A boutique without clothing? That’s Green & Bean, a fledgling Annapolis gift shop filled with a wide-ranging mix of kitschy and eco-conscious items made by independent companies known to practice fair labor.
Here, one finds vegan leather goods, made of apple and cactus fibers; one-off scrunchies made of recycled silk; and checkered, padded laptop cases produced in India of organic cotton.
What’s missing? Apparel of any kind.
“When we first opened [last April], I was concerned that not selling clothes would make us seem too eclectic,” owner Ali Mulaga said. “But not having clothes seems to have opened the doors for a lot of people.”
The common thread of these goods? Their manufacture benefits the world and its workers. The shop’s stock comes from brands that are both ethically sourced and conservation-minded.
“Sustainability is key,” said Mulaga, 26. A native of Washington, D.C., she ran an online business crafting candles from recycled bottles when she chose to expand and open a shop. Her 1,300 square-foot boutique is chock full of textiles, spices, games and whimsical what-nots to appeal to folks of all ages.
“One woman came with her 10-year-old son and then returned with her 80-year-old great uncle. The store speaks to all generations,” Mulaga said — though all may not agree with the premise:
“Another woman came in and announced, ‘I don’t care about [the environment], but I think this [cellulose acetate] herringbone hair clip is pretty, so I’ll buy it.”
There’s a dizzying range of gifts, from a backgammon board made of birch to a child’s set of bamboo blocks. Jigsaw puzzles made of recycled paper are popular: there’s a 100-piece puzzle of the solar system and a rounded one showing doughnuts, laced with sprinkles.
“Nothing here is super-essential, and a lot of the stuff is a little frivolous,” Mulaga said. “But anyone interested in finding unique things will have a good time in the store.”
There are dual-purpose gifts, like the “plantable” greeting cards printed on paper embedded with wildflower seeds. Read the card and then bury it in the garden, come spring.
For gourmands, the shop carries items like organic cocktail accessories; sachets of ginseng oolong tea, hand-rolled in China; and organic Kandyan cloves from Sri Lanka which, the owner said, are “more potent than anything found in the grocery store.”
All come from brands that are duly vetted and known for their transparency and nature-friendly practices.
“When you dig deeper [into the manufacturers], you feel more comfortable about how the items are made,” she said.
For her part, Mulaga said, she recycles all incoming delivery boxes and composts the packaging, “right down to the ribbons.”
Green & Bean BoutiqueAnnapolis Town Center, 1915 Towne Centre Blvd., #120, Annapolis. greenbeanboutique.com