For many people hip flasks are one of the more popular luxury corporate gifts, and certainly they’re a welcome change from watches, gift vouchers or clocks. Professional leather products today are manufactured from soft, high quality leather that’s not split, but sourced from lambs and goats, giving them a beautiful soft, supple and smooth feel that makes them every bit as inviting to touch and hold as to look at and admire.

Hip flasks may be a display item, but they’re also very handy when out and about on a hunt or a walk. Whether you enjoy a strong coffee, liquor or a little of Scotland’s finest oak matured water, hip flasks are available in a wide range of styles, sizes and appearances.

From 4oz hip flasks to 6oz and even 8oz hip flasks, the choice is often available to have a decanter, cup, or glass incorporated into the design, making them perfect for sharing. Of course, luxury leather goods are not the preserve of men, with hip flasks continuing to prove very popular with ladies too, and today there are several beautiful designs available, giving ladies the chance to warm their cockles on a cold winter’s hunt.

If you’re looking for luxury corporate gifts then you may be considering traditional items such as portfolios, desk blotters and travel bags, but hip flasks could prove to be a much appreciated alternative, and certainly one likely to receive good use.

But don’t assume that all hip flasks advertised as being ideal luxury leather goods are the same. Hip flasks made from soft, supple leather, especially kid, goat or sheep leather is likely to provide years of use without cracking or wearing, as well as being warm to the touch – useful on a typical British day. With soft, warm leather wrapped lovingly around a decanter of your favourite invigorating tipple, you’ll be ready for anything this green and pleasant land can throw at you!

Today it all seems to be machine manufactured plastic built by robots in seconds and sold in supermarkets to provide everybody with identical goods. This is one of the main reasons why eco gifts have become so popular today, because more of us are realising that we’ve been very close to losing the opportunity to buy gifts which are special, unique, and which don’t simply use up more of the earth’s limited natural resources in order to punch out something bland, uniform and lacking soul or originality.

But eco gifts of course provide the opportunity to give much more than an original, beautiful item that’s been handcrafted, and very probably unique in many ways. Because eco gifts help support and sustain two important things which we should all have a keen interest in – people and the planet.

Poorer communities facing challenging situations have something we’ve largely lost – the commitment and ability to take natural materials and craft them by hand into beautiful eco gifts for decoration or everyday use.

But also by reusing or recycling items which might otherwise be discarded the impact on the environment is significantly reduced. From beautiful, decorative bowls made from half a coconut shell to stunning woven baskets made from bamboo, the natural world provides far more resources than we tend to give credit for, and often the eco gifts not only look much more attractive in our homes, but are valued much more than factory manufactured uniformly bland items.

Even taking items we normally discard, such as beer bottles, can provide opportunities to reduce the amount of waste by becoming a little more creative.

Every year 28 billion glass bottles and jars are discarded, but by purchasing eco gifts we can reduce that waste.

Quirky and attractive glasses and goblets made from recycled beer bottles seems like a bizarre idea at first, but they are very appealing and popular, and certainly a real talking point.

Eco gifts help you to give originality and beauty whilst giving poorer communities a chance to support themselves more productively, and cut down on the appalling waste we generate every year.

Say no to plastic punching robots and welcome in a world of eco gifts that give more than just a gift.

Leather coats

You don’t need to spend a mint on a decent leather jacket – many quality stores often have sales, and not always on last season’s stock. Clearance lines may be the end of the run; stock that is still current but not being made again. An inexpensive coat could be yours, if you simply bide your time and are prepared to shop around. If you take the time to try on a few, you’ll find one to suit your unique shape and size.

The next thing to consider is whether you want a short, medium or full length jacket. All can be worn with practically any outfit, but all give quite different looks. For example, a long leather coat teamed with a short skirt and low cut blouse might not be appropriate for the theatre. However a short, classic, tailored jacket would look great with a straight skirt and dress blouse (or trousers and shirt) for a dinner date. A jacket that covers the bottom is better suited to cooler weather, while a short cropped jacket is ideal for summer evenings.

If budget is a constraint, you might need to think about whether or not you want something timeless or current. A classic leather jacket won’t date, and can be paired with many items in your wardrobe – and will last you many years. A fashionable, up-to-the-minute jacket will possibly date quickly, and perhaps necessitate a new jacket next season. They might be more pricey, too, although expensive doesn’t always mean trend-setting!

The kind of leather will also dictate the look, to a large extent. Soft, luxurious nappa will be more suited to a classic style jacket while a thicker, coarser leather might be more in keeping with a biker jacket or similar.

There are a multitude of places, even online, where you can source a decent leather jacket. Bearing in mind your requirements and budget, you’re sure to find one to suit you, as long as you are prepared to shop around and try some one – after all, that’s half the fun!

