Great new fair trade designs from Cambodia
We're delighted to have received a new shipment from our friends at Craftworks Cambodia. As well as some old favourites which are now back in stock, such as our ever-popular Elephant Cement bags or Tree of Life earrings, we have some great new lines, including slimline recycled tyre wallets with coloured inner linings.
Andrew explains all below - including a brief appearance from our cat, Stuart!
Keeping it fair trade at Hay Bike Fest
We're currently enjoying Hay Bike Fest here in Hay on Wye, though to be fair I don't envy them the weather at the moment. It's a great chance for people to see the stunning scenery around the area, and also to meet other enthusiasts from up and down the country.
We've been getting in on the bike theme with a new delivery of our ever-popular accessories made from recycled inner tubes! These are made in Cambodia by our friends at Craftworks Cambodia, who also make our incredible Hope & Peace jewellery.
Online we have clasp wallets and laptop sleeves made from this versatile, hard wearing and eco friendly material. Whether your on two wheels or not, they make great gifts.
Fair trade festival tips
The festival season will soon be upon us! We're looking forward to the excellent Green Man Festival just down the road from Hay in Crickhowell. If you're off to spend a weekend listening to good music in a field somewhere, here are some great fair trade items that might come in handy!
Where's my phone?!
Whether you're texting your pals to rendez-vous in the healing fields, or snapping your favourite band in the signing tent, you'll need your phone at your side at all times! This handy phone case can hang around your neck for easy access.
Hand made in Cambodia from recycled sacks. £10.
Protect my head!
The folically challenged will know the importance of a sun hat and a bottle of factor 50 on a sunny day (here's hoping for sun!). These supercool hats protect your head and look great too.
Help! I've lost my can of Batiste!
Having a bad hair day? Just disguise it with these cool and colourful headbands. Available in a variety of prints, you'll be holding your head high!
I need some luxury!
OK, it may be a bit 'Mariah Carey', but many jet-setters swear by scented candles to help them relax and feel comfortable whatever the setting. These small votive candles smell wonderful and will give you a few minutes relaxation before you head back to the dance tent.
Notice me!
These wolfpack tees will help you stand out in a crowd and are a great talking point. Perfect if you're going to see the Vaccines! Available in his n hers designs.
Love is in the air
Valentine's Day - an opportunity to show the one you love how much you care, or just another "Hallmark Holiday" designed to keep the tills ringing after Christmas? It's easy to be cynical. After all, many of us will be opening some unwelcome credit card bills at the moment and the thought of splashing out on more gifts may harden the softest of hearts.If you live in Hay on Wye there are a number of options open to you to show the one you love you care without breaking the bank. Of course Hay is famous for books and our shop is opposite one of the amazing "honesty bookshops" around town. For anyone who hasn't seen these, they are covered shelving displays which are open to the public and unstaffed. If you see a book you like you simply pop the amount to pay in an honesty box on the wall. At 50p for paperbacks and £1 for hardbacks it's a real bargain.
As you'd imagine there is a lot of chaff to wade through to get to the literary wheat, but if you have half an hour to spare you can find some incredible titles. A beautiful book of poetry published in 1871 for example - the idea of who might have owned this book, read it, perhaps given it as a gift themselves, is romantic enough. At a quid I think it would make a thoughtful and thought provoking gift for any young lovebirds.
Here are a few lines to give you a flavour (I've put it back now so if you're quick you may be able to snap it up).
Of course if your budget stretches a little further we have some lovely gift ideas here at Eighteen Rabbit, from our incredible Cambodian jewellery to cool tee shirts to handmade scented candles. You don't have to spend a lot to show you care, and when you buy items which have been fairly traded you're ensuring that the love spreads beyond the gift you give to the people and families you are supporting.
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