As part of Fabricwrapper.com’s commitment to being a responsible company, we joined 1% for the Planet when we began our company in 2008.  As part of our pledge to 1% for the Planet, we have been donating to New American Dream for the past three years. 

New American Dream just launched a new website, and I want to pass on some information from them in hopes that many of my readers will take a look at their site.  There are some great ideas for making simple changes in your lifestyle!

Message from New American Dream:

“If you are like us, you may find yourself strung out at times. Long work hours, money pressures, not enough time for loved ones, lost connection to the outdoors—is this the American Dream? Maybe it’s time for a “new dream,” one with a better work/life balance and more value on nature and sustainable living.

At the Center for a New American Dream, we believe it’s important to focus on more of what matters—and less on what doesn’t. That’s why we’re excited to announce the launch of our new website, www.newdream.org, designed to inspire and show how you can create a meaningful life for you, your family, and your community.”

Check them out!

Furoshiki is a square piece of cloth, whose name literally means “cloth for the bath.” It came into wide use in Edo period (1603-1868) in public bathhouses for spreading on the floor while undressing and for wrapping bathing articles. In other words, the furoshiki started out as the cloth in which people carried their clothes and toiletries, but later it came to be used to carry (or wrap) just about anything.

The Ministry of the Environment in Japan issued the folding instructions included on our site to their citizens. The revival of the furoshiki is being promoted as a means of protecting the environment, coupled with a new respect and re-evaluation of the values of Japanese traditional customs. A number of new and innovative uses of furoshiki have been proposed on top of ancient, conventional techniques.

Today, the modern furoshiki is made out of many materials and textures and is being embraced by eco-conscious gift givers all over the world. We call our product an “ode to furoshiki” as a nod to the original silken version of the past.

Check out this awesome way to wrap!  Wrap techniques are on our site.

Fabricwrapper customers are a loyal bunch.  We want to thank you for loving our reusable gift-wrap and for coming back every holiday season to add to your family’s collection of Fabricwrappers.  This is the third December we have been in business, and we are thrilled to continue to offer a sustainable alternative to traditional paper gift-wrap.

So what’s the buzz this holiday?  Fabricwrapper has been in the news!  If you haven’t seen our holiday 2010 press release, it is all about the hot item of the year: furoshiki.  And our new line of furoshiki in jewel tones are gorgeous for the holiday or any other occasion.  Do you want to try one for free?  The New York blog Pretty Little Green Things is sponsoring a giveaway of a Fabricwrapper furoshiki this week.   Please check out the beautiful pictures and great interior design advice on the Pretty Little Green Things blog.  Our next giveaway will be with GreenTalk.  I can’t wait to see them review our Fabricwrapper on video next week! 

Fabricwrapper has hit the news each year over the holidays and this Christmas was no exception.  Our friends at World of Green showed off Fabricwrappers on the Pittsburgh News.   Our Fabricwrappers will be featured at World Of Green every September through December.  Check them year-round for awesome sustainable products.   

Public Relation Divas played santa this year by sending a huge list of celebs eco-friendly gifts all wrapped in…you guessed it… Fabricwrappers!  We’ve never seen over 200 Fabricwrappers under one tree… wow, that will be cool!  We’ll post a picture as soon as it is available.   In the last month, we also connected with a neat team at Celebrate Green and they evaluated multiple reusable gift-wraps, including Fabricwrapper.  The picture of our medium plaid gift bag looks great in their newsletter.

The biggest change for 2011 is the number of wholesale accounts underway.  You can always find Fabricwrappers on our site, www.Fabricwrapper.com, or on Amazon.  But coming soon we will list a number of new retails stores, large and small, that are carrying our products across the country!  If you have a store you would like to see added to that list, please leave us a comment and we will get in touch with them.

Wishing you and your family a healthy and happy 2011 filled with sustainable cheer!

Fabricwrapper Furoshiki on display at a local retailer

Those of you who have followed Fabricwrapper for a while know that we have resisted packaging for a long time.  Everything we do as a company is focused on the reduction of waste, so for two years we have not packaged our products.    Now we have found a compromise for our larger wholesalers!

We are pleased to announce that not only is our manufacturer set up to handle large orders, but our distribution is ready too.  If you are the owner of an eco-friendly store please see our wholesale page for more details on how you can get our fab product into your store.  And if you are one of our loyal customers, contact us to let us know a store near you where you would like to see Fabricwrappers featured.

Thank you all for your support.  Let’s all help reduce waste with reusable gift-wrap from Fabricwrapper.com this holiday.

We are actually giving away two beautiful fabricwrappers, to celebrate Earth Day!  One contest is open to all new and old fabricwrapper followers on twitter.  So if you don’t already follow us, please sign up now!  If you are already a follower, add a comment below regarding your reasons for using reusables to get an extra entry.

