Beautiful, functional and ethical gifts – you’re worth it!
Between roughly 1880 and 1910 the Arts and Crafts Movement campaigned for the return to traditional ideas and beliefs in design and production. They thought that everything should be beautiful and in keeping with the materials it was made from, as well as practical. The concept of beauty and truth sat at the core of the movement influencing art, architecture, design and interior d?cor as well as challenging the ethics of the generation.
In a way we’re taking the same route. William Morris and co would have treasured today’s ethical goods. Like them we believe in goods whose production doesn’t exploit people, animals or even the environment in any way. We believe it’s good for the spirit to surround yourself with beautiful things. And that we believe functionality is actually essential too. All of us ought to have beautiful things, which work beautifully and whose creation has never caused harm to anyone or anything.
Take our leather journals and notebooks. They’re certainly beautiful, with covers made by hand in delicious chocolate brown leather. Inside there’s wads of lovely, thick, hand torn cotton paper. And they come complete with a smart white and grey presentation box. They’re completely useful, whether you want a tiny notebook or perhaps a durable journal. They’re environmentally responsible. Plus the ethics underpinning their production are sound.
The maker of our journals, Nkuku, is a member of the British Association of Fair Trade Shops. They pay a fair wage to their suppliers and visit them in person regularly to ensure working conditions are safe. In addition they make sure youngsters are never exploited. It comes down to much more than business. With Nkkuk it’s personal. They like close relationships with the individuals who produce these journals. Take it from the horse’s mouth… the workers at Nkuku are very proud of their work. And rightfully so!
Eco gifts are big this Christmas and we have an excellent choice of stunning things to select from. The ideal destination if you’re keen to spend your hard earned money wisely on beautiful, superb quality items that do exactly what they say on the tin… kindly.
Herbal Teas, the Ideal Green Gift for Any Occasion
What exactly is a herbal tea?
It is actually a plant based infusion produced from anything apart from leaves of the tea bush.
Herbal teas can be created from pretty much anything. Known flavours include caraway, artichoke, ginger, fennel, dill, dandelion, lemon grass, pine, rosehip and nettle to name just some. They can be created using leaves, roots, seeds, or dried or fresh flowers.
Usually boiling water is poured over the plant source and left to infuse for a few minutes whilst the flavour permeates the water. The plant is then removed from the water. For simplicity of use many herbal teas are available today in the form of tea bags.
In her book “The Herbal Tea Garden”, Marietta Marshal Marcin describes herbal tea as: “the leaves or flower buds of shrubs within the genus that was named Thea sinensis by Swedish botanist, Carlous Linnaeus. Since Thea sinensis tea is considered a close relative of the camellia flower, it is sometimes known as Camellia thea or Camellia sinensis. Broadly speaking, however, tea is any drink produced from steeping fragrant leaves, berries, seeds, flowers, roots, or bark in boiling water.”
All the tea in China
Tea is thought to have its beginnings in China nearly 5,000 years ago. According to legend, the Emperor Shen-Nung was purifying some water by boiling when leaves from a tea bush apparently blew into his pot without his knowledge. When he started to drink his water he noticed, and liked, this new taste. Whatever the truth of the story, it is known that the popularity of tea rapidly spread throughout the world.
As regards herbal tea, its origins are believed to trace back as far as Imperial Rome. Ironically its popularity is thought to have increased following the Boston Tea Party, when the imported tea product was banned and patriotic Americans instead began to produce their own herbal versions, known at that time as “liberty teas”.
Made with natural herbs and unsullied by added ingredients, pure herbal teas are organic and will be certified by the Soil Association, a registered charity with over 200 certification inspectors active round the United Kingdom.
Delicious and attractively boxed, herb teas make the ideal eco gifts for Christmas, anniversaries or any other occasions.
The list of flavours in which they are available today is almost endless.
Planning on Ethical Christmas Gifts?
It feels like only the other day that the sun was shining and I was at the seaside in Devon, picking out grains of sand from my ice cream as the sweltering noon day sun bore down upon me in all its fury.
But indeed it had been only yesterday that I walked home from work in the advancing night hours, shivering uncontrollably through three layers of clothing and contemplating what this inevitably meant… Christmas is on its way!
Christmas of course signifies presents, and particularly so for the young ones. This being the situation it may be an idea to consider buying ethical Christmas presents this season, bringing happiness and joy for the children whilst doing something positive for the environment and encouraging acceptable employment conditions for the workers who create these products.
There was a time not very long ago when the idea of taking environmental and ethical factors into account when embarking on our Christmas shop might have seemed just a little whimsical, even eccentric. Today nevertheless it is very much more mainstream, and the possibilities to us are much more numerous and varied.
