This is a part of a paid collaboration with GlobeIn and I received a Picnic Box for review. Contains affiliate links. I may be compensated if you purchase through my links.
Picnics are the best.
I was looking for a thoughtful or profound way to start this post, but the nice thing about picnics is that they really don’t require much in the way of profundity to be a success, so I decided a clear, uncluttered assertion was appropriate.
Picnics are about enjoying the simple pleasures of warm breezes, green grass, and friendship. It only makes sense to seek out similarly meaningful picnic tools that contribute to the well being rather than the exploitation of the makers.
I had been wanting to find a suitable picnic blanket to bring to wineries and local summer festivals, and GlobeIn’s themed Picnic Box provided that plus a handful of other picnic essentials to help make packing up and seizing the day easy.
The picnic blanket was produced by artisans at Peace Handicrafts in Cambodia, where workers are provided a living wage, safe working environment, and job training. The top layer is cotton plaid and the base layer is made with upcycled, waterproof bags to ensure that you stay dry even if the ground is damp. In rainy Virginia, this is a must.
The simple wood cutting board was produced by an artisan-owned co-op in India; the cup was hand painted by artisan, Dilshad Hussain, at his shop and produced in partnership with fair trade organization, Noah’s Ark; and the bottle basket was handwoven from locally sourced palm leaves by indigenous artisans in Oaxaca, Mexico. You can learn more about the producers here.
I took my box to a friend’s house for a picnic for one (she was leaving just as I got there, unfortunately). It gave me a chance to use each item and test its functionality. The cutting board is perfect for a sampling of cheese or fruit and the bottle basket will hold either a bottle of sparkling water or wine, whichever you prefer (here in Virginia wine country, we’ll probably use it for wine most of the time).
The metal cup is a good partner to the metal cup I already own and the hand painted finish is impeccable, but it would make more sense if they’d provided two cups.
If you’re already fully prepared for a picnic, GlobeIn sells other monthly Artisan Box subscriptions like this one and individual products from their artisan partners (I purchased wool dryer balls and soap nuts from them in the past).
What I particularly like about GlobeIn is their dedication to attractive, well curated fair trade products that make sense for everyday use. So often, fair trade marketplaces are full of gift-y items that are great around the Holidays but don’t otherwise make sense for my lifestyle. GlobeIn sells the kind of stuff that will be used and enjoyed over and over again.
I’m partnering with GlobeIn over the next couple of months to review two other boxes, which will give me a sense of the way their subscription service works. Stay tuned for those, and let me know if you have any questions.
Leah Wise
Leah Wise is the founder of StyleWise Blog. She has been writing, speaking, and consulting on sustainable fashion, the fair trade and secondhand supply chain, and digital marketing for over ten years. An Episcopal priest, Leah holds a B.A. in Religion from Florida State University and an M.Div. from Yale Divinity School. When not working, you can find her looking for treasures at the thrift store.