[SPONSORED] Chillax Market is a cool new multi-stall shopping spot at The Grandstand with lots of fashion and homeware stores as well as a café, flower bar and hair & nail salon. This year it’s also the best place to stock up on ethical gifts—with pieces by artisans, Fair Trade products and charity schemes. Here are four ways doing your Christmas shopping at Chillax makes a difference.
Baliza kaftans
You’ll support artisans in the developing world
The goods: Pick up colorful, patterned kaftans, kimonos and sarongs from casual resortwear brand Baliza, including a cute range of matching mom and daughter sets. There’s also vintage jewelry retailer Tamarind Living, which stocks delicate paper animal ornaments. More on the home decor front: check out European-inspired wicker baskets, candle stands and personalized cushions by Gezel Home Accessories and Wola Nani paper mache items at Live Love Africa.
How it helps: Baliza and Tamarind Living‘s products are made by Ladli, an organization in India which provides street children with a vocation, as well as shelter, education and healthcare. Gezel Home Accessories are handcrafted by women in Bau Truc, a traditional Vietnamese pottery village where the majority of artisans are women who provide income for their families and community. Wola Nani, stocked by Live Love Africa, provides funds and support for people living with HIV/AIDS.
The Base Project bracelets by Curator’s Den
You’ll nurture local communities through fair trade
The goods: Pick up gorgeous Fair Trade ceramics at Bowerbird, everything from handpainted vases, platters, pots and urns. They’re created in small quantities so each piece is unique. For personal accessories, there’s The Base Project by Curator’s Den, which does bohemian-chic hand-carved, Fair Trade bracelets made from upcycled plastic pipes by Kunene artisans; and Artesano, which sells handmade woven hats from Ecuador.
How it helps: Bowerbird and the Curator’s Den products are all Fair Trade, meaning the artisans who make them receive fair income, stable prices for their products and partnerships to help them develop their businesses. And while not officially certified Fair Trade, Artesano‘s products give employment to rural weaving communities.
Home accessories by Modern Eclectic Living
You’ll provide alternative income for stay-at-home moms
The goods: Pianissimo sells cushions and bolsters made with organic, handmade linen in kid-friendly animal and flower prints; Made Little stocks bright, colorful baby clothing by Singaporean Junie Tang; and Modern Eclectic Living carries luxurious-feeling bedding and sheets by Malaika Linens.
How it helps: As well as supporting global communities, you can also support local artisans at home, too. Pianissimo and Made Little‘s products are created by stay-at-home moms in Singapore, providing them with alternative income, while Modern Eclectic Living‘s Malaika Linens are hand-embroidered by stay-at-home moms in Egypt.
Kidswear by Stuurtje
You’ll make a difference for orphans in Vietnam
The goods: Colorful, practical kidswear from Stuurtje.
How it helps: Buy any children’s clothing item from Stuurtje and $2 will be donated to Peace Village at Tu Du hospital in Ho Chi Minh, an orphanage working to help children suffering the after effects of Agent Orange use in the Vietnam War.
Chillax Market can be found at #03-07 The Grandstand, 200 Turf Club Rd., open from 9am-7pm daily. Find out more about Chillax and their Christmas offerings through their Facebook page.
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