Tis the season for retail madness as we search for that perfect gift for our loved ones. For those of you tired of shopping the same stores for the same type of gifts, consider investing in handmade bamboo jewelry as a unique and thoughtful present. Each piece of bamboo is distinctive in its color, shape, ring structure and texture, making the jewelry crafted from it one-of-a-kind in itself.
Handmade bamboo jewelry can be as simple as a beautifully etched bangle bracelet or as intricate as a crafted bamboo jewelry set that incorporates carvings and local gemstones to enhance the piece. Visit The Dancing Yogi to see a selection of bamboo jewelry all created with sustainability and a reverence to the earth in mind. Or, for a more fashion forward take on bamboo jewelry, visit Babygirl Boutique for their “retro kitsch”, as they call it, take on bamboo bracelets, earrings and necklaces.
If you really want to make your Christmas gifts a truly exclusive item, consider making your bamboo jewelry by hand. Bamboo beads are widely used in arts & crafts because of their unique coloring and lightweight feel. Visit EHow for step by step instructions on how to create your own handmade bamboo jewelry. This is a great idea if you are a Santa with a large list this year or if you truly want to personalize a gift to someone.
And if you choose to buy bamboo jewelry this season, you can also choose to make a difference in the lives of people living and working in 3rd world countries. Because bamboo is a highly renewable resource in many of these countries, it is a popular material choice for artisans. With the proliferation of Fair Trade companies in the Western World, it’s getting easier and easier to buy arts from the local artists. (For those who are not aware, Fair Trade is an organized social movement that aims to help producers in developing countries by advocating the payment of a higher price to producers as well as advocates for social and environmental standards. It focuses on exports from developing countries to help the producers move towards greater economic self-sufficiency and sustainability.)
Visit the following websites to see how local artists are improving their quality of life with the use of bamboo:
Ten Thousand Villages – Per their website, Ten Thousand Villages is one of the world’s largest fair trade organizations and a founding member of International Fair Trade Association (IFAT), the company strives to improve the livelihood of tens of thousands of disadvantaged artisans in 38 countries by building long term buying relationships in places where skilled artisan partners lack opportunities for stable income. Make sure to check out the Bamboo Teardrop earrings for a truly unique present.
Caipocha – An interesting company comprised of four artisans from Quito, Ecuador, who use natural and recycled ecological materials to create original works. I’ve already added their mixed pyroengraved bamboo bracelet to my wish list!
One World Projects – Making a difference in the lives of Colombian youth, this one world project gives young people in the Andean town of Villa de Leyya the chance to study a craft and earn an income. Learning the basics of jewelry-maker, the young artisans create pieces from seeds and small pieces of bamboo, all of which are found locally. The coiled bamboo and seed bracelets and collars are beautiful accents to any outfit.
World of Good Ebay – As they say on their site, this is where your shopping shapes the world. Created to provide a marketplace for ethically sourced & eco-friendly products, World of Good offers a large range of handmade jewelry featuring bamboo. My favorite piece can be found here, a bamboo slice bracelet handcrafted on the island of Bali using bamboo and bone (shown at left).
Too often we lament the fact that Christmas has turned into a mass-produced holiday and that gift-giving has lost some of its meaning. But with the unique gift of bamboo jewelry, you can let the recipient know that you were thinking especially of them.
And don’t forget to coordinate your jewelry with beautiful bamboo clothing, like this gorgeous ladies top, or accessorize with fashion scarves or a simple winter scarf. See how beautifully this elegant, hand painted fashion scarf (at left) would complement the richness of handmade bamboo jewelry. You can even give the gift of rest and relaxation with luxuriously soft bamboo bedding in calming colors.
Happy Shopping!
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I’ve heard of Ten Thousand Villages before, but the others are new to me, so I can’t wait to explore their sites too! There are some gorgeous pieces of bamboo jewelry out there aren’t there!?
Merry Christmas to me this year!
i am exactly writing the blog about bamboo home decor , welcome to my blog to see more bamboo applications and its products, surely would be helpful for an artisan to explore more products ideas!
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