If you want to show your mum that you really love her this Mothers' Day, forget the usual chocs and flowers and go for something a bit original. Homemade gifts are the most special gifts a mum will ever receive but, when you've gone past a certain age, you probably don't feel like getting crafty with "sticky backed plastic" as they used to say on Blue Peter and toilet roll tubes ! You could go for a present that will help others as well as make your mum feel thoroughly pampered. I love these ethical gift ideas from New Overseas Traders so I thought I'd share the press release with you.
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New Overseas Traders, a Fair Trade company in business since 1987, sources, selects and imports beautiful gifts, furniture and a range of household items for retailers across the UK and Europe. Behind every product is a story of local people driving their local economy. All goods are manufactured by hand, aiding local employment in India with minimal use of electricity.
New Overseas Traders supplies hundreds of independent retailers across the country and operates three retail shops, called The India Shop, in Wantage, Marlborough and Salisbury and sells on-line at: http://www.theindiashop.co.uk/.
The company has many items perfect for Mothers Day. These gifts give pleasure to the recipient and support the Indian communities which made them.
This Mother’s Day mothers should be encouraged to:
Put their feet up …
On a beautiful footstool and lean back against colourful patchwork cushions.
Both items are made from recycled embroideries. Each product is a unique patchwork story of Indian history. Some are recycled from old clothes, including the heavily decorated necklines of traditional shalwar kameez suits. Recommended retail prices: Footstool £39.99. Cushion £17.99.
New Overseas Traders. 01672 851166. http://www.newoverseastraders.co.uk/
Read the paper …
Newspaper Bags
These bags are made by a small project whose mission is to shelter, feed and educate street children living on the railway station of New Delhi. They live in a village about an hour’s journey from the city. Recycled newspapers are collected and over 80 local women make the bags. As well as helping the local economy, the project has helped the boys integrate into the wider community.
Recommended retail price: £2.85 for 10
Get in the mood ...
With any one of a wide range of pretty candle holders which make light dance in patterns.
These votives are made by hand. The glass balloon is skilfully mouth blown and each metal inner is handmade before entering the dipping tank for its final coating.
Recommended retail price: £8.99
Recommended retail price for starfish candleholder: £9.99
New Overseas Traders. 01672 851166. http://www.newoverseastraders.co.uk/
And have a welcome cup of tea....
Allangkuppam Mugs
South of Madras near the East Coast of India lies the small village of Allangkuppam. In an idyllic setting surrounded by trees and plants of every description, blessed with plentiful rainfall and a good local supply of china clay, lies the pottery unit. Here the master potter and a group of about 60 artisans, from local villages create a wide variety of ceramic items. Every step is done by hand, from when the raw clay is softened, formed on the potters’ wheel, fired in the wood burning kilns, glazed and finally packed ready for its long journey to the UK.
This labour-intensive project provides training in a craft and employment opportunities for members of an economically weak rural community. Thanks to the ceramic unit with WFTO (World Fair Trade Organisation) member support and employees benefit from medical and insurance facilities. A school has been started in the village for 350 pupils under the age of 11, primarily for the children of artisans who work in the pottery, but also for children who live in the surrounding rural area.
These mugs come in sets of two per style. Retail price £4.99.
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Thank you for the info. It sounds pretty user friendly. I guess I’ll pick one up for fun. thank u
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