TVW’s editors are always on the hunt for the latest avant-garde and Earth-conscious products. Here’s what’s on our radar this month.
Metal Queen
This weekend you mean business, so it’s time to up the ante for your night on the town. Trade your lip gloss for a blood-red pucker, slip on those sleek pumps, and ditch your dull tote for an Escama handbag of super-shiny, recycled aluminum. Undeniably glamorous, Escama’s bags are also ethical: the San Francisco company trades fairly with the Brazilian designers who produce the goods. To close the deal, these eco-friendly little dazzlers snap shut with a recycled aluminum pull-tab, so your night’s haul of “business” cards will stay put once you hit the dance floor. Available at Tree Frog Gallery (Mayne Island, 250-539-3551) or supermarkethq.com . —Jennifer Croll
The C Word
Sure, pink ribbons and yellow wristbands send a positive message, but here’s a bracelet that doesn’t mince words. Embracing the strong and courageous spirit of many cancer patients and survivors, these bracelets by Vancouver jewellery company Soul Flower are delicate in design but strong in their message. Engraved within an ECG-like lifeline are the fighting words “F--k Cancer”—a sassy, life-affirming message juxtaposed with the tasteful design of the simple silver bangle. Moreover, designer Susan Fiedler donates $50 from the sale of each bracelet to InspireHealth, the Vancouver integrative cancer care centre. Now that’s soul, sister! Available at YYoga (yyoga.ca ) and soulflower.com . —Erica Gehrke
Light My Fire
We know that during your candlelit dinner you would rather have your date be intoxicated by the aroma of your coq au vin (and his love for you) than the noxious fumes emanating from a paraffin candle. Keep things smelling sweet with the Rendezvous Candle from local company Deserving Thyme. Made from 100 per cent soy wax, Rendezvous seduces with the tropical intensity of ylang ylang, orange, and neroli. Once this candle starts burning, he’s sure to ask you what’s for dessert. See deservingthyme.com for where to buy. —JC
Free the Tea
As every true tea connoisseur knows, it’s a capital crime to imprison your tea leaves in a bag. But when you’re on the go, the evils of the tea bag are outweighed by the benefits of convenience (and the repellent appearance of loose tea stuck to your teeth). Compromise no longer! The handy Libre Tea Glass allows you to brew, strain, and cart around your loose-leaf tea wherever you go without worrying about green teeth or dreary Darjeeling. These ingeniously designed, elegant teapots are available in glass, as well as plastic versions for us klutzier tea-devotees. Buy online at libretea.com . —Stephanie MacDonald
Forever in Bloom
Your boyfriend insists his love for you isn’t wilting, so why does he give you flowers that do? Suggest he keep things on the up-and-up with buds that stay forever in bloom from Vancouver’s Pollination. This sustainable flower shop keeps things green with carbon offsets and locally produced containers, and owner Jennifer Tosoff can suggest lots of alternatives to cut flowers. A well-chosen plant stays green without too much fuss, and glass terrariums add beauty while protecting tender shoots. More than one beau on the go? Ask for a nice carnivorous plant. Then you won’t be the only man-eater on the block. 1378 W. Georgia St. Info: pollination.ca —JC
Pure Bliss
Just because you’re a health-conscious, gluten-sensitive vegan whose New Year’s resolution is to lose a few pounds does not mean you can always resist a super-indulgent sugar fix. If you’re craving a treat, look no further for your bliss than Bliss Balls. Handmade in Burnaby by Jiva Organics, Bliss Balls are all-natural, free of preservatives and animal products, and full of healthy nuts, dates, and chocolate. Bliss Balls score extra points for being light on the planet (they come in a biodegradable package made from corn)—if not your waistline. Find your bliss at Choices (choicesmarket.com), Sweet Cherubim (1105 Commercial Dr.), and Famous Foods (1503 Kingsway). Info: newworldnaturalfoods.ca —SM
Eat Your Heart Out
If your tough-to-please lover merely sniffs at the requisite gifts of candy or flowers, prepare to melt that steely heart with the aptly named Soft Coeur massage bar. Also called the “Honeymooner” (hint, hint), this heart-shaped, full-body treat is whipped up from all-natural ingredients including honey, pure essential oils, organic cocoa powder, fair-trade cocoa butter, and shea butter. And if there’s any left at the end of the night, keep slathering it on: the Soft Coeur is also a long-lasting moisturizer that soothes skin chapped by cold weather—or whatever (wink, wink). Available at Lush, various locations. Info: lush.ca —EG