Luckily, you can get around this, should it ever happen to you. If you’re shopping for leather jackets online, and find that what you want is no longer available, you can email us, and hand over your vital measurements. We’ll not only check that there’s really, truly no more in stock, we’ll check what we do have to make sure there’s nothing else that will suit your measurements.

The measurements needed have to be exact – no fudging to hide that Christmas pudding you’re carrying. Remember to measure wearing what you’ll normally wear under the leather jacket – a t-shirt or jumper etc. The chest should be measured around the widest part, as too, the waist. Throwing in your shoe size will give an indication of how tall you are, and your frame. However, telling us how tall you are will help, too! Let us know your build (don’t be shy) – are you large, small, thin? What size do you normally take? And lastly, tell us how you want the jacket to fit: fitted is 1" larger than your chest, semi-fitted is 2", comfort is 3 and loose is 4. Oh, don’t forget the actual jacket you saw – the name of the style, the colour and the kind of leather you’d like it in.

By sending in these details we can see if there’s something that you might like, if we don’t have the actual jacket in stock. Bear in mind, however, that with sale stock it’s generally what we have at the time. Usually, there’s no more and so once that particular style, colour or whatever is sold out, that’s it. Having said all that, clearance and sale items are a great way of picking up cheap leather jackets that will boost your wardrobe with a piece that can be worn anywhere, with anything, and by anyone. Whether timeless and classic or modern and hip, a decent leather coat is something that everybody should own.

Ethical thinking now radiates through every aspect of business practice from alternative energy sources to sustainable manufacturing materials to reducing pollution. Even corporate ethical gifts are replacing the usual offerings to incentivise or congratulate the workforce for a job well done.

The ethical business

With the general population organising their lives in a more ethical way and seeking eco-friendly alternatives in their lifestyles, so businesses are researching and initiating new environmentally ideas to help keep them ahead of the competition. From huge corporations to small start-ups, using green practices throughout day-to-day operations can provide huge gains.

The idea of a company towing the environmental line was once met with derision among the business community, but those who took the initiative earliest are now watching as the sceptics play catch up. The change in attitude among consumers and business alike has increased the interest in all things green.

While many corporations have a vast challenge ahead of them to convince the public that they are putting the environment first, there are definite changes being made. Office buildings are being constructed to maximise energy efficiency and occupying such a premises not only offers a better public image but also the potential for long-term savings. Even companies that are seen as traditionally eco-unfriendly are now committed to better environmental practices. What these businesses are seeing by going ‘green’ is better public relations and significant ways to improve their bottom line.

Most environmental initiatives stem from demand by clients and consumers. The pressure is on businesses to meet this demand because if given the choice between one product being environmentally friendly and the other not, the majority of consumers are choosing the greener option.

We’ve come a long way in the past twenty years – in the past consumers would struggle to name any green brands but now they have become the starting point when deciding on lifestyle choices. It is imperative for survival and growth that a business increases consumer and employee reaction by instigating wide-spread environmentally friendly practices.

Ethical gifts for the workforce

Anyone who has worked within a team of people will at some point have contributed to, or been a recipient of, a gift. A birthday, departing colleague, promotion or just a hearty well done are all reasons to show someone at work that you appreciate them.

For businesses to make a real effort in going ‘green’, a great show of intent is for everyone involved to buy gifts that are ethically sound. Whatever the reason, buying an ethical gift for employees or an ethical gift for the boss is a great way to increase awareness within your company about the importance of green issues as well as giving a present that has lasting impact on the recipient.

Some great bargain buys can be picked up in clearance sales. Cheap leather jackets are now being sported by the younger generation due to their versatility and low cost. They can be worn with anything, and their affordability makes them attractive to the younger crowd. They can be seen to and from work (and even some schools), in town with pals or out with families.

Leather blazers, on the other hand, scream expensive – but need not be. A well-cut leather coat can look like it cost a packet but actually cost very little; it all depends on where you source it. Of course, having one tailor-made might run up the price, but it’ll fit you like a glove and no doubt look like it cost far more than it actually did. And if you don’t put on too much weight as you get older, a leather jacket made to your measurements can be worn well into your twilight years!

Leather biker jackets are huge at the moment, especially with the current tattoo trend. It seems everyone these days is sporting ink somewhere on their bodies, and what better way to compliment the look than with chunky, belted, zippered, low-slung leather coats. Designed to be functional and practical, a biker jacket will ensure your back doesn’t get too cold while you’re motoring down the highway with your gal (or guy) riding shotgun. And slung over the bike when you pull up, you can still maintain the look as you show off your tatts.

Classic ladies’ leather jackets are indeed timeless. Whether made-to-measure or off-the-shelf, a women’s leather jacket can be teamed with jeans, a skirt, or trousers. In an emergency it can be worn over a formal outfit and not look too out of place. It is equally at home on a picnic or out at dinner.