Ethical shopping for people of all ages
Obviously it is not just about the kids. For older friends and relatives it is also remarkably simple these days to find ethical jewellery whether one is looking for necklaces, bracelets, earrings or whatever else in the range.
Nowadays even everyday items for example stationery and kitchen utensils are available as fairtrade and ecologically sustainable products. And green food production of course is pretty much an industry all of its own. Whole stores as well as chains exist where nothing but eco products are available. Soaps, shampoos, toiletries and related items that have been ethically manufactured is usually more than a match in terms of quality for the more popular supermarket or big commercial brands.
Belief and Philosophy
The philosophy and honest belief driving this mode of shopping is usually that the receivers of ethical gifts derive twice the pleasure from the product they love coupled with a positive feeling that in some small way just receiving it has helped the world to become a better place. It envisages a world in which exploitation and environmental exploitation play no part in the process of production. With the extended product ranges now available there is absolutely no reason why we cannot all play at least some small part in helping to realise that goal.
Green Tulip – Ethical Christmas Gifts
Proud though we are of our choice of ethical gifts, products and presents we thought it would be an idea to look back at the history of Green Tulip itself, from its beginning in 2007 to the current day.
The philosophy was always clear; realising a passion for retail whilst trading fairly in a way that values the individuals whose toil puts together the merchandise we sell and naturally the environment itself.
Ethical shopping involves a great deal. It’s not just about guarding trees via our purchasing power, not just about not preventing harm to animals or paying a fair wage or providing decent working conditions for the individuals who produce our products. It is about putting all of this together, blending them with honest business practice and creating therefore a positive difference with a fair profit that nevertheless isn’t going to penalise either the customer or the worker.
Our contemporary showroom is a converted dairy and displays the full range of Green Tulip products. The development where it sits is called the Old Potato Yard and is based just outside Devizes in Wiltshire. The Old Potato Yard also includes a cafe, a large farm shop, a craft workshop, a plant nursery and an equestrian supplies shop, lending it something like the feel of an old craft village.
1 % of our sales revenue is donated to environmental organisations. We issue a newsletter through our website and offer a free delivery service for all orders exceeding ?50. Green Tulip will even gift wrap your gifts for you for a very modest charge.
Pride of place amongst the products we sell must go to the Bambu Boutique, (an attractive portfolio of over 120 items which make the most perfect green gifts as a look through Bambu’s page on our site will demonstrate. We are Bambu’s UK distributors and provide stockists with its products throughout the country. Check out Bambu’s line of Coconut Bowls – that is bowls produced from the shell of a coconut; and get a feeling for the kind of inspiration that has gone into this specific range.
Finally, please take a look at our Sale Shop and see a few of the reductions that we’ve made on certain of our Bambu product; a valuable boost when keeping an eye open for ethical Christmas presents whilst seeking to remain within your budget.
Beautiful, Natural Soaps Lend Style Panache And Style To Every Bathroom!
If you’re contemplating just what to buy your number 1 lady, whether it’s your Mum or your Gran, your sister, your significant other or yourself, gorgeous Heyland & Whittle soap sets hit the mark every time. It is a special all year-round gift for birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries or just to say ‘you’re lovely’.
At first sight there’s a splendid presentation box, lined with crisp, delicate tissue. Inside there’s a real treat, a scrumptious blast of fine aromas and splashes of understated, rich colour… ten classic Heyland & Whittle soaps complete with a neat menu card describing each one. Whether your bathroom’s a shabby chic haven or a masterpiece in minimalism, this soap set will lend a gorgeous finishing touch to your home decor.
As well as smelling delightful and looking good enough to eat, Heyland & Whittle soaps have renowned moisturising properties. They’re 100% natural, created from a secret blend of specially chosen plant oils, pure essential oils, flower extracts, herbs and spices. They’re made using delightful natural colourings like nettle leaves, turmeric and walnut leaves. Glycerine is the key moisturising ingredient, often eliminated from ordinary soaps. But Heyland & Whittle soaps are renowned for retaining their natural glycerine content. So they moisturise beautifully too.
Because Heyland & Whittle are based in Surrey these soaps are British through and through. They haven’t travelled half way around the world, using valuable energy, to get to you. They’re not tested on animals. And unlike most UK soaps, they contain absolutely no animal fat… not a bit of it. Just lovely, smooth vegetable oils. A must-have from our superb range of ethically sound and environmentally responsible soaps, we’re proud to say this is one of our best sellers, enduringly popular as a versatile present you simply can’t go wrong with!
