The holiday season is upon us. For many of us that means being around loved ones and cherishing the few weeks of the year when it’s acceptable to start drinking spiked eggnog around 3pm. However, we must also keep in mind the most important part of the holiday spirit – giving to those in need. In this spirit, we ask you to join us in celebrating #GivingTuesday, a day dedicated to giving back to the community. Here are a few tips for you to participate this #GivingTuesday!

1. Purchase gifts that give back

Global Goods Partners is dedicated to helping women from developing countries all over the world. By purchasing any item from our website, you are helping incredibly talented and resilient women by giving them access to education, a stabilized income, and helping them provide for their families. Not to mention they produce gorgeous handcrafted items that you cannot find anywhere else. We make it simple. Give back this holiday season by purchasing gifts that make a difference.

 2. Make donations

You can also support our partners by donating on our website. Empower women from all over the world by including Global Goods Partners in the organizations you donate to this holiday season.

 3. Start with a smile at Amazon Smile

Head over to Amazon Smile and add Global Goods Partners as your charitable organization of choice. Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your purchases to the organization you choose. Support your charitable organization when you shop for holiday gifts!

 4. Clean out your closet

Though it’s not spring, this season is a great time to clean out your closet and donate clothes to a charity of your choice. Collect those dresses, pants, shirts and shoes that don’t fit anymore and donate them to Goodwill, Salvation Army, or any local charity that accepts garments. It’s getting cold out and there are plenty of people who could use those sweaters that have been collecting dust in your closet.

 5. Collect cans

While you’re out last minute stress-shopping for your holiday dinners, add some extra cans in your cart. Add canned soup, veggies, cranberry sauce, and more to your shopping list and donate to a local canned food drive.

 6. Adopt the holiday spirit all year round

We know the holiday season is all about sharing and giving back. But why limit ourselves to November and December? Food and soup kitchens are always looking for volunteers to help year-around. Let’s all try to keep the holiday spirit going by thinking ahead to 2017. Mark your calendar and sign up to volunteer in the New Year. Sign up for our newsletter and shop gifts that give back for all occasions. #GivingTuesday doesn’t have to end next week!

Have you seen the   logo jumping around our site on selected products?

There’s something special brewing between us and (RED) and we’re excited about it! (RED) has a bold mission. They know the fight against AIDS is an emergency, and they’re focused on what they CAN do.

In 2002, more than 1500 babies were born with HIV every day. Today, that number is just over 400. Stop and look at those numbers! It’s great progress, but it’s not enough. The transmission of HIV from moms to their babies can be stopped in 95% of cases if an HIV+ pregnant woman has access to lifesaving medication, which costs as little as 30 cents a day.

Together, (RED) believes we can reduce the number of HIV+ babies born each day from 400 to near zero. Every generation is known for something. Let’s be the one to deliver an AIDS FREE GENERATION.

Global Goods Partners is thrilled to be a partner of (RED). For their annual (SHOPATHON)RED, a holiday shopping extravaganza, selling (RED) products and incredible celebrity experiences. Each purchase from our (PRODUCT) RED Collection supports (RED)’s fight for a world without AIDS and empowers women artisans. Not to mention, every dollar (RED) raises this year will be matched by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation - up to $50 MILLION – doubling our impact!

Global Goods Partners' contribution to (RED)'s fight against AIDS can provide over 1,000 days of life-saving HIV medication.

... With a little help from Global Goods Partners.

When we think Thanksgiving, we think of yellow and auburn leaves decorating the ground, sitting around a blazing fire, and filling up on a delicious turkey dinner while surrounded by friends and family. Fall is always the best season of the year – there’s no better time to break out your coziest oversized sweater and curl up with some hot cider. And though we most look forward to eating until we can’t move, Thanksgiving is also a time to reflect on and appreciate all the blessings we’ve received as the year comes to an end.

Help us at Global Goods Partners give thanks to our incredible artisans from all over the world by purchasing these beautiful fall items that are guaranteed to make your Thanksgiving just a little bit cozier. 