Even the not-so-humble red leather jackets are still being seen (how can you miss them!). Can be worn to revive an old outfit or set alight a new one, a red coat can make you stand out in the crowd – it’s just up to you how much and how good you’ll look while doing it!

Europe leads the way in ethical skincare

In 2007, the UK, along with France, accounted for 74 per cent of all ethical beauty product launches proving that as a country, we are trying to align our environmental outlook with our shopping habits. Choosing to buy products that are produced using natural sustainable materials, that do not harm animals in the testing process, and are manufactured in a way that reduces the negative impact on the environment, shows the market is gradually being driven by the ‘green factor’ and not by profit margins alone.

What ethics do we look for in our beauty products?

The largest group of ethical beauty products bought in the UK is cruelty free goods i.e. not tested on animals. Over half of women in the UK say this is what they look for when buying skin and hair care products. That’s great progress given that within the space of twenty years, this has gone from being a niche market into a mainstream requirement.

More good news is that the fastest growth group is for products packaged in an eco-friendly way. This demand has led to manufacturers focusing on packaging that is made from recycled materials and can be recycled after use. The next stage is to reduce packaging to an absolute minimum.

Skin and hair care products that are termed ‘natural’ or ‘organic’ are also a huge growth area for ethical beauty and in France this is the top priority for female consumers. The ‘organic’ label is an interesting topic as some manufacturers have strayed into the grey areas of the term. To be sure, you should buy products that are certified by independent bodies such as ECOCERT or the Soil Association and don’t just rely on the manufacturer labelling the bottle ‘organic’.

While organic beauty is proving popular, there has been even bigger interest in the use of fair trade ingredients. Ensuring the planet’s survival is imperative, but the rights and fair treatment of people in impoverished communities who are affected by the cosmetics industry is equally important. Given that Fair Trade skin care is such a big growth area, it shows that as consumers we care about the people within the environment as much as the environment itself.

Buying your ethical beauty products

It’s not difficult to find ethical skin and hair care products these days because supply is now meeting demand. What you must be mindful of is the tactics employed by some of the less credible manufacturers and suppliers who will bend the rules to suit their needs. A good way to ensure the products you buy have met the right ethical standards is to use an online retailer that specialises in eco-friendly goods. Websites such as www.greentulip.co.uk stock a wide range of ethical beauty gifts.

If you know someone who hasn’t yet altered their buying habits then a gift is a great way to get them started. How about some natural lotions and body creams, organic bath and shower products or natural soaps? Not only will they love receiving a gift, they’ll also see there are alternatives available which equal, if not better, what they already use, but with the minimum impact to people and the planet.

How ‘green’ is chocolate?

For most of the world’s population chocolate can never be truly local because cacao beans can only be grown in tropical and equatorial climates. Ultimately this means that chocolate manufacture is going to involve shipping at some point and that increases carbon emissions. That’s the downside, the upside is that cacao beans, like coffee beans, are produced within infrastructures that allow fair trade bodies to oversee the agricultural process and so ensure that communities receive a fair price.

What to look for when purchasing ethical chocolate

Is the chocolate fair trade?

As with coffee, cacao plantations have been exploited for many years with child labour or forced labour used as a way to produce cheap cacao. To prevent this, look for the fairtrade logo which is your indicator that farmers are being paid a fair wage and the workforce is afforded basic human rights.

Chocolate made from beans that come from small co-operative plantations in countries such as the Dominican Republic and Peru have strong social structures that re-invest in local society and ensure the agricultural process is sustainable.

Is the chocolate organic?

If your chocolate is certified organic it’s a guarantee that cacao production did not involve the use of pesticides or chemicals. This is an important factor for chocolate. High-yield plantations have to resort to fertilisers, insecticides and fungicides to make sure the harvest is bountiful. The smaller fairtrade certified plantations grow organically. In the UK and across the world, the Soil Association mark is one guarantee of high organic standards.

Where was the chocolate made?

While cacao beans have to be shipped, the manufacturing process can be carried out in the UK so look for a local company who ensure their production is carried out in an environmentally friendly way such as reducing packaging, minimising landfill waste and buying electricity from ‘green’ energy suppliers.

Buy your ethical chocolate online

Using an ethical website to buy your chocolate treats is a great way to simplify the process. Why? Well, they’ve done the hard work for you. Sites such as www.greentulip.co.uk source all their chocolate products and gifts from suppliers who have displayed the ‘green’ credentials we’ve explained in this article.

Companies such as Montezuma and Cocoa Loco who are based in West Sussex produce delicious chocolates that are certified organic and have ensured the price paid for the cocoa is high. Montezuma even give their advertising budget to charity each year rather that spend it on ads.

Dark Chocolate, Hazelnut & Cocoa Nibs Bites	Montezuma’s Mini Bar – Butterscotch in ‘Dark’ Milk Choc

So, what are you waiting for? Ease your guilt and buy ethical chocolate. Your waistline is your own problem though!

