With so many gift guides for Mother's Day, The Local Artisan Guide has decided to write about what not to get your mom for Mother’s Day.
With so many issues these days between tariffs, boycotts and unsustainable products we are toeing the line in trying to purchase products as consciously as possible. It is important to avoid and support brands that go against our values and are detrimental for the environment or the population. With that we are advising what products you should stay away from for Mother’s Day and offer some gift ideas that are win/win for mom and the planet.
ETHICAL CHOCOLATE BRANDS
Bringing mom chocolates on Mother’s Day is a popular gift for mom, unfortunately many of the world’s most popular chocolate brands have been found to not be ethical in their in farming of cocoa and have been complicit in the worst form of child labor including slavery. According to the website slavefreechocolate.org, chocolate brands to consider boycotting are:
Nestlé
Mars
Hershey’s
Cadbury
Ghiardelli
See’s Candy
Russel Stovers
World’s Finest Chocolates
Lindt
Tony’s Chocolonely
Guittard
Brands that are complicit are:
Barry Callebaut
Mondelēz
Olam
Cargill
When buying chocolate for mom (or anyone) you should investigate to see if the brand is Fair Trade and and sourced without child labor issues. Because there is not enough demand for Fair Trade certified chocolate the issue of child labor and slavery are still prevalent. Because of poverty there are 2.3 million children around the world at risk of being in slavery because of these large chocolate conglomerates. Here are some of the fair trade logos to look for in ethical chocolate brands.
Fair Trade logos to look for in ethical chocolate brands.
New smaller chocolate brands are are calling themselves “from bean to bar” which as they pride themselves on for being ethical. Slave Free Chocolate recommends chocolate brands from all over the globe that are ethical and some of our picks from their recommendations are as follows:
An unforeseen result of the recent monstrous tariffs that were slapped on China was vendors and factories from China and parts of Africa claiming to sell high end luxury brands directly from the manufacturer, skipping the middle man and providing the customer with an inexpensive product. These “manufacturers” were on Tik Tok and other social media formats hawking their wares and as a result many fell for counterfeit products.
There is some truth to the narrative that many high end brands have their products made in China. As a former production manager for handbags I saw high end labels in factories my brands were being produced in. A legal loophole on how an expensive high end luxury brand can have their products produced in Asia or Africa and still say, “Made in Italy”, or “Made in France” is to have the product mostly made in these factories and then “finished” in European factories. Many European factories have closed in the last few decades as producing in Europe is not financially feasible to produce a profit. Many of the factories that remain in Europe are more artisanal and produce small batches of products. The larger volumes are made in China or Africa and then finished in factories in Europe.
Tik Tok has seen counterfeiters promoting their illegal goods.
The products that have been shown on Tik Tok and social media are from counterfeit factories that produce goods at much lower prices because they use a labor force that includes child labor, trafficked individuals, unsafe working environments, unregulated factories and are run by criminal cartels the world over. So please do not buy mom one of these handbags thinking you are gifting her the “Birkin Bag” of her dreams. Instead look to gift your mother a local and ethical brand whether it is an apparel brand, or handbag and accessory brand. Better to give your mother a beautiful gift that is made with Fair Trade regulations, original designs and no child labor. Some small, local ethical brands we recommend for mom are:
Sending flowers to mom on Mother’s Day is a gift she will always love and appreciate. 1-800 Flowers is a large conglomerate of florists however we recommend either sending her from your local or her local florist or even better is a CSA that delivers flowers. A CSA for flowers will deliver her organic flowers from a local farm and the subscriptions usually run by season. For what you would usually pay for one bouquet, your mother will receive a few bouquets for a great price and it will help a local farm. Win/Win!
In these days of boycotts for brands that either are unethical or donate to organizations you might not feel are part of your value systems shopping small, local brands is a great solution. Your mother will get a gift that is more unique and thoughtful and a local brand will be supported which in these days of trade wars will probably the difference between their business surviving.
It’s time to consciously shop for all your products not just for Mother’s Day. So do the research and see what brands align to your values. Boycott those that don’t. Nothing makes capitalism work better than a good old fashion boycott.
So whether it is flowers, jewelry, fashion, home decor, etc., let your mom know that you are not only thinking of her but gifting her a gift that thinks of others. Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms that think of everyone else before they think of themselves!
Another year, another blog on great Mother’s Day gift recommendations on The Local Artisan Guide. As always we offer curated selections that are artisanal, sustainable with stores that offer small independent brands created by artisans. Your mother will appreciate that you have given great thought to unique gifts that show how much you care. No robe from Sears here! All are available online just click onto the captions under the photos.
Rothy’s has been a longtime favorite of The Local Artisan Guide for years. The brand has been at the forefront of offering stylish footwear made from recycled materials that are comfortable and easy to clean. We are again recommending Rothy’s for this Mother’s Day as they just introduced espadrilles! Imagine a comfortable and stylish espadrille that is also made from recycled materials? We couldn’t resist! Rothy’s offers the espadrille in many colors and patterns so mom will have so many choices.
