This Kokedama from NYC-based The Sill is a bundle of green joy wrapped in a moss ball. An art-form developed by the Japanese, it’s an eye-catching way to hold plants, setting them free from pots or planters—you can even hang them. Choose from three different ferns and toss out your ho-hum succulents to make room for this living sculpture. Best of all, the Kokedama doesn’t require a lot of maintenance beyond a weekly five-minute bath—staying true to The Sill’s mission to make beautiful, unique indoor plants much more accessible (and less scary). National shipping available.
These copper edged glass terrariums crafted by a designer duo from Ichikawa, Japan exhibit the beauty of the entire plant. With one compartment to hold the water and another to suspend the plant, this unique vase allows you to observe both the succulent and its intricate root system thrive and grow.
Founded by two former UN Refugee agents, Alice + Whittles takes unprecedented action toward ensuring their products are sustainably and ethically made. Their new line of rubber boots combines the functional minimalism of Swiss design with rubber that comes from an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, economically viable, sustainably managed forest. Try to find a current pair of shoes in your closet that can match that.
When Dutch designer Piet Hein Eek—who is fond of using scrap material in his works—came across a former tie factory in Milan, he discovered a large trove of unused silk necktie fabrics. In a collaboration with textile designer Borre Akkersdijk, he’s given the material a second life: as one of a kind silk quilts that boast stimulating patterns and colors.
This cozy wool blanket is as good for naps as it is the environment. Made in the USA from a blend of sustainably raised wool and recycled acrylics that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill, the 45” x 66” throw has a luxuriously soft heathered feel with contrasting whipstitch for style points.
With just a hint of ’70s kitsch, this Elephant Air Plant Pod by Claylicious serves as a nice little upper for your desktop. The ceramic figurine houses a tuft of soil-independent greenery, so you’ve got a little bit of life without any of the mess.
Amp up your hammock game with Michele Varian’s beautiful, bohemian riff on the classic. The Recycled Fiber Swing weaves together sturdy, colorful ropes in a cozy, kill-an-afternoon chair that adds a real dash of something different to a room or terrace.
Berlin’s Five Elephant micro roastery is committed to directly sourcing their beans in the most socially and environmentally responsible way. Blendo is a mix of Directly Traded Brazilian washed beans, creating a full-bodied experience with hints of chocolate and berries.
This handsome handmade jewelry box comes in several varieties of ethically sourced wood. Created by architect-turned-designer Aaron Portiz, its classic styling and proportion suit both men and women.
Tea tree and lavender and active bamboo charcoal, oh my! This potent, clarifying trio works together to draw impurities, exfoliate and soothe the skin. The small, black chunk works hard and smells so sweet at the same time.
BirkSun’s Boost Solar Backpack doesn’t just carry your devices in a sharp little package, it keeps them powered up with the help of a sleek solar panel on the back. The interior features a fleece-lined laptop sleeve and small, discreet dock to plug in computeres, tablets, smartphones, you name it.
This year we paired SF’s Dandelion Chocolate with NYC design studio Snarkitecture to create a chocolate bar that would play to their talents. The resulting Break Bar is made from 70% Belize beans, and is formed in Snarkitecture’s signature broken slab style. Five of the 500 limited edition bars include a “White Ticket” which wins an inedible sculpture designed by Snarkitecture. All proceeds benefit Southern Exposure, a SF-based non-profit committed to supporting visual artists since 1974.
Judi Powers has been making a name for herself with her whimsical, ethically-sourced jewelry collection, all designed and crafted in her Brooklyn studio. Powers’ Water Drop ring is an understated stunner, with an aquamarine cabochon gemstone set in recycled sterling silver. Powers cites the ocean as her inspiration, saying that the cool blue color of the cabochon is both “soothing and appealing.”
Brooklyn-based designer Shahla Karimi’s debut collection lets you wear the NYC subway on your wrist. From Inwood to World Trade Center, Yankee Stadium to Wall Street, and Harlem to South Ferry, the 3D-printed accessories are available in sterling silver, 14k gold and gold vermeil.
Online art purveyors Rise Art offer affordable works by a variety of artists, that you can either rent or purchase. Also, with every piece sold, Rise Art sends a personal art supply kit to a child in the hospital (sharing supplies is often verboten for fear of spreading diseases). The site’s many filters makes finding a special piece for yourself easy enough, but they also offer gift cards for the art enthusiast in your life.
Pommes Frites candles don’t need fancy packaging or foreign-sounding names. “Sweet Grapefruit” speaks for itself with warn citrus and fruit notes (think peach and mangosteen) and is one of the DTLA-based candlemakers’ strongest scents—making it a perfect pre-dinner party room filler.
