keys, tools, coasters and a variety of other things.
Perhaps he was ahead of his time. Now, recycled gifts seem to be making a comeback. There is a store in Toronto called Ex-Toggery that offers recycled clothing and not just vintage wear but some high quality pieces. Look at ebay and how they make their money, mainly from people selling unused items. Another is PreLoved in Toronto.
What’s next..? Companies like GreenFeet are offering a variety of Earth Friendly gifts at reasonable prices. Some individuals have taken odd parts and created new applications for them and all you have to do is goto your local farmers market. One item I saw was a old car brake and axle that supported a beautiful piece of driftwood fastened to it and made it into a small table. It was unique, priced right and no new materials were used in it’s creation.
So think Green when you see the white stuff falling. Get started now and create a unique holiday experience for your closest friends and family.
More recycled and eco-friendly stores to choose from:
3Tree Apparel Inc. (British Columbia)
Made entirely in North America, this company has 100 percent organic cotton briefs. Contact 604-839-3873.
Alchemy Goods
Makes bags made out of recycled materials such as inner tubes and car straps. Check out their waterproof Haversack model. For more info:
Bueno Style! (Vancouver)
They make organic cotton boy-cut panties silk-screened with fruity designs and catchy phrases. For more info:
Chacos
This sandal company gives customers discounts for trading in old pairs, which are then “recycled” and sent to the indigenous of India and Nepal. For more info:
Edun
Nude spelt backwards, this line started by U2’s Bono and his wife Ali, is aimed at the socially conscious. It is made in Africa and other developing countries, and is incorporating organic farming and organic fibres into its fashionable lines. Available at Holt Renfrew. For more info:
Ecoganik
Using only organic or eco-friendly fabrics, they create beautiful flowing dresses and skirts so you don’t have to sacrifice style for your morals. For more info:
Ecoist
Handmade brightly coloured bags made out of recycled materials such as candy wrappers, recycled movie billboards, and confetti will make sure you stand out in a crowd. For more info:
Ecosandals
This non-profit organization currently employs Kenyans to make sandals out of recycled tires providing fair job opportunities and waste reduction locally. For more info:
Fig Kids
This kids line by BC’s Twice Shy features quality organic wear for babies and children. For more info:
Grace & Cello (Montreal)
Features eco-friendly jeans made with organic cotton and bamboo, as well as outfits made with hemp and recycled wool. For more info:
HER Design Handbags
Made with hemp canvas and tree tap, this company has bags for men and women that take their designs from nature, and are even naturally waterproofed. For more info:
Katharine Hamnett
This British designer creates organic “statement tees” making her messages about the environment and politics clear. For more info:
Lela Designs (BC)
This B.C. clothing line features ladies golf wear made out of bamboo and anti-microbial and naturally sweat - wicking materials. For more info:
Living Planet
Campy chic silkscreened T-shirts printed on organic cotton using eco-friendly methods. For more info:
Love, Deming Clothing Company (Vancouver)
Uses eco-friendly fabrics such as bamboo, soy, hemp, yak wool and silk to make formal business wear and even funky leggings. For more info:
Mountain Equipment Co-op (Canadian)
This outdoors store sells many organic brands such as Sportif and Patagonia providing practical organic sportswear for spending time in nature. For more info:
Not Just Pretty
This B.C. store carries designers such as Blue Canoe, and Twice Shy who use organic cottons, and Mala Kuji who makes soft soy tanks. For more info:
On & On Ecolo Chic
Based in Montreal this shop can transform your old items into a whole new style by reworking it with their own raw materials. You can also donate your used clothes to help them create their new fashions. For more info:
Preloved
This Queen St. West boutique in Toronto creates one-of-a-kind reworked vintage items such as their cute summer dresses and blazers. For more info:
Sage Creek
With a variety of organic baby clothing, check out their adorable Zen yoga collection for your little ones.
Second Clothing
Produced solely in North America, they have begun producing organic lines of their derriere-flattering jeans and other garments. For more info:
Splaff Flops
“Make good use of bad rubbish” with these sandals created from recycled tires and hemp. For more info:
Susan Harris Design
This Toronto designer became known for her use of recycled materials and “cut-outs” of texts and images sewn onto her items making unique frocks and tops. For more info:
Terra Plana
Using chrome free leathers and recycled materials such as old car seats and recycled soles, these shoes are amazingly chic, with styles from high-heeled boots to skate shoes. For more info:
Twice Shy
Proving that “sustainability can be sexy”, they have organic cotton t-shirts with designs silk-screened by featured artists each month. For more info:
Twigg & hottie
This Canadian shop is home to Marzio Fiorini’s 100% recycled rubber henna inspired jewelry, as well as many other trendsetting designers.