Holiday Shopping Guide: Gifts that Give Back

by Ariston Anderson (RSS feed)
Dec 16th 2010 at 2:01PM

End of year marks a great time to pull out your checkbooks and give to your favorite charities. But even when going through your holiday shopping list, there's always room for more giving. Here are a few gifts that are sure to please anyone on your list, from fashion to electronics, and more importantly allow you to help out a few more charities before the year is up. Here's are roundup of the top gifts that give back in 2010:

FEED x UNICEF Guatamala Bags

Handwoven tribal fabrics continue to make waves this season, with a new line of bags and wallets just released by Proenza Schouler. But to really make a dent this holiday season, go for the latest bag from FEED Projects. The new design made from traditional Guatemalan Ikat fabrics both celebrates women artisans and helps support UNICEF's nutrition programs in Guatemala. Available for $45 at Lord & Taylor stores and online.

SWOON Walki Print

100% of proceeds from the latest print from renown artist Swoon go toward the Konbit Shelter Project, the artist's inititiative to build sustainable single-family homes in Haiti. The three-layer screen print of a local Haitian boy, Walki, ($125) is a must have collectible piece from Swoon, gorgeously composed on homemade Indian jute paper.

Tom's the New Collection

Creator of the Fashion mission of One for One, TOMS latest collection brings a variety of new styles that would look fabulous under any tree. The tougher TOMS line features Highlands Black Men's Botas ($79.00), an ankle boot perfect for cooler days. Styled to be worn with or without laces, and featuring and extra thick sole and suede insole, the botas are a classy gift to replace any man's casual sneakers. For women, new glitter pink and black styles can dress up any pair of jeans. And as always, with each pair of shoe purchased, TOMS will donate a pair of shoes to a child in need.

Beats by Dre Over-Ear Headphones

Beats by Dre is leading the pack in audio innovation, giving you a studio-quality listening experience wherever you are. To maximize anyone's iPod listening experience, this gift will please anyone on your list. Choose the splashly red version ($229), and part of the proceeds will benefit the Global Fund to Fight AIDS in Africa.

Kahina Giving Beauty

Argan oil, the beauty secret of the Berber woman of Morocco for centuries, is making its way stateside in a variety of forms and new brands. When buying the elixir ($82), rich in vitamin E and antioxidants, is a beauty lifesaver, great for wrinkles and acne on the face, dry elbows and knees and dull hair. Kahina Giving Beauty is pure Morocco via New York, sourced straight from Berber cooperatives, where women are paid a living wage and taught to read and right. Kahina Giving Beauty donates 25% of sales back to the cooperatives to promote literacy and women's rights.

Charity Water GelaSkins

There's no shortage of options to cover your Apple gear out there, but we've been digging the recent designs form Charity Water. Cover your iPhone with a mission with %100 of profits going to fund Charity Water's extensive endeavors to bring clean drinking water to developing countries. And if you're serious about giving back this year, use the holidays to start your own campaign, and ask friends for donations instead of gifts.

Tags: charity gifts, gift guide, gifts that give back, holiday shopping guide