Tips File: 2011 Holiday Gift Guide: For Him

Hector Serrano Dress for dinner napkins, Poketo Open Bottle Opener, Poketo Three Dots iPad case, Resistance Know your Submarines iPhone case, Leatherman Juice CS4 Multi Tool, Darts Coat Hook Set, Bluelounge’s i-Charging MiniDock

My original gift guide for him included 4 more products that I just removed. 4 more products from J.Crew. Why did I remove them? Last night, before going to bed, Danielle from Breakfast at Toast shared some terrible news: according to PETA, J.Crew is using Australian wool from cruelly treated lambs, how sad is this? Being a huge fan of the brand and a vegetarian by choice for almost 12 years this really strikes me. For a moment I thought of banning J.Crew completely, then I thought of banning just those products containing wool, but I have to admit, I get so confused. This is the thing, I don’t eat animals, why? Because I believe they are living entities like us and just because we are able to kill and eat them doesn’t mean that we have the right to do so, to me is just pure abuse of power. Having said that, I still buy and wear lots of leather products, though I would never EVER wear a real fur, or buy a real cowhide rug, as much as I like them aesthetically speaking (I’ve been looking for a fake one for years!) I could never own a real one. So, do you see my dilemma?, I have no problem at all at not eating any kind of animal, but I can’t seem to cross the bridge completely.

Why am I telling you all this? Well, I was about to promote some J.Crew products but even though I honestly don’t think I could completely ban the store, it just didn’t feel right to feature some of their products after what I heard. To be honest with you I will stay away from those products made from wool, or those containing any percentage of wool. And as of those products not made from wool I’m still thinking about it, I get confused and play the Devil’s Advocate too much. It just hasn’t clicked like the leather products, you know? I compare this to that. Sometimes I feel there is something wrong with me. I mean, shouldn’t vegetarians stop wearing leather? I admire those who have such a strong conviction and I wish I had it too. I guess my consolation is that I feel I’m doing the right thing by not eating any animals and perhaps I like to believe that the leather from the products I have was not obtained under cruel actions? What do you think? Am I a bad person? I would love to hear your thoughts.

If you want to send a letter to urge J.Crew to stop using mulesed wool, you can do so here. And if you want to read more thoughts on this matter you can check out Danielle’s post about it.

With this post I conclude my Holiday Gift Guides. I hope you found something you like, but if you didn’t then I hope I inspired you to find the perfect gift for your loved ones!

PS: Gift Guide for the Home, Her and Kids.

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