Gifts that Give

 Christmas is very commercialised, let's face it. When the fable of St. Nicholas came around, I don't recall him jumping through the chimney with an iPhone for Daddy and Louboutins for Aunty Joan. The gifts are supposed to be for the chillun'. Nevertheless, I'm not going to pretend that I don't get excited when I see my friends and family scribbling my name on a card attached to a giant shiny box. It is what it is.

If it's one image I can always easily flash to, is that of tired children in sweatshops working their fingers to the bone so that I can get a top for $10 and have it delivered before the 24th. If Christmas is for the children, I hope we all keep these little ones in our minds. When the vibrant "Sale" flags wave at us like some sort of insignia these coming weeks, I urge you to think about the real fashion victims; the people who must suffer to help these giant corporations meet the demand for their under-priced goods.

 I know that everyone has bills to pay and expectations to meet, and the cheaper alternatives of fast fashion are more attractive to our budgets, but I urge you to look for gifts that give this Christmas. Give things that show love, care and thought. How about a meal for your sister's family, if you know she has to scramble to cook on an evening after getting in from Port-of-Spain traffic. How about you treat all your nieces and nephews to a picnic, or trip to the zoo? Instead of buying 25 gifts for each member of the family, why not play Secret Santa and each person buys one really special piece for one other, so that each of you gets something great, made with love from a local artisan or designer? What about a piece of art from a young artist? (Could be worth quite a bit one day)

Want to give it a try? Check out some of these markets and sales for those really special gifts.

PAINT + JEWELS, studio sale featuring Ashley Thompson and Micha Gomes
Dec 5th and 6th Diego Martin





Chez Nous Christmas Showcase (Art, Clothing, Home Decor, etc)
The Verandah Retsaurant, Rust Street, St. Clair
30th  Nov, 7th December

UpMarket
Woodbrook Youth Facility and Trinidad Country Club

Meiling Pre-Collection Sale up to 50% everything at the Boutique
6 Carlos Street, Woodbrook
(New Collection Premiers Wednesday 19th Nov)

The Holistic Market