PHOTO COURTESY/Willow & Whimsy
We know sometimes it’s hard to come up with new gift ideas for your ‘hunny’ on Valentine’s Day — especially since Christmas was not too long ago AND you still have their birthday to think about (does the nightmare ever end???!!) — so, since I’ve been digging deep into world of fair-trade, eco-friendly and local, it only seems right that I share what Calgary’s ethically conscious retailers can do for you and your darling.
From Detox Market’s sensual, organic beauty products to Ten Thousand Villages’ commitment to being a non-profit helping to support artisans in developing countries, these gift ideas are not only PERFECT for Valentine’s Day, they’ve been hand-picked for your last-minute, “I can’t believe it’s Valentine’s Day already” needs.
So take a scroll, click a link, get inspired and enjoy!
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From Detox Market:
(PHOTOS COURTESY/thedetoxmarket.com)
Find Detox Market’s Calgary pop-up at Holt Renfrew until the end of March.
Taza stone ground Mexican chocolate ($25). (PHOTO COURTESY/Creative Commons — TheDeliciousLife)
Odacite Discovery Kit: An introduction to freshly made organic skin care ($29). Replenish, rejuvenate, repair and protect in these cold months. Perfect for anyone looking to switch over to natural and organic products.
Province Apothecary Sex Oil: “Seriously a HOT seller!” says Detox Market’s Laura Townsend. Province Apothecary is Toronto based, all natural, and uses coconut and vitamin E.
Aromacentric: Roll on aromatherapy great for mood balancing. The After Party scent is great for headaches and valentines champagne hangovers, says Townsend.
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From Phil & Sebastian Coffee Roasters:
(PHOTOS COURTESY/Phil & Sebastian)
Three-Month Coffee Subscription ($105):
Every month your sweetie will get two bags of Phil & Sebastian’s best coffee highlighting their unique, seasonal, and ethical approach to buying coffee.
Coffee Class ($45-$125):
Fancy learning how to make perfect espresso at home? Want to geek out and wow friends with perfect brewed coffee every time? Want to become a latte artist? Phil & Sebastian’s Elyse Bouvier says the gift of a coffee-making class is an amazing experience to give someone, offering them the chance to learn from the 2012 Canadian Barista Champion Jeremy Ho!
Travel Coffee Setup — Aeropress, Porlex, Klean Kanteen ($36-$68):
“Three of our best sellers for travel or at home and kind of perfect as a set!” says Bouvier. “Why I personally love all these products is that they are easy to take on a trip (whether camping or hotel). Trust me! I just took this setup all across Europe for a month!”
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From Willow & Whimsy:
(PHOTOS COURTESY/Willow & Whimsy)
Dendrobium Bouquet:
Willow & Whimsy’s Jessica Fremont says Dendrobium Orchids are a stylish alternative to the roses that growers mark up over Valentines Day. These $65 bouquets are filled out with seeded eucalyptus and other greens and wrapped in American-made burlap.
‘Marilyn’ Bouquet:
“We give all of our bouquets women’s names, and we were reserving ‘Marilyn’ for something special,” Fremont says. “We created this bouquet for Calgary Is Awesome and knew when it was finished that we’d found our Marilyn.” This top-of-the-line arrangement contains ethically sourced British Columbian roses, anthurium, lilies tulips and vibrant hot pink gerberas. It’s a favorite at Willow & Whimsy right now and retails for $95.
Succulent Teacup:
Willow & Whimsy visits vintage shops looking for cute and unique teacups to use as one-of-a-kind planters for succulents, long-lasting and gorgeous plants. “We think these would make a quirky desk ornament or could be a beautiful addition to a coffee table or mantelpiece,” says Fremont.
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From Zoe’s Store:
(14 St. & 14 Ave. S.W.)
PHOTO COURTESY/zoesstore.com
1. Old records
A favorite song or favorite album cover
2. Old grandma antique plate
He/she can use this plate to put his/her favorite chocolate on
3. Unique coffee mug (Vintage)
To serve him/her coffee in the morning
4. To wrap around roses:
Take an unusual leather belt with great buckle (for Stampede)
5. Old camera bag
She can use it for as a purse, but first fill it with her favorite chocolate/treats!
6. Vintage video games
Perfect for him
7. Vintage vase/bowls
To hold roses or petals (that you can find at Willow & Whimsy!)
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From Ten Thousand Villages:
(PHOTOS COURTESY/tenthousandvillages.com)
Recycled paper jewelry:
“We just got in a beautiful necklace made out of recycled paper from the Philippines,” says Jason Fehr, co-manager of Ten Thousand Villages (Crowchild). The fairtrade-friendly store also carries traditional heart-shaped necklaces.
Phoenician Coast goblets:
Fehr says these hand blown glass pieces from Hebron are a revival of an ancient art. They are a stunning showpiece and a thoughtful Valentine’s gift.
Fair Trade Roses:
Ten Thousand Villages has partnered with floral boutique Willow & Whimsy selling some fairtrade/local roses for Valentine’s Day. Fehr says last year there weren’t any vendors in Alberta selling fairtrade flowers. (PHOTO COURTESY/Creative Commons — Robert Couse-Baker)
Recycled sari purses:
Each purse is one of a kind and made from recycled Sari’s and created by Bangladesh artisans.