Posts Tagged ‘Dwelling’

Spotlight On: African Artisan Collectives

Friday, July 16th, 2010

All the rich cultures, colors and textures of the African continent are expressed so beautifully in the artworks made by tribal artisans. Elegant Roots is proud to work with fair-trade collectives across Africa to help bring some of their stunning creations to North America. How lucky we are to support these talented people and keep them at work, doing what they love.

CREATIVE WOMEN — Founded by one-woman dynamo Ellen Dorsch, Creative Women brings us the exquisite textile craftsmanship of Ethiopia and Swaziland. A company that provides work training and excellent pay to talented women, Creative Women is known for its luxurious mohair and vibrant silk items through its luxury Sabahar line. By pairing fashion-forward Western designs with traditional African craftsmanship, Creative Women merges cultures beautifully.

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DWELLING — Connecticut product development consultant Gloria Delaney was traveling in Kenya where she discovered artisans creating remarkable handcrafted items, such as gorgeous bowls carved from a single piece of sustainably harvested olivewood. She also tapped into a women’s knitting collective to bring huggable handmade plush toys to children in the U.S. Gloria has gone far beyond just providing economic opportunities to artists — she and Dwelling strongly support literacy, health and other programs for the well-being of the workers and their families.Dwelling_3wDwelling_2w


TRIBAL HOME — This U.S.-based company brings us the work of amazing Zulu Master Weavers from South Africa. Tribal Home’s three founding partners discovered these women in the remote KwaZulu-Natal Province, skilled in the traditional art of weaving watertight Zulu baskets but unable to make a living from it. Tribal Home introduced the baskets to the Western market — where they’ve been selling so successfully that the weavers can now support their families and keep these traditional Zulu crafts alive.

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Five Eco-Friendly Gifts for Baby

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

A new baby is one of the most delightful reasons to buy a gift — but it’s not always easy to choose an item that will please a picky parent. Here is a roundup of five thoughtful gifts we’ve found that are all-natural, non-toxic, high-quality and gentle enough to meet the standards of any new mom or dad.

ButtNakedBaby_X-01All-Natural Organic Baby Care Set by Butt Naked Baby — We’d call it a “spa set” for baby, because the ingredients are so luxurious … but some of the items here are really necessary! All the products in this fabulous six-piece gift set are responsibly handcrafted in small batches in the USA, using only the best organic ingredients. There are no skin-irritating fragrances, parabens, mineral oils or dyes; rather, this lush and sustainable gift set looks and smells clean and natural. The set comes with Moisture Milk lotion, Healing Baby Powder, moisturizing Baby Balm Stick, soothing and protecting Diaper Balm and relaxing/hydrating Baby Oil. It’s all wrapped up in an organic-cotton “Butt Rug” that can be used as a diaper, burp cloth or changing pad. These trustworthy products are among the finest we’ve found for baby.

DreamSacks_Blanket_XaDowny-Soft Bamboo Baby Blankets by Dreamsacks — Once you feel these buttery-soft blankets and learn about their fabulous qualities, you won’t want to swaddle baby in anything else. These lovely loom-woven blankets are naturally antibacterial, hypoallergenic, breathable and moisture-wicking. Luxuriously soft, light, warm and comfortable, Bamboo Baby Blankets are loom-woven from 100 percent pesticide-free bamboo — harvested responsibly from renewable forests and crafted under fair-trade conditions. Choose from several colors.

Dimples_OrganicSet_X-01Organic Cotton Baby Ensemble by Dimples — We just love this gorgeous 3-piece newborn set made from 100 percent organic cotton. And it’s not just us — Babble.com calls it “absolutely beautiful — so soft and snuggly … exactly how I want to bring [new baby] home.” Ecofabulous.com agrees: “Magnificent newborn gift.” The all-natural ensemble has a swaddling blanket, a playsack with drawstring tie, and a cap with flaps for those sweet little ears. The soft cotton contains no pesticides or chemical treatments whatsoever: gentle, handcrafted and using only non-toxic dyes, it’s nothing but softness against baby’s sensitive skin. Choose from the gorgeous hand-embroidered striped “Bee” or “Rose” designs in size 0-3 months.

BabyShokay385x260Fair-Trade Luxury Baby Hoodie/ Booties by Shokay These beautiful, soft-as-cashmere hoodie, booties and rattle set is woven from the sustainable “new luxury fiber” — yak down! Tibetan yak herders have been humanely harvesting the rugged animals’ luxurious, downy undercoat for generations, but only recently has this sumptuous fabric been available in the Western market. This set is gorgeous, handcrafted and will be the softest, warmest items in baby’s layette; they’re hand-washable and feel like cashmere. Treated only with nontoxic, low-impact dyes, this heirloom-quality baby set contains a sweet hoodie with an “eternity knot” clasp, snuggly booties with plush pom-poms, and a soft rattle in “Bee” or “Bug” design. This is not only a gorgeous and memorable gift, but it supports Tibetan herders and weavers in fair-labor conditions.

