Two billion people – a third of humanity – have to survive on less than $2 a day. Unfair trade rules are keeping them in poverty whilst they face the global challenges of food shortages and climate change too.

This year’s Fair Trade campaign encourages us to get involved in a ‘Big Swap’, to make a conscious decision to choose the fair trade option, to swap usual stuff for Fair Trade stuff – regular tea for Fair Trade tea, cotton socks for Fair Trade cotton socks and so on – small steps that will make a big difference.

What better time than Valentine’s Day to show your commitment to Fair Trade and to share that with a loved one.

And to show you that Fair Trade really does goes wider than bananas and coffee and has come a long way since the hippy hemp days, Love Eco – ever supportive of Fair Trade and ethical consumerism – has put together a very stylish range of fairly traded alternatives for the home and family so now it’s even easier to make that swap.

For Valentine’s Day in particular, Love Eco is very excited about their range of Fair Trade lingerie from their friends at Life’s Not Fair But My Knickers Are. Choose from the already popular and very cute Fairly Dotty Chemise, Sweetheart Cropped Pyjamas and Cami Sets or Fair Game Vest and Knickers combo.

And, for the ultimate romantic gesture, why not send a Fair Trade flower to your loved one. Love Eco’s Felt Fuzzy Fleurs by Henry & Jayne are handmade from handmade felt by communities in India. They make a lovely alternative to real flowers and will last forever without the need for watering. So pop on over to Love Eco – www.love-eco.co.uk – this month and let us help you share some Fair Trade love.

In the modern home, designed to be as efficient and compact as possible, space is at a premium. Just where are you going to store all those new presents? Thankfully, Love Eco’s jute baskets will solve all your storage problems and create a stylish place for cherished gifts, the ever-expanding games collection, your favourite linens and throws or that mountain of kid’s toys.

While these baskets are made in warmer climes, they have been designed with you in mind. In the cold Winter months, why keep braving the elements to get logs for the fire when a super stylish, extra large jute Log Basket means you can keep them to hand and spend the time snuggled up with a loved one instead, savouring those last few drops of your favourite Winter warmer tipple.

What’s more, the entire range is fairly traded and handmade by artisan co-operatives in Bangladesh so you’ll be helping to improve the living conditions of women and their families too.  Jute is a natural, indigenous material that they are putting to good use whilst keeping traditional crafts alive so that communities can grow and invest in health and education. Some of the makers like to put their signature on their own piece of work too so many will have this sewn in to the basket – a lovely unique touch that will bring you closer to the beginning of the story.

Shefali Odikari is just one of the women benefitting from the sale of her jute baskets and already she has bought some land of her own and is now able to send her three children to school all year round.

Fair trade Jute Baskets are available from www.love-eco.co.uk from just £30

The easy option for pressies has always been cheap smellies. Lotions and potions that seem to last all year and mostly ones you didn’t want. All  gathering dust at the back of the cupboard or destined to be passed on to someone else next year.

Wouldn’t you rather give or receive presents that will be loved and appreciated and that will take the stress out of choosing too? Even better, something you can add to your own Christmas list and that’s eco-friendly too. Love Eco has the answer.

Of course, everything at Love Eco is eco-friendly and adorable and the new range from Figs & Rouge is no exception. A wonderful range of natural and organic body care that relies on nourishing botanicals from the traditional English garden. Take a step back in time to simple, more romantic days and take care of your skin the natural way. The entire range is completely natural and organic and is free from parabens, sulphates, synthetic colours, fragrances and all things nasty so you can truly relax. Its vintage-inspired gift boxes make Figs & Rouge body care a perfect present too if you can bare to part with it.

