As Boutiko creator Tara Leaver explains: “The planet we live on and the people we share it with are precious. I wanted to provide a place to shop that respects this without preaching about it, where the ethical nature of the products is as instrinsic as their aesthetic appeal.” All gifts are sourced with certain criteria in mind, and come only from suppliers with a similar ethos. Everything must conform to one or more of the following; they must be recycled, organic, handmade, locally made, from sustainable sources or fair trade. Particular emphasis is placed on high quality handmade goods from overseas as well as products from UK cottage industries and local craftsmen.

The products on offer, via www.boutiko.co.uk, include such goodies as hand embroidered fair trade silk handbags, purses and jewellery rolls; luxury scented soy candles in delicious fragrances such as Redcurrant and Thyme: sophisticated recycled leather journals and travel accessories; elegant photo frames carved from sustainable wood; divine organic baby clothing hand knitted by women in Paraguay; unique and elegant handmade jewellery, including a bespoke service; charming fair trade silver Christening lockets and tokens; hand embroidered cotton paper photo albums; creamy organic soaps wrapped in pretty fabric, and quirky door stops and draught excluders made from vintage fabric.

Ex teacher Tara adds: “I want to do my bit like anyone else, but found it quite difficult to find the sort of unusual, stylish gifts I was looking for which hadn't been made in a factory abroad where the workers were overworked and horrifically underpaid. I didn't feel comfortable paying for goods that contributed to suffering at the other end.”

The website aims to make the purchase of gifts easy and fun, just like shopping in a luxury boutique. Gifts can be wrapped and cards written by hand for despatch directly to the recipient. “Because we are a small company we are able to focus on the customers and what they want and need,” says Tara. “We encourage all feedback so we can really provide a personal service, even in the impersonal world of cyberspace.”

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For further information, images or samples please contact Tara Leaver on 0844 884 8511, or email her at: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

For the complete range of products log on to: www.boutiko.co.uk

December 2007