EnGry_PoliceCars_XEnGry_PrincessHorse_XFair-Trade Wool Car Set or Plush Pony by En Gry and Sif— We just love En Gry and Sif, a business started by two wonderful Danish sisters whose charming baby-and-kid products employ excellent design, strict eco-friendly standards and top-notch craftsmanship by women artisans in Nepal. Non-toxic toys are a wonderful gift, and En Gry and Sif’s fun Wool Car Set and Plush Pony toys are soft, safe, easy to grasp, cute and colorful enough to delight both babies and toddlers. They’re made with 100 percent wool-felt and colored with gentle low-impact dyes. The two-piece car set comes with a Police Car and Ambulance; the Plush Pony is tan with pink spots and a yarn mane.

Wood You Support Sustainable Harvesting?

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

Wood is one of the most practical, useful and beautiful elements on earth, suitable for everything from building construction to high-fashion jewelry. But as with any natural resource, exploitative harvesting of wood can exact too great a price.

Rain forests around the world are being destroyed at an alarming rate, and two of the biggest culprits are timber logging and farming. The solution? Create financial incentives for locals to preserve the rain forest. Luckily, there is growing awareness and a bigger market for sustainably harvested wood. That means wood that’s collected on a small scale by responsible harvesters, or recycled from other products.

When you look for artisan items made from sustainable wood, you support a market for alternative and responsible uses of this land. This also puts talented artists to work, doing what they love.

Here are a few awesome items we found that prove our point: Sustainable wood is fabulous!

Olivewood “S” Bowl and Service Set by Dwelling — No two pieces are alike, as the dramatic and gorgeous swirls of the olivewood are unique to each one. Hand-carved by artisans in Kenya, these sustainable Dwelling pieces make great gifts for weddings, bridal showers, cooks, foodies, domestic divas and anyone who appreciates beautiful wood pieces.

Rainforest Wood & Seed Jewelry by Rainforest Native — This versatile 3-strand bracelet and earrings set can be worn every day and is perfect for women who want to look effortlessly chic. Rainforest Native uses only organic, sustainably harvested South American materials and donates a portion of its profits to charities dedicated to conservation and reforestation.

Sterling Silver & Sathorn Wood Cufflinks by Pineapple Seed — Putting Thai artisans to work in fair-trade conditions, Pineapple Seed combines modern design concepts with traditional Thai artistry. These cufflinks are made from brushed silver and reclaimed sathorn wood in a powerful, masculine design.

Five Fabulous Green Gifts for Geminis

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

As we enter the birthday month for the Gemini sun sign (May 21-June 20), let’s take a look at some of the awesome, unique and eco-friendly gifts we’ve rounded up for all the “Twins” personalities in your life.

An Air sign ruled by Mercury, Gemini is all about intelligence and communication. Those born under this sign have a passion for putting their brains to work, and for figuring out what makes things – or people – tick.

Geminis have a great love of all means of communication, and writing often comes naturally to them. They will not hesitate to express their opinion or point of view, and enjoy engaging in lively debate or witty banter. They like to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) to get their thoughts out. Their way with words often makes a lasting impression.
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We found these gorgeous artisan leather-and-pewter journals by Oberon — perfect for the communicative, expressive Gemini. Hand-tooled and cured without damaging chemicals, these beautiful journals are as much of a conversation piece as they are a catch-all for brilliant thoughts.

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Little Geminis love games of imagination, role-playing and acting, so these adorable handcrafted hand puppets by Dwelling will keep a Gemini child busy for hours. Joyously knit by a fair-trade women’s collective in Kenya, these puppets are made of organic wool, vege-dyed and super cute.

Obama_Ceremony_2 385x282-01-01Those born under the Gemini sun sign are notorious for needing mental stimulation — learning is a lifelong passion for them. Anything that challenges the mind interests Geminis, and they will pursue the answer to a riddle or mystery long after most people give up! Get their brain power flowing with a complex, wood (FSC-certified) jigsaw puzzle — specifically this sustainable wood Obama Inauguration Puzzle, a sweeping crowd scene that will challenge even the most detail-oriented Gemini.

LichenStixcomposite385x270One drawback of Geminis is that they’re interested in so many things that, in fact, to some people they may appear flighty. But they see life as a buffet, and their goal is to sample everything! Variety, diversity and experimentation are vital to them. This is why the Stix & Stones Multi-Design Jewelry by Lichen is rather ideal for them. This interactive jewelry set comes with several stainless-steel magnetic “stix” and “stones” that can be arranged to create literally hundreds of fabulous contemporary designs, so even a Gemini will never be bored.

DreamSacks_Travel_X-01Finally, travel is important to Geminis, and they love taking trips. Their journeys may not be long, but there are plenty of them — Geminis love to be on the go. They crave new experiences, seeing new sights and meeting different people. Geminis with wanderlust will appreciate this gorgeous, luxurious, raw silk travel comfort set by Dreamsacks. A soft, warm but lightweight blanket, pillowcase and eyeshade will make sure that Geminis arrive well-rested at their destination!