And, if you can’t? Then let Figs & Rouge take the strain away. Pop the Christmas dinner in the oven and slope away for a relaxing soak. Pour calming Rose Geranium Bath Soak into cascading waters to release a stunning vintage and botanical garden aroma. Then bathe in this fragrant bath soak to help cultivate your skins natural moisture. Lock all the goodness in by massaging your rejuvenated skin with Rose Geranium Body Lotion and you’ll be ready to face the hectic Christmas festivities.
And if you venture out on a cold Winter walk after dinner, you can count on the Rose Geranium Lip Balm to protect you from the elements too.

So, for Christmas gifts that will be loved by all, our Figs & Rouge body care range is a must and you can bet they won’t end up at the back of a cupboard. They’re a great self-indulgent treat too!

The glamorous Figs and Rouge body care range is available at www.love-eco.co.uk from just £3.95.

Love Eco's Glamorous New Camping & Festivals Range

Dad's new best friend, Jimi

Posted in Lifestyle, Product News Tagged: Eco, Father's Day, Jimi, recycled, wallet ]]> http://loveeco.wordpress.com/2009/05/13/dads-new-best-friend-jimi/feed/ 0 loveeco Jimi http://loveeco.wordpress.com/2009/05/12/nothing-more-eco-than-virtual-gifts/ http://loveeco.wordpress.com/2009/05/12/nothing-more-eco-than-virtual-gifts/#comments Tue, 12 May 2009 21:29:06 +0000 loveeco http://loveeco.wordpress.com/?p=156 ]]> Call us geeky, but in an effort to share the delights of Love Eco with as many people as possible, we’ve developed a lovely new Facebook application: Eco Gifts.

Now, you can send a virtual eco-friendly gift to all your Facebook pals without spending a penny . So, go have some fun, make someone’s day with an Eco Gift. Click here, sign in as usual and off you go.

Posted in News Tagged: Eco, Facebook, gifts ]]> http://loveeco.wordpress.com/2009/05/12/nothing-more-eco-than-virtual-gifts/feed/ 0 loveeco facebook-logo EcoGiftsScreenShot http://loveeco.wordpress.com/2009/05/11/bamboo-ooooh/ http://loveeco.wordpress.com/2009/05/11/bamboo-ooooh/#comments Mon, 11 May 2009 20:54:47 +0000 loveeco http://loveeco.wordpress.com/?p=144 ]]> If there’s one thing I can’t live without, it’s my bamboo towels. Seriously, I’m addicted to them and you can be too. Especially since we’re having a big sale on them right now. 25% off at just £45 a set (worth £60).

Now, I realise that many peoples’ instant reaction is ‘ooh aren’t they scratchy’ and all i can say is ‘noooooo!’ In fact, they are super silky smooth and, of course, eco-friendly.

Bamboo yields a soft, absorbent fibre that is great for making thirsty bath towels and is three times more absorbent than cotton. And, because it is fast-growing, soil enhancing and doesn’t require synthetic encouragement, it’s a great environmentally friendly, sustainable alternative for your bathroom. Trust me, you won’t look back once you’ve tried them and what better time.

Bamboo Towel Sale

World Fair Trade Day

Today is World Fair Trade Day. Of course, we do fair trade at Love Eco and have a wonderful range but we thought it’d be nice to tell you a bit more about the products. In particular, our fairly traded baskets.

I met Sheenagh at the School for Social Entrepreneurs (she is a fellow fellow!). Sheenagh runs a fair trade company which works to improve the lives of marginalised communities by developing a sustainable market for their products. Sheenagh believes, as we do too, that fair trade can act as an important bridge between worlds, fostering a better understanding between both ends of the supply-chain, the customer and the producer.

The result of Sheenagh’s dedicated work is the range of handmade jute baskets which are available at Love Eco. Click here to view the range. Below are some wonderful pictures of some of the women making the baskets.

Artisans in Bangladesh

Sheenagh with artisans in Bangladesh

New! 100% Recycled QuickSit

Posted in Product News Tagged: festivals, green, living, parties, picnics, QuickSit, recycled ]]> http://loveeco.wordpress.com/2009/05/07/quick-sit-down/feed/ 0 loveeco socialoutdoorshot