Christmas Gift Guide

It’s the season of giving, so why not give back a little while you’re at it? Here are a few of Sassy Mama’s favourite gifts that do a bit of good right here in our own back yard. And this is just the first of many – we’ll be releasing a series of Gift Guides leading up to Christmas!



Personalised Kotur Margo Faille Minaudiere to Benefit Operation Smile

Fiona Kotur’s gorgeous minaudieres, evening clutches and day handbags are at the top of many a fine fashionista’s list for dear old Santa. This season, the designer – in collaboration with Harvey Nichols – has unveiled limited edition made-to-order clutches that are not only personalized with your initials and choice of cool icon, but are also sold to benefit Operation Smile China Medical Mission and the work they do in China to provide free surgeries and post-operative care to children with cleft lips and cleft palates.
HK$2700, Click here for the order form. Please send your order form to April Kwok at april@koturltd.com. Note to Santa’s elves, your custom clutch will be delivered in 14 days after payment – so plan accordingly.



JadeYoga Mat

JadeYoga’s mats are not just environmentally-friendly (they are made sustainably in the US from natural rubber), but they also give back to the earth with a tree planted for every mat sold.
HK$700. Available at Flex.



Sandra d’Auriol Designs

Sandra d’Auriol’s gorgeous, contemporary, and – most importantly – wearable jewellery combines Asian influences in design and materials with a thoroughly modern vibe. The Asprey-trained artisan will be showcasing her gorgeous goods at Sin Sin Atelier (52 Sai Street, Central) on Wednesday, December 7 and Thursday, December 8, with ALL PROCEEDS benefiting two well-deserving charities: Art in Hospital and Child Welfare Scheme.
Sale: Wed-Thurs, Dec 7-8 | Sin Sin Atelier | 52 Sai Street, Central
For more info on this sale contact Sandra (sandra@dauriol.com)



Fair & Green Gift Hampers to Support the World Wildlife Foundation

Sending a gift hamper to a colleague, business associate or friend? This holiday season the WWF’s Panda Shop is teaming up again with FAIRTASTE, a local fair trade enterprise, to offer ‘Fair & Green’ hampers. With a great selection of environmentally-friendly products, these jam-packed hampers support both WWF’s conservation work and fair trade practices. Click here to get a peek at the goodies included in each of the four hamper sizes (hint: fair trade wine, chocolates, cookies, candles, WWF goodies…)
Four sizes available, starting at HK$538. Available at the WWF’s Panda Shop.



The Mustard Seed Workshop

The Mustard Seed Workshop aims to empower impoverished communities by helping them break the poverty cycle through a sustainable skill set. From exquisite Himalayan heritage soaps infused with natural aromatherapy oils, to stunning handmade fresh water pearl, natural jade and crystal jewelry, they offer a range of sweet gifts that do a whole lot of good. Delivery is FREE in Hong Kong (they do offer global delivery).



GoodieDo

By shopping at GoodieDo you not only support their amazing product partners in developing countries, you also support the worthy causes of people around the world, as the fundraising group you select will receive a 20% commission of your purchase. So you help the artisans and you help another group looking to raise funds – and you give a fabulous, thoughtful gift at the same time…there’s lots of winners with this one! Among those on the fundraising list is Room to Read‘s Hong Kong Chapter.



Niin’s Gaia Bracelets to benefit the WWF

These sweet children’s bracelets are available in six styles, with little charms signifying one of six different environmental issues that need our attention – Coral Reefs, Oceans, Pandas, Tigers, Tunas, and Climate Change. A portion of the proceeds is donated to the World Wildlife Fund of Hong Kong.
HK$500. Available on the Niin website here.



Charitable Choice – Gift Cards that Give

Hong Kong’s first non-profit charity Gift Card platform, Charitable Choice helps raise money for local charities in an original and meaningful way. The gift giver pays for and designates a donation value for the card, and then upon receipt the recipient gets to chose the charity to donate the funds to, making the gift a truly personal one. Choose from 25 Hong Kong registered charities, each of which is engaged in providing valuable services for the Hong Kong community. Charities include those that focus on alleviating poverty, promoting animal welfare, and a variety of environmental conservation organizations, allowing the gift card recipient to choose a charity that appeals most to their personal cause.
Check out the selection on their website here.



Kid Photographer

Did you know that over 300,000 children are living below the poverty line in Hong Kong? Outraged? You can do something about it by purchasing the book “Kid Photographer”, a touching book featuring hundreds of photos taken by 21 underprivileged children. Showing their hardships as well as their hopes and dreams, this book was put together by the Society of Community Organisation and all funds raised from the sale of this book will be used for the charitable purposes of this well-known, good-doing organization.
HK$140 including postage, click here for order form. Learn more at www.soco.org.hk.



Oxfam Unwrapped

Oxfam unwrapped offers a range of over 40 totally unexpected gift ideas that will also help transform the life of a person living in poverty. From the ‘3-in-1 Faming Set’ – a gift of chickens, ducks and goats that is the perfect gift for animal lovers and the perfect income-generation solution for poor farmers – to a Cashmere goats to aid people in Pingshanhu in Gansu, China in increasing their income, these are affordable gifts that make a difference – and fun ones to select and give with your children’s help.
Starts at just HK$100. See the gift options here.



Nudo: Adopt Your Own Olive Tree

Adopt an olive tree at Nudo’s collection of olive groves this Christmas and enjoy olive oil straight from your very own tree! If you want, you can even pick which tree on the Italia hillside grove you want to adopt. It’s a great gift – good for health and the environment, complete with an adoption certificate!
For details of adoption see www.nudo-italia.com



Nuan Cashmere: Silent Auction in Aid of The Citizens Foundation

Feeling like a cozy Christmas? Two beautiful double-sided cashmere throws in taupe/cream and charcoal/grey are being auctioned by Nuan Cashmere in aid of The Citizens Foundation (TCF). TCF is a non-profit organization that provides education for children of Pakistan, with a strong vision that includes tackling social issues such as gender and class inequalities – education is a right for all. TCF strives for citizens to be Pakistan Agents of Change. As of 2011 TCF has established 730 school units nation-wide with 102,000 students enrolled, and was recently invited to become a member of the Clinton Global Initiative – a wonderful organization to give to!
Email your bid, including color of blanket, to sales@nuancashmere.com, no later than 5pm HKT on December 9. Nuan Cashmere will send an update the night prior to closing, December 8, with the latest bid at that point.