This beautiful basket from Swaziland is made from Lutindzi grass and is hand-woven using eco-friendly methods. Put it on the table next to the door for family members to drop their keys in as they head to the feast. Or make it a centerpiece at Thanksgiving and embellish it with autumn leaves, mini pumpkins and gourds. Be conscious this year and buy locally-grown veggies to minimize your impact on the environment - they're often fresher, too!

These stunning felt flowers made by women in Nepal will brighten up your house and remind you of warmer days. They won't wilt near the warm fire and oven heat, and every purchase helps to train and create sustainable incomes for women in Nepal. As an added bonus, you'll save water on these beauties that are always in bloom.

These candles from Swaziland are absolutely gorgeous. Each of them has a unique and intricate pattern, as they are handmade using the ancient Swazi “millfiore” technique. Buy it in black for an edgier take on Thanksgiving. Purchase in white while looking ahead to the holidays!

Prevent your rowdy uncle from staining the table with these grey bone coasters from India. Not only will these protect your counters, but they also support primary health care and women’s rights to education for artisan women in India. Talk about full coverage.

This cozy pillow from Peru is embroidered with soft cotton thread – perfect for putting up your feet after a long day of cooking. Support our Peruvian artisans in style with this subtle floral pattern in grey.

Serve the fam some pecan pie on these grey bone trays from India. They’re beautiful, they’ll match your coasters, and the proceeds support tuition for the women who made them for you. You can buy fair trade produce to make all your mains and sides a little more ethical - just look for the fair trade logo!

With all this in your artillery, you're ready to give thanks! From Global Goods Partners, we wish you a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Image credits: The Weekender, Gone Rural, Asha Handicrafts

We've recently showcased techniques such as Shibori dyeing, but rolling down from the highlands of Guatemala and presented to us in the form of dreamy colourful patterns comes a unique and intricate style of weaving that should be your newest go-to design. It's known as the Falseria technique and we think it's a beauty.

This method of weaving is handcrafted by a group of marginalized women from Guatemala, who create tote bags and cases woven from naturally dyed threads. The Spaniards brought the loom to Guatemala during its colonization in 1524, where it was used to produce long yards of cloth for exporting.

Today, Falseria weaving is still practiced on a treadle loom, a wooden machine that uses a lever worked by the foot to produce a rotary motion. The repetition of this lever creates the replication of complex patterns on the fabric, producing the pretty little pattern. During this process, a combination of foot pedaling and weaving by hand creates the beautiful embroidered patterns found on products such as our Stripe and Falseria Cosmetic Case and Stripe and Falseria Tote Bag. 

Image credits: A Rum Fellow

Dating back to the 9^th century, Halloween hasn’t always been about donning costumes of cute animals and political figures. Dressing up for Halloween was once a tactic for people to disguise themselves as the spirits, witches and ghouls that were said to be roaming around on All Hallows Eve. Town folk would leave food and drink out to appease the spirits, so some cottoned on to the idea of dressing as the deceased to have an extra cookie or glass of milk.

If you’ve been dressing up since you were young, you might be getting tired of the hoo-ha. Luckily, we’ve put together a creative last-minute Halloween costume ideas that won’t have you breaking the bank, exerting tons of effort, or adding to your unused costume pile. You’re welcome.

Cleopatra

The pharaoh of Egypt wouldn’t be seen dead without her heavy artillery of gold wear, and now you don’t have to either. The bib necklace and rupee pendant necklace are made by disadvantaged women in India, and can be easily reworked as statement pieces with a casual outfit. Wear the arrow cuff hight up on your arm and the beaded metallic sequins earrings for an Egyptian look.

Frida Khalo

Channel the Mexican artist with our trifecta of bright and playful accessories. The colorful fan earrings, made by Maasai women in remote impoverished regions of Tanzania, can team up with the Guatemalan beaded tassel necklace, Peruvian burgundy scarf and Cambodian silk knotted necklace. All you have to do now is perfect your monobrow.

Jane Birkin

If every costume was as easy as white tees, denim and bangs, then we’d go to a Halloween party once a week. Get on Jane’s level with our Bolga Basket Tote or Natural Raffia Market Tote in tow, just don’t forget your fur for the chilly night. We promise you’ll use this tote again and again.