i love giving jewelery as gifts, especially earrings. i think that this is because i don’t have my ears pierced, but LOVE earrings. i know, i am weird. so, like i said last week, there are TONS of places to find jewelery that gives back. i have narrowed my search down to the four i will share with you today, but again, please share if you know of some other well kept secret!
watches? made of wood? um, pretty awesome. what’s even better is that the purchase of one of these timepieces means the planting of a tree. i love this quote from their facebook: “The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now.”
while best known as a men’s watch, WeWood creations can be worn by anyone wanting to make both a fasion and eco-statement.
from their facebook: WEWOOD lets us rediscover nature in its beauty, its simplicity and inspired design. It reminds us of a tree’s powerful way of life; rooted, yet reaching.
Completely absent of artificial and toxic materials, the WEWOOD Timepiece is as natural as your wrist. It respects your skin as you respect nature by choosing it. Your WEWOOD Timepiece breathes the same air that you breathe and may awaken memories from another time and place. Your WEWOOD Timepiece records your sensations and shares your experiences as the perfect natural mate, whose story also becomes yours to wear, smell and feel.
these pieces run over $100, making them a substantial gift that is worth giving.
this statement from ember arts is beautiful, as is their mission to help the women of Uganda support their families and rebuild their lives in the aftermath of civil war.
from their website: Our business exists to renew hope. We partner with women in Uganda, East Africa to create beautiful jewelry using recycled paper and plastic. Through this connection to the American market our Ugandan partners are able to rebuild their lives and families, and rekindle their hopes and dreams, after a devastating civil war. They embody the unquenchable ember of the human spirit.
cuffs are my favorite piece of jewelry to wear and i LOVE theirs. they have several styles of bracelets, earrings and necklaces to chose from, all coming in several vibrant color options. and totally affordable. make sure you check them out! in kansas city, you can see them in person at HEMLINE on the plaza. you can also like them on facebook.
this company also works with Ugandan women and the paper beads they create. while the medium is the same, their designs have a different look than those of ember arts. one things that particularly caught my eye is their wedding line. i know we are talking holidays here, but this line is too cool to not mention. what a great idea for “something new”.
in addition to that line, i am loving the camellia necklaces. they are a triple strand that offer a wonderful base for layering your jewelry. i can easily see these dressing up a white tee shirt or peeking out from under a blazer. what an awesome, versatile piece. i will take one in each color please.
here is their mission statement from their facebook: 31 Bits Designs Northern Uganda is designed to empower vulnerable individuals to rise above poverty through maximizing creative abilities and generating opportunities for sustainable livelihoods. In the 31 Bits program, the women earn an income that allows them to provide for their families, receive financial and savings training, and maximize their creative skills and abilities. We strive to build a loving community that cares for individuals’ spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical needs.
make sure you check out all they have to offer on their website (um, serious props to their stylist!) and don’t forget to “meet” all their designers.
looking for something a little different? look no further. the andean collection offers all kinds of unique accessory options and several awesome statement pieces.
this honeycomb necklace is one of my favorites. this particular necklace is made from tagua seeds, which come from a type of palm tree that makes it’s home in Equador. the seeds resemble elephant ivory and have come to play an important part in the economy and ecosystem of South America, as it allows the people to make money without having to harm the rainforest or the elephants.
according to their website, the Andean Collection was founded to bring sustainable change to impoverished communities in South America. We offer artisans the opportunity to participate in the global market while inspiring our customers with access to the elusive world of the rural Andes.
We have a non-profit arm, Andean Project, to ensure that this change is productive and healthy and to address other poverty related social issues, all funded through our sales and private donations.
their collection covers all price points and i dare you to not be able to find something for any lady on your list somewhere in their extensive collection. i think i will go ahead and say it, this collection is my favorite. i just love the use of multiple media. awesome work.
one more to check out:
Free the Nations calls themselves a fashion movement and features the work of 31 Bits, The Andean Collection and several other groups that offer aide to Uganda, India and Ecuador. You can read about each of the groups they work with here.
so, what did you love? what can’t you live without? what did i miss?
ahoyfriend. 
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