The other is being sponsored on My Eco Family .  Check out their post to see all the different ways to win! 

 Don’t miss these chances to wrap your Mother’s Day gift in style. Fabricwrapper offers a wide variety of reusable gift-wrapping products that will make your mom say “wow”… whether she is into the eco-friendly (and cost-saving!) aspect of having something she can use over and over again, or whether she just likes boutique-quality beauty.

Fun gift-wrap from the Easter bunny!

Looking for gift-wrap to make that Easter gift extra special?  Hide the stuffed chick in this cool, reusable gift bag!  Just as good for wedding showers, baby gifts, or your girlfriend’s next Birthday gift!  Check out the Pink Dot Line here.

This year more than ever, the holidays are a time to reflect and rejoice the simpler things in life. In this economy, many families are asking themselves how they can simplify some of their holiday traditions. They want solutions that require less preparation and stress, less money spent, and also less garbage in our landfills:

Give Gifts of Time or Service

Gift cards are a good way to guarantee the gift recipient gets to pick out something they actually want and will use. Or if you really want to avoid the waste that “stuff” creates (see newdream.org for tips on reducing your overall consumption), opt for something more creative like a gift card for a local restaurant or music concert. Finally, consider the gift of your time. Handmade coupons for car washing, baby-sitting, etc. offer something valuable to your family and friends while saving your holiday budget as well.

Use Our Reusable Gift Wrap

To reduce the mountain of paper, tissue and bows that go in your family’s trash can each year reuse your gift wrap. Fabricwrapper.com’s Holiday Line offers a beautiful selection of reusable gift-wrap for the holidays. Founder Stephanie Lancaster, a mother of two, comments, “Many families are exchanging reusable gift-wrap year after year; reducing their gift wrap budget and carbon footprint at the same time”. The Sierra Club points out that if every American family wrapped just three gifts this year in reusable gift wrap it would save enough paper to fill 45,000 football fields. The site carries the signature Fabricwrapper for boxes and gift cards in addition to fabric gift bags and furoshiki, all made in the USA. The company belongs to 1% for the Planet, donating one percent of all sales to environmental non-profit groups.

Compost/ Recycle Holiday Waste

More than 10 million Christmas trees will end up in a landfill this year. Don’t let your tree be one of those sent to a garbage dump – compost it instead. Also, don’t forget the mounds of kitchen scraps from Christmas dinner or the uneaten latkes after lighting the menorah. There are plenty of opportunities during the holidays to compost. Think of the wonderful planting soil you will create for spring. And keep in mind that the biggest composting and recycling opportunities are at holiday parties, when large numbers of partygoers create large amounts of trash.

Party Responsibly

If you are hosting a holiday party this year, consider washable rather than disposable tableware and linens, and be aware that “less is more” when it comes to cheap party favors and decorations that will end up being thrown away. Send an “evite” rather than mailing invitations. Also, be aware of the food you are serving. Pre-prepared foods may seem simple, but they come at a high cost to the planet. Serving fresh local, organic food whenever possible will taste and feel better. To reduce costs, serve more foods that are lower on the food chain and stay away from costly meats. Or consider reducing the guest list. Any party that is obligatory rather than fun shouldn’t be on your radar. Remember to simplify and focus on the friendship of the people you are inviting. After all, that is what the holidays should be about!

Spread the Word!

Click here to check out unique and beautiful gift-wrap! OK, you guys know I don’t “advertise” much on my sustainability blog, but you have got to check out the new arrivals we have for the holidays! They are awesome, and as usual, 1% of all sales go to environmental non-profits.

As many of you know, this blog is not just about sustainability… on a related note, we are also linked to www.fabricwrapper.com, which offers beautiful reusable gift wrapping products! We are about to celebrate one year in business, and we are looking for feedback. Please help, we would love your opinion! Take a short 8 question survey and receive a coupon code for 10% off our products to be used any time before August 1st. Sign up for our mailing list on the website and you can get more great offers and sustainability tips from our newsletter.

Thanks for your feedback!

Take our SURVEY

Give mom a gift within a gift!

Mother’s Day is coming up fast! Since becoming a mother I appreciate my own mother’s sacrifices and words of wisdom more than ever.

Moms today want to save a dollar (reusing is hip!), and the environment, at the same time. When wrapping your Mother’s Day gift this year, www.fabricwrapper.com products provide a way to make both things possible for your mom! But even if your mom is not the eco-conscious type, she will still appreciate that reusable gift wrap is unique, thoughtful and boutique chic.

Our recommendations for wrapping mom’s gift?

Pink Dot Medium fabric gift bag :wrap anything in this versatile bag: A shirt, framed photo, books.

Aqua Dots Wine fabric gift bag :best if your mom is a wine lover or to wrap a beautiful candle!

Daisy Dreams Large fabricwrapper for boxes :wraps the big items such as robes, towels, or sweaters.