Well, we love shopping! Finding that perfect gift for someone, at the same time, we are disturbed by our societies need for consumption and mass produced goods. We believe there is a way to buy with a conscience, but these stores can be hard to find.
So instead of asking people to stop shopping, we're bringing you an online store where we've already thought out those details. We believe in handcrafted locally produced, environmentally and socially sound products that are not just nice, they are exceptionally beautiful green goods. We believe that green can be beautiful. We believe in giving back to our community and the environment. We believe that our dollars can contribute to small businesses in Canada and unique products crafted by artisans. And that's why we've carefully selected our products to take away that guilt, and just let you get on with the fun of shopping.
About the founder well in a nutshell, Lenka Hawrys is a small town girl at heart, growing up in the beautiful community of Fernie, BC. She believes in saying hello to everyone she passes on the street. She believes in supporting the locally owned coffee shop and bookstore. She believes in buying from Canadian manufacturers. She believes in eating organic, locally grown produce. She believes that she can own a business that is personally rewarding, and gives back to the earth. Yet she loves great design principles, and modern organic products. That's why she's merged the two ideas to bring you one unique Eco-Chic Boutique.
To make things easier for you, each product has a 'Green Facts' tab, that will tell you what makes that product Green. In order to be on our site, each product must meet one of the following Eco criteria.
Handmade - Identifies goods that celebrate the handmade process. There are no mass-produced, generic products. Each item is slightly different from the next, and that's why we love them. Usually crafted by artisans.
Organic Goods that are pesticide free, and produced using organic farming methods. Healthy, clean and natural. Natural Just as nature intended, using raw natural materials. No plastics, PVC's or synthetic additives and preservatives. Just lovely if you ask us.
Recycled Our favourite thing, less waste in the landfill. This category is growing daily as artisans are finding ways to reuse items. Not only for the same purpose but often in a completely new product. Also can be used to describe a product that is biodegradable or recyclable in the long term.
Fairly Traded Goods purchased from around the world that practice fair trade principles such as providing good working environments and pay producers fair wages. A way to positively impact the lives of those working in developing nations.
Socially Responsible Products that contribute to the well being of others, particularly in less developed countries. Companies that do more than just manufacture products such as giving back to charities, and contributing to social cooperatives etc.
Sustainable Products used with crops that grow incredibly fast such as bamboo or hemp. Are harvested without harm to animals such as merino wool. Or FSC certified wood products. Goods produced using green power or renewable resources.
So go ahead. Be gorgeous! Be green! And enjoy shopping at Gorgeous & Green.
