With each gift we buy, there’s an opportunity to support a cause for the way people can—and should—be treated.
At Grow Ensemble, we believe everyone deserves a right to dignified and safe working conditions.
And when gifting opportunities arise, we think it’s even more important to purchase products in support of companies that are committed to acknowledging the people who play a role in producing their goods.
That’s why we assembled this list of our Fair Trade gifts that give back.
To fair gifting!
Food & Beverage
☕️ Let Them Brew a Fair Trade Cup of Joe — Dean’s Beans
Dean’s Beans, a Fair Trade Federation member, says their “mission is to use specialty coffee as a vehicle for positive change.”
When Dean Cycon founded Dean’s Beans in 1993, he wanted to prove that a for-profit business could be successful, truly ethical, and respectful of the natural environment.
That’s why Dean’s has long been committed to Fair Trade practices. They maintain long-term and direct relationships with coffee farmers so they can count on their business and get the best price for their beans.
You’ll often see a bag of Dean’s Beans in my and Annie’s home—some of our favorite blends: Timor Atsabe, the Birdwatcher’s Blend, and the Uprising! Breakfast Blend. Or, try the Dean’s Beans sampler.
We even had Dean Cycon as a guest on the podcast to talk about the globalization of the coffee industry.
Another option for great Fair Trade brews: Café Campesino.
🍵 Let Them Read the Fair Trade Tea Leaves — Numi Tea
If there are tea drinkers on your gift list, you can do one of two things:
1. Tell them to start drinking coffee already
2. Or…get them some Fair Trade tea from Numi
Okay, that was a little harsh. Tea is great. Numi’s Certified Fair Trade teas are even better. When Fair Trade certification isn’t available, Numi’s Verified Fair Labor™️ certification offers an additional layer of third-party auditing in adherence to environmental standards.
Consider Numi’s Tea by Mood, World of Tea, or Wander with Purpose Collections for your special tea drinkers.
🍫 For Those Crazy About Chocolate & Serious About People
Tony’s Chocolonely was founded by Dutch journalist, Teun van de Keuken, after learning about the extent of modern slavery that existed in the cocoa supply chain.
In response, Teun attempted to turn himself in to authorities for knowingly consuming chocolate that was produced using illegal forms of labor. When his endeavor failed, he decided to start a chocolate company instead.
Since its founding, Tony’s sole mission is to make chocolate 100% slave-free.
Tony’s even pays a premium above the Fair Trade price of cocoa beans because Tony’s believes that farmers still don’t earn a decent living income.
Support 100% Slave-Free and Fair Trade chocolate with your gift-giving.
Try Tony’s Choose Your Own Sampler Pack, Tony’s Tiny Pieces of Dark Chocolate, or our favorite: A full bar of Tony’s Dark Chocolate.
They even have seasonal offerings like Milk Chocolate Gingerbread and Dark Chocolate Candy Cane!
Other decadent chocolate options: Alter Eco Dark Chocolate Truffles
🍷 Help Them Enjoy a Fair Glass of Wine — Tablas Creek
Tablas Creek Vineyard, located in Paso Robles, California, is the world’s first Regenerative Organic Certified vineyard!
You might think this only speaks to agriculture methods, but it doesn’t. Regenerative Organic Certification has three pillars: soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness.
The social fairness component requires that agricultural businesses like Tablas Creek have democratically run operations, offer fair payments to their farmers and field workers, long term commitments, a higher standard of transparency and accountability, and more.
Gift a wine that’s good for the planet and the people. Try Tablas’ various gift packages or a gift card for those who’d prefer to decide for themselves.
Clothes & Apparel
👘 Let Them Get Cozy with a Fair Trade Robe — Made Trade
Our friends at Made Trade have a classic spa bathrobe from Coyuchi that’s the perfect wellness treat. Give a friend, family member, or that special someone the chance to luxuriate in the ultimate five-star hotel or resort experience right from the comfort of their home every day.
Can you imagine their delight?!?