What we love most about Geminis is that they never lose their fun-loving nature or their curiosity, and seem to get younger with time, not older. Happy Birthday, Gemini!

Can’t Eco and Socially Just Gifts Cost Less?

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

On September 27, Sami Grover wrote about Elegant Roots on Treehugger.com. Sami’s headline is “Elegant Roots: Green Doesn’t (Always) Come Cheap”.

Apparently, having been burned repeatedly by criticism of the “pricey-ness” of some green products, Sami felt compelled to an anticipatory rant in response using, as her subject, our $69 handmade, organic stuffed Penguin. Penguin by Dwelling.penguin_a_72-4x5

Sami concludes: “It seems to me that if someone is going to spend $60 on toys, then buying one or two well-made, safe and sustainable items beats filling up the toy chest with lead paint and plastic crap. (Not to mention there are plenty of ‘luxury’ toys out there that don’t carry such green credentials…)”

We, at ElegantRoots.com, agree wholeheartedly and appreciate greatly Sami’s endorsement. And we agree emphatically that people should Buy Less But Buy Better. As she suggests, there may be some “green” alternatives in a lower price range. But there are other issues at play here.

Social Justice and soulfulness. We offer things that are handmade — touched by the hand and spirit of the artisan. No machine-turned-out toy can match the feel. And, unlike the Wal-Mart ilk, ElegantRoots.com does not squeeze price concessions from the artisans. A fair price for a handmade item is what we’re all about. If a handmade, organic stuffed animal were to sell for half the price, who would bite it on that transaction? The artisan.

I guarantee a “similar” toy can be made in a sweatshop factory in China for a lower price. And who bites it on that transaction. The sweatshop indentured servant.

ElegantRoots.com exists to help create and sustain a market for artisan products that use traditional skills to create marketable designs (Penguins are not a traditional subject in Kenya). If there is no market for these products, traditional skills become economically nonviable. Traditional lifestyles are lost as people are forced to overcrowded cities to join the ranks of the displaced, dependent on sweatshops.

So, when people complain about the prices, what do they really want? Do they want social enterprises like ElegantRoots.com not to exist? Do they want the artisans in developing economies to get squeezed to the bone on prices in order to try to compete with sweatshops? Do they want only “cheap” plastic stuff that winds up in the dump?

kk-knitters-045-72-5x5 Bottom line, you get what you pay for. If you want a product created by hand by some one person with pride and care, working in a joyful community of women receiving fair trade prices, a Penguin from the Critter Knitters of rural Kenya is the perfect choice. Penguin from Critter Knitters

kimochidoll_a_72-4x5 The same applies within the borders of the US. If you want a limited edition Kimochi “emotions” doll made by hand in the US by a noted doll artist, Cody Thompson, shop at ElegantRoots.com.

You’ll be glad you did. So will the artisan somewhere (and we tell you where) who, because a market exists, can pursue his/her art and be independent.

And it all comes wrapped in our nonpareil, signature, and COMPLIMENTARY, eco-conscious gift wrap.

Later.

Babble Droolicious and Gerber Babies

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

ElegRoo extends its thanks to Babble.com Droolicious and the blog 2Gerberbabies.com for great coverage.

Babble’s Droolicious loved ElegRoo’s Exclusive Obama Inauguration jigsaw puzzles using photos by White House photographer Paul Morse and design by the incomparable Wentworth Wooden Puzzle company. “The Obama Inauguration Jigsaw makes a summertime activity that’s worthy of the presidential seal.”  bit.ly/5BGRc

Our Obama puzzles are of the highest quality, a product of CAD and laser cutting on Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood. Check them out — we’re really proud of them. bit.ly/kJYF3

The Gerber Babies Blog recommended our Dimples Ensemble (organic cotton baby set), Wool-Felt Police Car Toy Bin by En Gry & Sif,  the “S” olivewood bowl from Dwelling, the Wool-Felt Computer Bag by etcetera media, Kakadoo embroidered jewelry by Dori Csengeri, the baby alpaca throw from Marcel Miller, and our eco-conscious, complimentary gift packaging. Here’s a sample from Gerber Babies Blog:

“Save yourself some time and check out Elegant Roots the next time you need that perfect gift! Not only do they have the greatest selection of products for just about anyone on your list, they offer meaningful gifts created by true Artisans. The products are eco-friendly and socially responsible! We received the most adorable newborn set from the Dimples Collection. The Dimples Ensemble is made from pure organic cotton. This set is very soft and a pleasure to touch. The fine details ensure that this set will be treasured long after it is outgrown! The set includes a delightful baby gown (playsack) featuring an embroidered rose or bee. It is available in chocolate, sage, and pink! A matching cap and wrap are included! Don’t look elsewhere, Elegant Roots is the first to offer this set in the USA!”  bit.ly/P2X3b

The Gerber Babies Blog also liked our ElegRoo blog about Parents Behind the Curve  bit.ly/nalpj

To Babble and Gerber Babies — thanks for the support!