AEED’s Fair Trade Gift Guide: An Ethical Approach to Gift Giving for Valentine’s Day
Stunning hand crafted gifts that make an impact!
Written by AEED’s Creative Director, Natalia Trawkowski
Delicate Jewels & Brilliant Beads
Put a little sparkle in their eye with our shimmering jewels. These intricate designs feature sparkling gems and intricate metal work sure to make them swoon, handmade by women rehabilitating their lives after being exploited by human trafficking.
Or share in the care with our beaded bracelets from Nepal! Whether you’re bonding with your besties or your favorite little one, join in on the fun with our matching sets. Your purchase provides women with a fair income and benefits in a safe and healthy work environment.
Culinary Delights
Make it a date night in! Start off with a charcuterie plate on one of our gorgeous marble and wood boards sustainably crafted by artisans in the Asha Handicrafts Association in the regions of Mumbai. Follow it up with one of our Thai for Two cooking kits – made from 100% organic ingredients sourced from a farm in Thailand, all you need to do is add your protein and vegetables of choice for a spicy and aromatic adventure.
Cozy Up
For many of us, Valentine’s Day happens to be during the coldest period of the year – so turn up the heat! Wrap your honey in a luxurious, 100% silk kimono that will make them feel like royalty. A work of true global partnership, each watercolor design is hand painted by an Australian artist, then ethically printed and hand sewn in China and Hong Kong respectively. The gorgeous french seams and draping silhouette allows it to be worn as loungewear or a statement outerwear piece.
Yes, this is what dreams are made out of. Our Alpaca blankets and scarves will make your valentine feel like they’re wrapped in a cloud. Cashmere-soft, lightweight, yet incredibly warm – these hypoallergenic blankets are made sustainably by skilled Indigenous artisans in small communities in the Andes Mountain region of South America.
Snuggle up with a cup of beautifully packaged cáscara tea from Lady Falcon! Cáscara is the outer husk of a coffee cherry; full of antioxidants, it has 1/3 the amount of caffeine as a regular cup of joe for a gentle buzz, and is available in aromatic blends of hibiscus, rose, and chai. Hailing from Nicaragua and Costa Rica, female-owned Lady Falcon’s teas are 100% organic and ethically sourced, so you can feel good about what you’re sipping.
If you’re looking for different herbs or flavors, AEED carries six delicious lines of fair trade coffees and teas.
Happy Hues To Brighten Their Day
Put the “art” in heart with our stunning baskets handwoven by female artisans in rural Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda. These intricate pieces are carefully made using organically-dyed raffia and banana fibers woven together with agave sisal and sweetgrass (it smells heavenly!). Create a whole basket of gifts to shower your valentine with, or present it solo as a wall art piece that is sure to be the focal point of any room!
Wishing you a loving day for you and your valentines!
Overall Ways to Support AEED’s Fair Trade Artists and Craftspeople
Click here to make a tax deductible donation directly to AEED.
As a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit, all AEED donations and proceeds go directly toward our mission of bolstering and creating ethical and sustainable economic opportunities in developing communities.
Shop our currently featured collections of:
Ethical Jewelry Lines that are restoring hope to female victims of human trafficking throughout Asia.
Stoneware Ceramics that are creating ethical working opportunities in Vietnam.
Hand Crafted Terrariums that upcycle glass from dilapidated and deconstructed buildings in Detroit, Michigan.
Raise them Kind collection of children’s items that are all ethically produced. Our collection for the kiddos includes organic handmade dolls and rattles, handwoven blankets, mommy and me bracelet sets, stuffed animals made from the softest fibers, and more.
Coffee Roasts that feature a full range of ethically sourced roasts and flavors, including a very special Black and female owned line that works exclusively with women coffee producers from around the world.
Organic Teas that are working to reinvent farming practices in Kenya so that locals are equitable partners in their life’s work.
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Visit our website to find more information about AEED’s Founding and Global Footprint.