Luxury Leather Goods are a Great Gift
Hip flasks are one of the luxury leather goods that seems entirely British, and is certainly proving to be an established tradition that’s in no need of a revival. As popular today as ever, good quality hip flasks are more than just a way to carry an invigorating tipple with you when out on a cold winter’s day. Like most professional leather products, hip flasks are an iconic tradition, as beautiful to see, touch and hold as they are convenient and welcome.
For many people hip flasks are one of the more popular luxury corporate gifts, and certainly they’re a welcome change from watches, gift vouchers or clocks. Professional leather products today are manufactured from soft, high quality leather that’s not split, but sourced from lambs and goats, giving them a beautiful soft, supple and smooth feel that makes them every bit as inviting to touch and hold as to look at and admire.
Hip flasks may be a display item, but they’re also very handy when out and about on a hunt or a walk. Whether you enjoy a strong coffee, liquor or a little of Scotland’s finest oak matured water, hip flasks are available in a wide range of styles, sizes and appearances.
From 4oz hip flasks to 6oz and even 8oz hip flasks, the choice is often available to have a decanter, cup, or glass incorporated into the design, making them perfect for sharing. Of course, luxury leather goods are not the preserve of men, with hip flasks continuing to prove very popular with ladies too, and today there are several beautiful designs available, giving ladies the chance to warm their cockles on a cold winter’s hunt.
Looking Stylish with Men’s Classic Leather Jackets
When you want warmth and you also want to look great, ditch some of your old jumpers and jackets and create a stylish new look for yourself with quality men’s classic leather jackets. The benefit of having a good leather jacket is that you can wear it on any occasion and either dress it up or dress it down, depending on what you are wearing with it, and your choice of shoes. Leather jackets will last for years and the classic style is one that never dates, so it is an extremely versatile item of clothing to have in your wardrobe.
If you conduct an online search, you will be presented with the best variety of jackets to choose from. The selection will show a range of colour choices and classic styles. One of the advantages of shopping online for clothing items such as leather jackets and blazers is that you can often pick up a bargain or sale item. The prices that are available online are usually much cheaper than those you will find in a regular store due to the fact that having an online presence means less overheads and companies can pass these substantial savings onto their customers.
Leather Coats for All!
Leather coats have been around for quite a while. Some may even say that the caveman donning a piece of hide could have been said to sport the first leather jacket. Indeed, leather apparel has been seen on the catwalk, in movies and at the movies, in the mall and on the street, in fine dining restaurants, on a picnic and aboard a yacht. And there is no one type of person more prone to wear a leather jacket. Men, women, tall, short, large boned and thin have all sold, bought or borrowed a leather coat at one time. A leather jacket is one item of clothing guaranteed to suit people of all persuasions.
You don’t need to spend a mint on a decent leather jacket – many quality stores often have sales, and not always on last season’s stock. Clearance lines may be the end of the run; stock that is still current but not being made again. An inexpensive coat could be yours, if you simply bide your time and are prepared to shop around. If you take the time to try on a few, you’ll find one to suit your unique shape and size.
He (or She) Who Hesitates Is Lost? Not Necessarily!
Ever been shopping and put off buying something you’ve seen – only to return a week, a day or an hour later and find it gone? We’ve all been there, and ‘dash’ doesn’t begin to cover it. It’s even worse when the item was on sale. You spend the next however long lamenting the lost bargain, and then our 20/20 hindsight kicks in: "I should have asked them to put it aside". Shopping online doesn’t protect us from such distress, either. The ‘in stock’ counter taunts us as it drops from ’1′ to ’0′ when we refresh – and no amount of yelling at the screen will bring it back. Or so we’ve heard.
Luckily, you can get around this, should it ever happen to you. If you’re shopping for leather jackets online, and find that what you want is no longer available, you can email us, and hand over your vital measurements. We’ll not only check that there’s really, truly no more in stock, we’ll check what we do have to make sure there’s nothing else that will suit your measurements.
Leather Jackets: a Coat for all Seasons
It’s a fact – leather jackets are making a comeback! Some might say that the classic leather jacket never really went out of style, but face it, when you’ve seen a guy wearing a men’s leather jacket that is a little past its use-by date (think short, black, and diagonal zippers), it can look not-quite-trendy. In their many forms, leather jackets can be worn almost anywhere and with almost anything. Even the old aviator-style jacket can still look cool, when teamed with the right outfit and accessories.
Some great bargain buys can be picked up in clearance sales. Cheap leather jackets are now being sported by the younger generation due to their versatility and low cost. They can be worn with anything, and their affordability makes them attractive to the younger crowd. They can be seen to and from work (and even some schools), in town with pals or out with families.
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