Socially Conscious Shopping: Some Gift Giving Ideas
December is here and with it comes, for a lot of us, shopping to buy gifts for loved ones. I, over these last several years, have turned in to much more of an online shopper! Having four little humans at home doesn't get me out of the house much and during the hours where I could really take my time and shop alone (like 6am or 10pm) most stores aren't open ;) Online shopping helps me tremendously. Although I do shop frequently on sites like Wayfair or Amazon, I am trying to be more socially conscious as I find gifts. There is nothing I like more than to know money I am spending is not only going towards a thoughtful gift, but also helping do some good around the world. Below are five amazing ethical stores whose mission is to bring opportunity to creators and entrepreneurs worldwide. These stores empower and would bring some beautiful, unique gifts to anyone on your gift list this year!
**Disclaimer- While I have shopped at most of these stores myself, I haven't hit them all... yet... there are still many shopping days left ;) I also did my homework learning about each of these organizations- their mission, their values, their charity work, and the details of the company.**
Some of my favorite socially conscious websites:
1. www.shop.metowe.com: This social enterprise, stemming from its charity WE.org (formally Free the Children) was founded by Craig and Marc Kierlburger- brothers who, when they were in middle school, began their social activism helping children around the world. The vision is "to empower people to transform local and global communities by shifting from 'me' thinking to 'we' acting." Their store in Toronto (which I've been to more than once) and their website shop has a variety of gifts made by artisans and skilled entrepreneurs in Kenya and Ecuador. Each time you buy an item, not only are you supporting these creators, but also supporting global issues of poverty, hunger, water, education, opportunity, and healthcare all around the world. Each item has its own unique code, which you can type in on the website to see exactly where you've made your impact just for buying. There are gifts on this website for anyone on your list. This year, I purchased things for the boys' teachers, a secret Santa, and a little something for myself ;)
2. www.consciousstep.com: A sock website that does good! When shopping here, you can filter by a cause you're passionate about (animal rescue, kids' education, saving sharks, planting trees, fighting hunger, etc) and buy dress socks that support that cause. For example, when buying the kid education socks, you can do your part to support the over 3,000 school books given. Or, purchase socks that add to the over 100,000 months of safe water provided.
3. www.societyb.com: Society B is a fantastic website because it houses twelve socially conscious/ ethical marketplaces (including conscious step mentioned above) on one website. So, when you purchase clothing, jewelry, home goods, blankets, etc, the website lets you know exactly what your purchase is going towards. Products go towards causes or to support fair-wage and empowerment to women artisans in places like Peru or Uganda. If that wasn't enough, at checkout, you also get to decide which charity you'd like 10% of sales (not profit, just general sales) to go towards from a list of choices. By being a consumer of these products, you are double dipping on your do-gooding, which I think is fantastic!
4. www.tenthousandvillages.com : This organization got its start in the 1940s as a woman named Edna Ruth Blyer who, after a trip to Puerto Rico, noticed people trying to sell beautiful things to a small audience and not being able to support themselves or their families. She brought back products and began to sell them out of her car back here in the United States. And so, a fair-trade movement was born. This website has a little of everything including stationary, bath and body products, clothing, jewelry, sculptures, and even games. Every village has people in it who want to live a meaningful life; this website seeks to share their stories and culture through fair-trade and sustainable products. They also have a sweet blog. One post that caught my eye was "The ABCs of a More Sustainable Christmas."
5. www.thelittlemarket.com : The Little Market is an online fair-trade shop (which also has a brick and mortar in California) started by two women, one being Lauren Conrad. It seeks to empower women artisans from all over the world. When looking at this non-profit's values, I especially liked seeing the importance placed on paying fairly and promptly and prioritizing marginalized groups and communities. This website has it all! I especially liked all the dining and kitchen accessories. When taking a look at a product, the description lets you know what country's artisans made it.
Other ways to do good this season:
Buy gifts for others around the world in honor of someone on your list! There are so many websites out there where you can buy school supplies, clothing, bug nets, healthcare, domesticated animals, etc to help communities and families all over the world. A couple favorites are:
1. www.worldvision.org: sponsor a child, give life saving emergency kits, send soccer balls to a school, give a child a solar light to read or do homework at night- there is SO much to support as you look at their gift guide!
