Fairtrade Gifts

Peter Galloway and his wife Anita, opened their Concept 78 gift shop in East Fremantle in 2009 and haven't looked back.

Peter was an environmental scientist before opening the shop, which sells designer presents and gorgeous gifts, all with environmentally friendly credentials.

Based in the trendy George Street area of East Freo, Concept 79 stocks gifts such as organic clothing and bedding, solar clocks and jewellery made from old nuts and bolts.

This shop is a real find if you need to buys gifts for hard-to-buy-for people, or couples.  There are plenty of imaginative and funky engagement present ideas or wedding gifts for couples who take their green credentials seriously. Gifts include homewares that are sourced locally where possible, to reduce carbon footprints.

Or for birthday presents for eco-chic women, there is also a range of bags, inlcuding elegant ladies' handbags made from recycled materials such as billboard posters, fire hoses, LP records and car felts.

Peter and Anita plan to expand their concept and set up more stores around the country.  Glamorous gifts that aren't imported from Chinese sweatshops is where the couple see their niche.

As consumers become more aware of these issues, this niche is set to get bigger. A growing number of people want gifts that are not going to detroy the environment, and are ethically made.  Concept 78 definitely fills that niche perfectly.

I was recently sent an email from Oxfam telling me about their website ... and I was really surprised at the range and quality of gifts on offer!

All their gifts are fair trade.  I wish all websites and shops stocked fair trade products, because I think it's very important to know that the people who make consumer goods earn enough to live with dignity.

Organisations like Oxfam do a wonderful job supporting artisans, farmers and workers in third world countries. By paying them a decent wage for the skills they have, or teaching them new skills, Oxfam helps to protect them and their families against poverty.

In the toy section there are plenty of unique and fun gifts to choose from.  I found this really great wooden castle construction set, which was made in Sri Lanka. My kids would love it - I might have to talk to Santa about it!

These stacking 'My Girl' Tiffin boxes are also very cute. They're made in Vietnam and can store knick-nacks and food.  Young girls would love this gift - they can keep all their little bits and pieces in them.

Other gifts that caught my eye were these colourful 'Saigon Shopper' seagrass baskets.  They're a  great gift for women who love wandering around fresh food and farmers markets. They're great value as well - only $13.95.

Tea, coffee and chocolate are often under-rated as gifts. Most people like one, or all, of these products and Oxfam stock a range of products I know are delicious. I've tried some of the teas and I can tell you that the taste is much better than supermarket teas.

I don't drink coffee, but I've heard from people in the know that Oxfam's coffees are fabulous. My friend raves about the Ground Africa Blend coffee. 

I have to confess that I've not only tried the Oxfam Milk chocolate, I'm a little bit addicted to it! There's an Oxfam shop very near to where I work, so when I need a sugar fix I just pop in a grab a bar. It's so creamy and smooth, that it's impossible to have just one bite. It's one of my favourite chocolates (and I've tried a few!)

If someone gave me a selection of Oxfam teas, coffees and chocolates for a present, I would be very happy indeed!

So do check out the Oxfam website next time you're looking for a present for a your partner, husband, wife, friends or children. They won't be the only ones who'll thank you for it! 

THE GIFT OF FAIR TRADE CHOCOLATE

I love it when I find new and interesting companies that I can tell you guys about. I love it even more when the company is passionate about what they do and their business helps others as well.

I recently discovered Ecuatoriana de Chocolates - one of Ecuador's first gourmet chocolate companies. They specialise in the production of fine, single origin dark chocolate with a cocoa content of between 61% and 91%. That's a serious chocolate fix!

Chocolate always makes a great gift, but this chocolate should perhaps be saved for real chocolate connoisseurs. The company's Cacaoyere range would be a very special gift indeed for someone like this, because it's a fairly new company and isn't available in Australia yet.

BUT you can get it delivered from the US, or directly from Ecuador if you like. The contact details are:

Monica Nasser
axxesstrade@yahoo.com

There's also a toll free number. When you call from Australia, it's 0011 1 877 267 0286

This chocolate is the equivalent of giving a wine buff a bottle of 1985 Grange Hermitage - without the price tag of course!

One of the reason it's so special is because it's made from Ecuadoria's Cocoa Arriba bean, considered by many to be the world's best flavoured cocoa.

When you buy the chocolate, you'll also be helping a cooperative of small farmers growing cacao in highly diverse zones of Ecuador. The members of these cooperatives average one to 15 hectares of cacao orchards, growing in harmony with fruit and timber trees and tropical forests. Under normal circumstances, they might earn from 700 to 1200 US dollars a year, far too little to send their children to school or to the health center. EDC pays them a fair price – 45% higher than the local rate – so the success of this project can really improve their quality of life.

I don't know about you, but I'm sold! They had me at chocolate, but the fair trade element will help me enjoy it even more!

A great gift for chocolate lovers!