Although love is priceless and in any event, we’re really all spiritual beings having a physical experience, Valentine’s Day tends to be a day for showing your love with gifts for the body. You’ll find great wine and chocolate pairings in the print and digital version of WLT, but what complements those better than sexy lingerie and the classic bouquet of flowers? Here are some ideas for showing your appreciation to both your beloved and the earth.
Flowers
A bouquet of a dozen roses or your sweetheart’s favorite flower will always say “I love you,” but many conventionally grown flowers are sprayed with pesticides and insecticides and are often grown using unfair labor practices. The following shops can offer wiser choices for your floral expression of love:
• Lily Lodge carries flowers from local, small growers along with a range of pesticide-free and organic choices. Visit them at 644 North Robertson Boulevard, Los Angeles 90069 or call 310.360.9400.
• California Organic Flowers has a huge online selection of organic bouquets that can be arranged for next day delivery. The site also features a seasonal flower chart to allow you to choose according the plant’s natural blooming time.
• Wisteria Lane Flowers is a local company that treats workers and the earth with respect. Organic bouquets can typically be delivered within a day, although Valentine’s Day is a hectic time for any florist so place your order as early as you can at 888.345.6101.
• L.A. Botanicals has a certified organic line called Eco Fleur, and will deliver your flowers in environmentally friendly containers, such as recycled glass, hemp fabric and hollowed out organic melons. 5939 Rodeo Rd. Unit A, Culver City 90016. 310.836.3335.
• The farmers market is a great place to buy organic flowers and support the growers in our community. And since the flowers are so fresh, they are likely to last longer.
• Other national retailers selling organic flowers include FTD and Organic Bouquet.
Lingerie
Surprise your sweetie with something sexy and sustainable. Cotton and silk production tends to be resource intensive and slinky man-made fabrics often have their basis in petroleum products. The latest in wearable sustainability is bamboo (incredibly silky), recycled plastic, hemp, flax, or even pine trimmings that can create anything from a basic t-shirt to silky undies and negligees. Good places to look for eco-friendly fashions are:
• Patagonia – Dedicated to supplying the active individual with comfortable and sustainable fabrics, they also offer pretty camisoles and underwear made of recycled materials. Products can be found at a select number of Los Angeles area retailers (see their web site for locations or purchase online ) or visit their stores at 47 N Fair Oaks Avenue in Pasadena, or 2936 Main St., Santa Monica.
• In alignment with their mission to raise awareness of “sustainable, renewable and biodegradable resources while inspiring consciousness through surfing, yoga and meditation,” Natural High Lifestyle carries hip, casual threads in bamboo, hemp, tencel, organic cotton and vegetal leather. They offer beautiful, comfy clothes that fit perfectly and fit perfectly with the SoCal lifestyle. 2400 Main St., Santa Monica 90465. 310.450.5837.
• American Apparel started its very own Fair Trade revolution and now is becoming more sustainable with a handful of organic options, including a baby rib thong and boy’s brief. There are more than a dozen retail outlets around the city.
• Faeries Dance is a California company that uses only fair trade, environmentally sensitive fabrics and low-impact dyes. 1 percent of their gross income is donated to charities that protect our natural world, and they make every effort to reduce, reuse and recycle for all paperwork and shipping materials. The offer oh so comfy undies and sleepwear in organic cotton and bamboo.
If you can’t find sustainable lingerie in your neighborhood, there are plenty of online stores with excellent choices. A few of the more unique are:
• By Nature carries lingerie made of white pine trimmings and a wide variety of earth friendly gifts and snacks.
• At Urban Fox Eco, all undies are designed, dyed and sewn by hand.
• GreenKnickers features Fair Trade organic undies.
• The Green Loop, where you can buy sexy undies and apparel for the whole family.
• The Eco Luxe Life, a half-local company, offers lingerie and tons of othersustainable products from various manufacturers and designers.
Written by freelance writer Tammie Painter, who is always happy to get flowers, but especially when they are organically grown.
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