All of these appliances drain electric, gas and water which ultimately costs money and has a major impact on the environment. Here are some tips to make your kitchen more ‘green’ plus some Ethical and fair trade kitchen products for cooking and serving your food.

Ethical cooking tips

• Cook several dishes in one go – If cooking vegetables on the hob, use a tiered steamer rather than lots of pans. If using the oven, use all the shelves.
• When using the oven, try to avoid opening the door too often as the temperature drops by 15°C each time making your oven work harder.
• If cooking with pans, keep the lids on as this will use less gas. When bringing the pan to the boil, adjust the flame to the pan’s diameter to avoid heat wastage.
• Use a microwave to save time and energy.
• Don’t buy too many gadgets – Labour saving devices may look like a good idea but six million end up in landfill each year. If you don’t really need it, don’t buy it.

One product every kitchen needs is a chopping board to prevent damaging your kitchen surfaces when preparing food. The best boards are made from wood but as a natural resource, wood is depleting fast so buy fairtrade bamboo chopping boards. Bamboo is the fastest growing plant in the world and therefore endlessly renewable.

Medium Bambu Cutting Board

For tasting, stirring, serving and eating, ethical kitchen utensils made from organic bamboo look great and will serve the amateur cook in your house for many years. Fairtrade serving bowls made from lacquered coiled bamboo are a stylish and colourful way to present salads and pasta dishes.

‘Give It A Rest’ Utensil Collection

Ethical washing tips

• Wash clothes on cooler settings – For most people that’s 40°C although newer machines will now wash at 15°C. A 40°C wash will use a third less power than one at 60°C.
• Prewash settings are not necessary so don’t use them.
• If you need to buy a new washing machine, choose the smallest one possible for your needs and make sure it has a hot water inlet.
• Dishwashers can be economical if used correctly. A full load on an economy setting can use less water than hand washing although bear in mind the electrical usage. If you’re considering buying dishwasher ask yourself if you really do need one.
• Rather than buying expensive and chemical-laden cleaning products to remove scale from your dishwasher or washing machine, use a cupful of vinegar on a full cycle (without any clothes or dishes inside though!).

Ethical appliance tips

• All new appliances by law must display an energy rating. This is displayed on a scale of A-G with A being the most energy efficient (an ‘energy plus’ model is even more efficient still). If you’re buying a new appliance, always make sure you’re aware of the rating and the materials used in the manufacturing process. Look for CFC and HFC free fridge/freezers and ones with an "R600a" hydrocarbon coolant label.
• When disposing of old appliances, check with your local council for a disposal depot which will reuse, recycle or recondition certain parts. This reduces the amount going to landfill.

Even in today’s economic climate, many women have enough disposable income to buy what they want and when they want it. That makes buying a gift even tougher unless you can persuade her not to go shopping for a few months. The key to buying a Christmas gift for the woman in your life is to find something unusual or unique so that means tracking down products she won’t have already seen.

Ethical and Fairtrade gifts Christmas gifts

Your first step to success is to steer clear of the high street. Firstly because as a shopper she’s bound to have seen everything, and secondly the high street stocks products that are mass-produced so you’re going to end up with a gift that somebody else may have already bought her.

The second step is to think about the ethics behind the manufacturing process of the goods you’re about to buy. Where were they made? Who made them? Did the worker get paid a fair price? What materials were used and are they sustainable? An ethical or Fairtrade product is a thoughtful gift idea, not just for the recipient but also for the people who made it and the planet’s resources that were used in the process.

Remember, you should try to buy something that is unusual or unique. Buying ethical Christmas gifts for a wife, girlfriend or mother will satisfy both those criteria because they’re often made in smaller quantities and many are handcrafted making each one individual. You also want to stay away from the crowded shopping centres and those endless shelves of mass produced goods, so go online for a wider range of ideas that can be delivered straight to your home.

Ethical Christmas gifts ideas for her

Ethical doesn’t mean expensive and there are some great stocking fillers for women that are under a tenner. Go for something that will improve wellbeing such as luxurious soaps, relaxing organic scented candles or sinful chocolates.

Bed of Roses	Relaxing Candle – Boxed	Marbled Milk & Dark Chocolate Bites

If you’re looking to spend a little more, how about some beautiful Fairtrade and handmade jewellery. Or, go for something that is practical and stylish like a set of recycled wine glasses or a selection of bamboo lacquered bowls.

Fairtrade Funky Acrylic Bracelet – Electric Blue	Chunky Recycled Wine Glass – Amethyst	Bambu Lacquered Mini Me – Kiwi

When looking for the ideal Christmas present you’re always going to have to get your thinking cap on, but if you stay off the beaten shopping track, get online and go ethical, you won’t go far wrong this year.