The Unisex Waffle Robe is pre-washed so that it’s soft and cozy from day one! Fashioned from global organic textile standard cotton, this robe is conveniently machine washable and easily fits into anyone’s daily routine.
Coyuchi is Fair Trade and GOTS Certified and a member of the One Percent for the Planet business community.
👟 Give Them the Gift of a Classic — Veja Sneakers
Veja’s sneakers are classic. They have a clean style, they dress up or down. They’ll look good regardless.
Annie and I love ours so much, we even wore them on our wedding day. 😍
Veja is committed to sustainability and continues to nurture their relationships with suppliers today. A French company, the founders worked for Alter Eco before venturing off on their own.
Veja now works directly with farmers in Brazil and Peru, pre-financing up to 40% of harvests and committing to one-year contracts with every supplier—all while historically purchasing cotton for twice the fair market value.
This, combined with profitable contractual agreements, allows farmers to reinvest in their livelihood and businesses.
Gift a pair of sustainable, fair trade kicks from Veja.
🎁 Give them the Gift of Girlfriend Collective
The summer that Annie discovered Girlfriend Collective’s bike shorts and sports bras, it became her routine ensemble of choice. And now, as we anticipate the arrival of our first baby, Annie finds their maternity collection to be a lifesaver, especially the leggings and nursing bras.
Girlfriend Collective also has an exceptionally high standard for their supply chain.
They are certified by Social Accountability International, have a code of conduct that includes the ILO Four Fundamental Freedoms principles, and they monitor the health and safety of their working conditions (Source: GoodonYou).
Shop Girlfriend Collective for you and yours and discover why it’s an Annie must-have.
👖Get Them Jeans Please!
What’s better than a go-to pair of jeans? Probably those made with fair and ethical materials, right?
Below are some excellent options to choose from.
Outland Denim
Outland Denim started as a refuge for victims of sexual exploitation who sought employment and a means to focus on rebuilding their lives. They’ve since expanded to support a much wider array of individuals from vulnerable communities and backgrounds.
Outland is also committed to paying living wages, know their seamstresses personally, and have strict standards for any/all suppliers to ensure there’s no exploitation throughout their supply chain (Source).
MUD Jeans
MUD Jeans is based in the Netherlands and is the world’s first circular denim company. They offer a unique and innovative “lease a pair of jeans” model that puts the ownership of the product on them, not the customer.
In other words, MUD takes full responsibility for the end of life for their denim.
They have a strict code of conduct with all suppliers, with a well-documented supply chain process outlined on their website. They aim to keep their supply chain “short,” so that close, long-term relationships are established with all their partners.
MUD receives GOTS-certified cotton from Turkey. All manufacturing is done between Spain and Tunisia, with retail commencing in the Netherlands as well.
Jewelry
💍 Give the Gift of “Global Styles with a Global Impact”
Noonday Collection is a Certified B Corporation and Fair Trade Federation Member. They have sourced artisan goods from all over the world, from Afghanistan, to Nepal, and Peru.
Check out their selection of necklaces, bracelets, earrings, or rings.
Or, their Bichena Bracelet made in Ethiopia, Bracelet Bar made in India, or Calypso Earrings made in Vietnam.
Since their founding in 2010, they’ve distributed over $30 million in Fair Trade purchase orders through their artisan partners all over the world.
Noonday designs collaboratively with intercontinental artisans, offer no-interest loans and advance payments to help artisans to grow their businesses, and, of course, have established long-term partnerships with many of them.
Another great option: Fair Trade Federation Member, Matr Boomie.
Adventure
🎒 Give them the Gift of Gear for Good — Cotopaxi
Cotopaxi is an outdoor adventure gear and apparel company based in Salt Lake City, Utah.
They’ve become known for their colorful packs and gear, and “Gear for Good” slogan.
Annie and I have often supported Cotopaxi, and a few of our favorites that we’d recommend include:
- Allpa 35L Travel Pack is manufactured in the Philippines– a bag that’s been a carry-on favorite five years strong now.
