I get all kinds of excited during the holiday season thinking about the good we can do with our purchasing power. I'm a dreamer, so I can't help but think of a world where believers redeem this holiday by spending less except when it's important to spend more. Christmas does not have to be about gifts at all, but if you are a gift giving family, what if you can give a gift that gives twice? What if we can give the gift of liberation? What if shopping could also make us abolitionists? What if we can give a gift that says, "I value your life" to the recipient of the gift, but also to the person who made the gift. What if we can use our money to vote for the chains of injustice being broken, for oppression being lifted, for the enslaved being set free? Wouldn't that be voting for the Kingdom? Wouldn't that be celebrating the very things Jesus said He came to bring to this earth?
Wouldn't Christmas be exciting again? Couldn't we redeem shopping and gift giving? Doesn't the thought of all that beauty make you want to light a candle and sing "Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel?" Below are a few of our family's favorite companies that empower the poor, care for the outcasts, fairly pay wages, and in so many ways...provide hope and an opportunity to be free from debilitating poverty and despair. If you are giving gifts for Christmas, will you consider some of these companies?
Providing hope to women in Asia.
Adorable Crayon Rolls
$12
Check out their full line of diaper bags, purses, baby slings, and aprons.
Read more about the Batik Boutique here.
Providing work and hope for refugees living in Texas.
Sunbreak Tatted Bib Necklace
$32
Check out their full line of upcycled products, their baby line, bags, and jewlery.
Using fashion to educate and empower women in Uganda.
Penelope Clutch, $65
and check out their Stocking Stuffer Pack:
The Stocking Stuffer Package is the perfect gift for the shoe-loving, big-dreaming lady in your life. The package comes with a pair of handmade Sseko sandal soles and three pairs of straps in black, copper, and grey. The holiday bundle will come with the Sseko story and instructions on how to tie the sandals.
$65
I love these shoes. You buy one sole and then can buy as many straps as you like. With so many different straps, and the never-ending ways to tie the straps, it's like getting 45 pairs of shoes in this one pair.
For strap tying ideas and tutorials check out this link.
The thong sandal tie is my fav.
Heartline's ministry that empowers women to be able to provide for their families.
Check out our full line of handmade bags.
That's Venette in the picture by the way.
She's a real person, working really hard to provide for her children.
I love her, and so would you.
Keeping Haitian families together by providing jobs and training.
Click here to buy their jewelry.
True story: I have several of their necklaces. I want every single one of them.
This jewelry is legit and as been featured in Vogue magazine.
You will love it.
You will love it.
{Related Links}
Great list of socially-conscious companies by Kristen Howerton at Rage Against the Minivan.
Trade as One - So many great, fair-trade products from all over the world.
Trade as One - So many great, fair-trade products from all over the world.
9 comments:
Just ordered some jewelry from the Apparent Project!! Thank you for sharing. :)
So powerfully written, awesome list.
I love this. I just ordered some bracelets from the Apparent Project, and I think I'll be buying more from your list before the week is up. So excited to make a difference...even with my few dollars. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for helping spread the word about Hill Tribers. We have some mad Haitian Creation love here in Austin! Really getting the sense that more and more people are giving gifts that give back this year. Thanks for encouraging that movement!
Love seeing the picture of Vennette. I am still using the purse she made that I bought at a purse party in Nashville. Question about the Sseko sandals: are the comfortable? I'm just thinking, they look like no support, so thin. Is it kind of like the equivalent of a flip flop or something?
I saw this site today and thought of you:
http://slaveryfootprint.org/
Especially heavy on modern-day slavery and how everything we own continues the problem. I think you'll love it.
I threw a purse party a couple months ago and loved all of them. My husband only let me buy two for myself so I made up for it by getting Christmas shopping done early.
This post makes me giddy. Can't wait to hit up all the fair trade organizations in Cambodia/Thailand over Christmas. Bringing back some gorgeous stuff for people I love and helping my new friends make a better life for themselves and their precious families.
Thank you for all you do, Heather. I so, so, so appreciate you!!
Hi Sweet Heather! We miss you so! Thinking of you and the Beautiful God Who pours out of you! ~ Psalm 50:2. Will be with Brooke in a few days and we'll talk about you! Love you sweet girl! Your kids are growing so fast! One more exclamation point! Mama B
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