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HOME | ABOUT TFG | CONTACT TFG | FREE TFG | ADVERTISE TFG | SHOP TFG | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS & CONDITIONS
The Natural Toy Box
Backstory: The mom who runs this toy store evaluates each plaything based on safety, quality and fun. Everything she sells is handcrafted or handmade in America from natural and eco-friendly materials that are safe for both kids and the environment.
Groovy Gift: Handmade Wooden Dragon Pull Toy ($27). Sturdy, durable and completely nontoxic, this wooden dragon will capture kids’ imaginations with its rotating wings and fierce red tongue. And at a full 11 inches long, it’s unlikely to ever get lost in the toy chest.
Website: www.thenaturaltoybox.com
Nest Organics
Backstory: Owned and operated by a mother-daughter team, Nest Organics offers sophisticated, stylish and sustainable items for babies, kids and the home. The Asheville, N.C. shop proclaims its commitment to “moving our culture toward conscious lifestyle practices” and encourages shoppers to base every purchase on personal, environmental and cultural impact.
Groovy Gift: Green Toys Recycling Truck. Kids will discover the fun of recycling while sorting plastic, cans and paper in this big green truck. (Bonus: Mom and Dad can feel equally good about the purchase, as the truck itself is made from recycled plastic milk jugs.)
Website: www.nestorganics.com
The Organic Company
Backstory: In 1995, Lonica Lee Eisenbraun discovered organic cotton clothing and — certain it would be the next big thing — opened Natural Selections, a retail store in Iowa (that she still owns and operates today!). Back then, organic clothing was available in only a few places. In 2008, she opened The Organic Company, which offers the best of what Natural Selections has to offer, including Indigo Wild, Coyuchi, American Apparel and Anna Sova.
Groovy Gift: Organic Cotton Underwear by bgreen ($16.95 for boxer brief, $15.95 for thong). The best stuffer for any stocking, these “green” undergarments are “all about comfort and fit.” The women’s thong comes in semi-sheer organic cotton with pretty lace trim, while the men’s boxer brief has a comfy covered elastic waistband. Both are free of those pesky (and itchy) hanging labels, and instead the “tag” is printed right onto the underwear.
Website: www.theorganiccompany.com
The Green Mercantile
Backstory: Billing itself as “the local store with
global impact,” The Green Mercantile
offers
enticing items for the entire home — from locally
made natural cleaners to recycled-plastic tooth
brushes.
Groovy Gift: Geometric Sorting Board ($15). Get mini-mathematicians started early with this fun counting and shape-recognition game. Its colorful, stackable geometric shapes are such an effective learning tool that this sorting board took home the Good Toy Award from Parent magazine.
Website: www.greenmercantile.com
Gretchen & Grace Greenwear
Backstory: Named for the owner’s two beloved Great Danes, Gretchen & Grace realizes the unfortunate choice many shoppers make between going green or staying stylish — and attempts to resolve it with fashionable, eco-friendly clothing and accessories. As their website explains: “To us, going green doesn’t mean sacrificing or limiting self-expression, and we don’t believe that green fashion has to be expensive, either.”
Groovy Gift: Bomber Jacket ($52). Much as we all love Top Gun, this stylish jacket is an earth-friendly, leather-free alternative to Tom Cruise’s beloved bomber. The soft organic-cotton fleece provides plenty of snuggle, and even features the classic elbow patches.
Website: www.gretchenandgrace.com
A Green Wardrobe
Backstory: This California-based web boutique offers high-fashion clothing from green and ethical designers around the state and across the globe. Their international assortment includes fun, versatile organic-cotton dresses from Los Angeles-based Doie Designs, hot hoodies from Prairie Underground, tops with positive sayings from Austria’s Göttin des Glücks and fair-trade fashions from French designers at Numanu.
Groovy Gift: An absolutely gorgeous eco-friendly frock like this one from Immortelle by Les Fées de Bengale ($300). This ethereal dress is fit for a Renaissance princess…or an eco-conscious woman searching for an elegant holiday ensemble. The flowing silk Immortelle dress is just one of the gorgeous designs the shop carries by Les Fées de Bengale—a socially conscious French company that works to better the lives of disadvantaged Indian women.
Website: www.agreenwardrobe.com
bgranola
Backstory: Bgranola is the brainchild of two moms who realized “a need to focus back on quality of life rather than quantity,” especially in the current economic climate. As owners Genie and Christine explain, once they started exploring the green movement and the idea of an eco-friendly shop, “we realized that we could live green without sacrificing comfort.” That mantra is what their shop is all about — from housewares to toys to furniture.
Groovy Gift: Barefoot Dreams BambooChic Throw. Perfect for curling up on the couch with a mug of hot chocolate, this ultra-soft throw makes a great addition to any chilly winter night. Best of all, it’s shrink-, pill- and wrinkle-resistant, so it won’t lose any of its cozy snuggle.
Website: www.bgranola.com
jillybean green
Backstory: Billing itself as “hip, trendy and eco-friendly,” jillybean green offers a variety of cool clothing, toys and gear for kids and babies. Even better, all the goods they sell are organic, sustainable, fairly traded or recycled.
Groovy Gift: Paintable Country Cottage ($25.95). Pint-size Picassos will love these 18-inch-tall recycled-cardboard houses. Little ones can decorate each cute cottage with markers, crayons or the non-toxic washable watercolors it comes with. (Did someone say birthday party craft?)
Website: www.jillybeangreen.com
The Greener Good
Backstory: This family-run shop describes itself as “your ultimate resource for going green.” That includes products for the home, body, babies and pets, as well as educational opportunities for those looking to add more green to their homes and lives.
Groovy Gift: Dsenyo satchel bags ($184). These handmade, sustainably produced hemp bags are perfect for tooling around town. Their bright colors and patterns are inspired by traditional African fabrics, and a portion of each purchase goes toward community development projects in Africa.
Website: www.thegreenergood.com