- Coso 2L Hip Pack — Cada Día – (manufactured in the same factory as the Allpa) works as a fanny pack or shoulder strap pack and works well for biking around town or on a hike to hold your phone, keys, wallet, dog treat essentials, and more.
- Teca Cotton Face Masks have allowed us to “wear our values” well during the pandemic. If it still seems necessary, consider this nice, but practical stocking stuffer.
- Cotopaxi x Wolfgang Man & Beast Good Dog Collar is U.S. made. Once glance at this product, and we just had to get some for our canine companions.
Cotopaxi has all sorts of cool “Gear for Good,” that’s worth exploring for all gift givers. Check them out here.
🏔 Get them the Gift of Lifelong Gear — Patagonia
While Patagonia’s clothing and apparel line isn’t yet 100% Fair Trade, they’ve covered substantial ground since investing deeply in the movement back in 2014.
Over time, their efforts have expanded to impact more than 64,000 workers in 10 countries globally. They continue to make progress and report on these figures each year.
Patagonia also takes extreme accountabilities for all their gear with an Ironclad Guarantee. Anything they make, they’ll repair, no matter the period (the variable will just be the cost).
Check out a few of the Grow Ensemble team’s favorites:
Other great choices from their Certified Fair Trade collection include the Everyday Beanie, Women’s Canva All-Season Bomber Hoody, and the Men’s Uprisal Crew Sweatshirt.
Personal Care
🧼 Give them the Gift of Cleaning Up with Dr. Bronner’s
Dr. Bronner’s has long had a reputation for treating their suppliers with fairness and respect. And their products all carry the following certifications:
Regenerative Organic Certification
USDA Organic
Fair for Life Fairtrade
Certified Vegan
NON-GMO Verified
Oregon Tilth Certified Organic (OTCO)
Woo! That’s a mouthful, though certainly worth saying. With Dr. Bronner’s, you can expect to get the highest quality of ingredients—sourced in a way that’s both mindful of people and the planet.
Some Dr. B’s classics that work as good gift fits are Lip Balms, Liquid Sugar Soaps, Magic Balm, Lotions, and Hair Creams.
Psst! They also just released Chocolate Bars. 😊
At Home
🏠 Let Them Get Homey with West Elm
West Elm was the very first home-goods brand to offer Fair Trade Certified products. Their entire product line isn’t certified Fair Trade; however, it’s USA-made.
This doesn’t mean that all their merchandise hasn’t been certified as Fair Trade, only that reports in the last few years estimate that the brand is at roughly 25% of its product line achieving this designation.
Depending on the item, West Elm’s goods are quite the investment, especially considering they have some incredible environmentally friendly pieces to suit anyone’s décor.
One of their Wool Colca Rugs, Spun Metal Standing Planters, or a set of Lush Velvet Pillow Covers are excellent choices to complement all kinds of living spaces.
Giving the Gift of Fairness
With every opportunity to gift, be it for the holiday season or other special occasions, we can elect to act responsibly to show compassion for the world we live in.
Ensuring that the products we purchase are made fairly, equitably, and legally, is a small—but incredibly important—action we can take to show our appreciation for the farmers and laborers who meet and exceed our demand for the economically viable products they so graciously supply.
This action, to consume or not consume a little more consciously, shouldn’t be an underestimated vehicle for positive change.
Gift fairly.
Cory Ames
Co-Founder & CEO, Grow Ensemble
Cory is the host of The Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation Podcast, where he’s interviewed well over 150 leaders in the space of better business, social impact, and innovation. Prior to Grow Ensemble, Cory was the CEO of a digital marketing agency, a position he earned at the age of 22. There, he became an expert on all things digital marketing & SEO.
Cory Co-Founded Grow Ensemble as a vehicle to raise awareness of and inspire action around some of the world’s biggest problems and problem solvers.
He blogs, podcasts, and publishes video on all things leaving the world a better, more just, equitable, and habitable place for all.
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