In our recent trip to San Miguel de Allende we fell in love with Mexican White Ceramics for home decor. The beautiful creamy glaze is perfect for all decor and color schemes. Made my local artisans of Mexico, Marquesa de Mancera offers a stunning and affordable selection of the ceramics. I guarantee your mother will be happy to have one of these handmade, artfully created pieces in her home.
If your mother loves jewelry (whose mother doesn’t) we selected this lovely necklace of multicolored gemstones from Dana Blair Design. Dana Blair always designs not only with aesthetics in mind but how the energy of the gems affect our lives. “This necklace is inspired by the meanings of the 27 individually wrapped stones used to create it. With its myriad colors, the Symbolic necklace pairs so well with any ensemble that you’ll never want to take it off. It looks great alone or layered with other necklaces. Available in 14k gold fill or sterling silver, on a 17″ chain.” All those colors will definitely fit in with mom’s wardrobe.
Res Ispa (legalese for “the thing speaks for itself”) is a brand that focuses on globally-designed one-of-a-kind products made from vintage and repurposed materials. Trust me your mother will love this handmade Cactus silk patchwork kimono made by hand in their atelier in Marrakech. Each kimono's front collar is trimmed with handwoven fabric, cactus silk fabric, or West African mud cloth. It is an original design that will go with everything you have in your wardrobe whilst being sustainable as all the fabrics are repurposed materials. She will be the envy of her friends and you might find yourself asking to borrow it yourself. Think of this gift as the much elevated version of the robe mom usually got for Mother’s Day when you were younger (that was dad’s idea of a gift for sure).
One of the problems you have with perfumes and fragrances is that it is quite common that others can easily share your fragrance (remember the 80’s when everyone and their mother was wearing “Obsession”?). When you seek out small independent perfume brands you drastically decrease this possibility and having a fragrance that is practically your own. That is why we love Widian perfumes. We picked “Granada” by Widian as it is the closest you can come to being in Granada without buying your mother a plane ticket (not that we are discouraging that). The copy alone for the fragrance had us running to try it out: “Resting beneath the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains, with multiple World Heritage Sites dating back over a millennia, Granada sits at the crossroads of nature and history. A tribute to this rich legacy in all of its contrasts, the newest fragrance from Widian is a symphony of fiery passion and tranquil breezes, an exquisitely constructed parfum that combines exotic spices, lush florals, and a rich amber base to create an unforgettable, wholly unique experience. Delicately calibrated between he softness of rose and the freshness of juniper, the opening harmoniously blends with the intense heat of black pepper and cinnamon supporting a robust cedarwood heart. The luxurious scent is deepened with rich undertones of amber, musk, vetiver, and patchouli, creating a captivatingly perfect balance that sets you on an historic olfactory journey.” It actually makes for a great unisex fragrance so dad may be seeking a few dabs too!
In our last blog we mentioned visiting 2 Note in Kinderhook, NY and how we fell in love with their fragrance boutique. If you don’t feel confident enough to buy your mother perfume for Mother's Day this candle in the universally loved scent of “Opus 1”Lavender Black Pepper Sandalwood is a no brainer. There is also a “Opus 2” Balsam Fir Frankincense in case you want a woodsier slightly more masculine fragrance. The packaging makes it possible to travel with the 10 oz candle that is made with 100% pure beeswax. The candle is made locally with pure botanical essences, hand poured in small batches. It’s a gift she is not only sure to love, but to actually use.
Our last gift recommendation is the very affordable Mother’s Day Gift suggestion is a book by author Chris Power entitled “Mothers” (how appropriate). Available at one of our favorite independent book stores, McNally Jackson, the synopsis reads as: “A woman uses her mother’s old travel guide, aged years beyond relevance, to navigate on a journey to nowhere; a stand-up comic with writer’s block performs a fateful gig at a cocaine-fueled bachelor party; on holiday in Greece, a father must confront the limits to which he can keep his daughters safe. Braided throughout is the story of Eva, a daughter, wife, and mother, whose search for a self and place of belonging tracks a devastating path through generations.
Ranging from remote English moors to an ancient Swedish burial ground to a hedonistic Mexican wedding, the stories in Mothers lay bare the emotional and psychic damage of life, love, and abandonment. Suffused with yearning, Power’s transcendent prose expresses a profound ache for vanished pasts and uncertain futures.” If your mother is an avid reader and perhaps can’t travel so easily these day, Mothers is a gift that will let her travel in her mind.
While flowers, chocolates and greeting cards will also make her happy, we hope these recommendations show your mother that gift giving is an art form and one that leaves the recipient with feelings of gratitude for being fondly thought of. Let that be, there is no greater gift to mom than your actual presence, that is the best present of all. Happy Mother’s Day to the women who do the hardest job on earth where you never get a day off!
