Fair-trade purchasing is in style. Luckily, buying responsibly is an easy task in Barcelona thanks to shops like Farafina in the Born. Owners Martina Millà and Youssouf Siby opened the vibrant boutique three years ago with a vision to help artisans in Western Africa, where Youssouf is from originally. Half of the merchandise in Farafina is made from recycled and found materials by men and women in Senegal, Burkina Faso, Mali and South Africa. What was essentially trash has been converted into chic and artsy products that one would expect to see in a gallery on calle Enric Granados.

The two metal chairs in Farafina’s display window would be a unique addition to any design flat in town. Made of found soda pop tops, the chairs are sturdy, comfy and really cool looking; they are also more or less made of garbage (€180). The scrap metal frames and mirrors that line the shop’s walls are also well crafted and creative plus a real barging at a little over €100. For kids there are tin and wire mobiles with floating giraffes, owls and storks painted in bright colors. The shop’s best sellers are striped bracelets which come in turquoise, sunflower and earth tones. The bracelets are made from old plastic flip flops which an artisan melts down and twists into jewelry. If it wasn’t for the photos in Farafina explaining the process, one would never know that these accessories were once someone’s sandal.

Besides the fact that Farafina is brimming with eccentric and stylish home decoration items, it works directly with African artisans who are helped by the store’s sales. “I couldn’t do this alone. Youssouf knows how to deal with the artisans culturally because he’s from Mali. In Africa the individual is less important, you work not with one person but with the whole family,” said Martina, who is Catalan. With Youssouf’s cultural connection, Martina’s eye for style and a common goal to give back, the couple is a winning team. They are committed to Farafina and their cause to promote fair trade products from Africa which are reused and recycled.

On the other side of town in Olokuti there are recycled goods for sale from Africa and all over the world. The Gracia store advertises itself as catering to responsible consumerism and fair trade, plus provides a communal space for locals to come see films, music and presentations. Among its many reused-recycled items, Olokuti carries Coll.Part bags (€6), which are fair-trade sacks from Cambodia. These sturdy pouches come in a diverse pallet of colors and make ideal market bags or even unusual handbags. For something a bit tougher, Olokuti also offers Bandero Dura wallets, packs, purses and cell phone covers made from black recycled rubber (€13 and up).  From Masagua, Guatemala, Olokuti imports patchwork picture frames and kaleidoscopic jewelry boxes crafted from folded paper in a woven design.

Around the corner on Torrent de L’Olla, the tiny shop Lindos Ramos sells crazy odds and ends like Mexican wrestler masks, terry-cloth bicycle seat covers, figurines and recycled purses and earrings. Owner Lindsay Dos Ramos from Venezuela makes sparkly earrings out of bottle caps depicting images of Frida Kahlo and clothing adorned with recycled magazine art. She also carries glossy paper handbags imported from Brazil (€30), along with rings and broaches to match.

Perhaps Lindsay’s most unique recycled items are her dresses. Joyful and very ‘Gracia’ these hand-made dresses are accentuated with reused and found-object trimmings. A broken watch becomes a button and an old photo a dress pattern when Lindsay is at the sewing machine. Lindos Ramos also offers fun reused-art workshops for kids a few times a year. Lindsay is another inspired individual who sees art where others see junk, proving once again that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

The only gift that is more heartfelt than a recycled one is one that the giver makes himself. For those who feel inspired to turn their odds-and-ends drawer and soda pop caps into art or jewelry, Marudama bead store can provide the missing links. A tiny shop on calle Verdi in Gracia, Marudama has all the wires, clasps, ribbons, bobs and accent beads to satisfy the creative and crafty. Incidentally, the bead shop also carries hand-crafted, recycled beads from Ghana in striped and doted designs, which owner Délia selected and brought back from Africa.

Acting on a larger scale, WASTE is a young Barcelona-based company which turns industrial car manufacturing fabric scraps into enormous beanbags, chairs and pillows. Because the company works with scraps, each pillow is different, ensuring a one-of-a-kind every time. Another interesting perk when buying a WASTE beanbag, is that car upholstery is fire-proof. This has been a selling point for the company when designing beanbags for chill-outs areas in Barcelona and Formentera bars. The company is innovative in many ways, and offers a beanbag renting service for parties and festivals. Forget the sterile folding chair! Throw a few WASTE pillows around the garden and call it a day.

From fair trade sacks to pop-cap chairs to tire-turned wallets, there are conscientious gifts galore to be bought in Barcelona.

Low Fares and Quality Service from the Leading Airline of India
April 21, 2010
For travelers, finding last minute travel tickets is mostly a function of what you know and where you can find it. With the Internet, it is now easier that ever before to find these once hidden last m ...
Shopping In Cancun
February 17, 2010
The many shops, malls and outdoor markets hold a multitude and endless variety of items that appeal to every taste and culture. If you're shopping in Cancun for designer clothes and accessories, you ...
Princess Cruise: The Fleet Is In A Port Near You
February 17, 2010
What can you expect when you take a Princess Cruise? A very important element of life is having choices, and on a Princess cruise the choices are numerous. Depending on where in the world you want to ...
Cruisin’ With Norwegian Cruise Line
February 17, 2010
Whether you are adventurous or timid, Norwegian Cruise Line can take you on the ultimate cruise. If you don't know where you want to go, let Norwegian Cruise Line professionals help you decide. If you ...
Sample the Good Life On A Luxury Cruise
February 17, 2010
A luxury cruise is a perfect example of gracious living, complete with around-the-clock service from attentive crew members who are anxious to serve your every need. The interiors of luxury cruise shi ...