Maki Squarepatch: unique, 'pre-loved' goodies
If you're on the lookout for unusual gifts, may I suggest you take a look at Maki Squarepatch, a charming online store that specialises in recycled (or 'pre-loved') goods.
Everything about this site is painfully cute, from the animal-shaped purses and bags it sells to the story of how it got its peculiar name: owners Enqi and Xin rescued an abandoned cat they later named 'Maki', and nursed it back to health. In much the same way, they now like to 'rescue' old bits of fabric and give them new life in the form of accessories, quirky toys and clothes.
Enqi and Xin describe their site as a 'socially and environmentally responsible business', and the items are handmade by women from a social project called the Mother & Child project. This project provides sewing jobs for women from disadvantaged families to help them earn their own living.
