Gift shopping in Venice
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A
Madera
Double-takes are a given at this modern design showcase, where wooden spoons look like tongues, elegant pasta bowls are made of recycled plastic bags and teapots in foam-rubber tea cosies look like they’re wearing scuba gear. Most pieces are by owner-designer Francesca Meratti and other Italian designers, with some Scandinavian and Japanese influences, in a well-curated collection of original design objects starting at €15.
reviewed
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B
Aqua Altra
Global-minded but with Italian tastes firmly in mind, this volunteer-run fair trade co-op sells single-origin chocolate from Sierra Leone growers’ collectives, mod graphite-silver sandals made by Palestinian artisans and match-standard footballs made by a Pakistani cooperative. The group also occasionally organises organic food stalls around town, including near Piazzale Roma.
reviewed
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C
Le Botteghe
Italian design sensibilities meet global awareness at this fair-trade boutique on the steps of the Rialto. Gondola rides call for foldable straw hats, made by a Bangladeshi collective, in rich shades of saffron and fuchsia, while kids expecting gifts back home will be suitably impressed by recycled cans fashioned into toy airplanes and clever coin-purses by West African artisans.
reviewed
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D
Sabbie e Nebbie
The latest East-West trade-route trends begin here, with Japanese-inspired Rina Menardi ceramics, woven opera wraps that are saffron on one side and paprika on the other, and handmade books from Bologna made with Japanese paper-marbling techniques.
reviewed