2. www.helprefugees.com: This website is amazing because you can hand pick out a gift that will go to a refugee!
I hope these ethically responsible websites help you give the perfect gift while helping to do global good! If you have other socially conscious shops you love to support, let me know! I am always looking to grow my plethora of stores like these to do good while giving to others.
**Disclaimer- While I have shopped at most of these stores myself, I haven't hit them all... yet... there are still many shopping days left ;) I also did my homework learning about each of these organizations- their mission, their values, their charity work, and the details of the company.**
Some of my favorite socially conscious websites:
1. www.shop.metowe.com: This social enterprise, stemming from its charity WE.org (formally Free the Children) was founded by Craig and Marc Kierlburger- brothers who, when they were in middle school, began their social activism helping children around the world. The vision is "to empower people to transform local and global communities by shifting from 'me' thinking to 'we' acting." Their store in Toronto (which I've been to more than once) and their website shop has a variety of gifts made by artisans and skilled entrepreneurs in Kenya and Ecuador. Each time you buy an item, not only are you supporting these creators, but also supporting global issues of poverty, hunger, water, education, opportunity, and healthcare all around the world. Each item has its own unique code, which you can type in on the website to see exactly where you've made your impact just for buying. There are gifts on this website for anyone on your list. This year, I purchased things for the boys' teachers, a secret Santa, and a little something for myself ;)
2. www.consciousstep.com: A sock website that does good! When shopping here, you can filter by a cause you're passionate about (animal rescue, kids' education, saving sharks, planting trees, fighting hunger, etc) and buy dress socks that support that cause. For example, when buying the kid education socks, you can do your part to support the over 3,000 school books given. Or, purchase socks that add to the over 100,000 months of safe water provided.
3. www.societyb.com: Society B is a fantastic website because it houses twelve socially conscious/ ethical marketplaces (including conscious step mentioned above) on one website. So, when you purchase clothing, jewelry, home goods, blankets, etc, the website lets you know exactly what your purchase is going towards. Products go towards causes or to support fair-wage and empowerment to women artisans in places like Peru or Uganda. If that wasn't enough, at checkout, you also get to decide which charity you'd like 10% of sales (not profit, just general sales) to go towards from a list of choices. By being a consumer of these products, you are double dipping on your do-gooding, which I think is fantastic!
4. www.tenthousandvillages.com : This organization got its start in the 1940s as a woman named Edna Ruth Blyer who, after a trip to Puerto Rico, noticed people trying to sell beautiful things to a small audience and not being able to support themselves or their families. She brought back products and began to sell them out of her car back here in the United States. And so, a fair-trade movement was born. This website has a little of everything including stationary, bath and body products, clothing, jewelry, sculptures, and even games. Every village has people in it who want to live a meaningful life; this website seeks to share their stories and culture through fair-trade and sustainable products. They also have a sweet blog. One post that caught my eye was "The ABCs of a More Sustainable Christmas."
5. www.thelittlemarket.com : The Little Market is an online fair-trade shop (which also has a brick and mortar in California) started by two women, one being Lauren Conrad. It seeks to empower women artisans from all over the world. When looking at this non-profit's values, I especially liked seeing the importance placed on paying fairly and promptly and prioritizing marginalized groups and communities. This website has it all! I especially liked all the dining and kitchen accessories. When taking a look at a product, the description lets you know what country's artisans made it.
Other ways to do good this season:
Buy gifts for others around the world in honor of someone on your list! There are so many websites out there where you can buy school supplies, clothing, bug nets, healthcare, domesticated animals, etc to help communities and families all over the world. A couple favorites are:
1. www.worldvision.org: sponsor a child, give life saving emergency kits, send soccer balls to a school, give a child a solar light to read or do homework at night- there is SO much to support as you look at their gift guide!
2. www.helprefugees.com: This website is amazing because you can hand pick out a gift that will go to a refugee!
I hope these ethically responsible websites help you give the perfect gift while helping to do global good! If you have other socially conscious shops you love to support, let me know! I am always looking to grow my plethora of stores like these to do good while giving to others.
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