Tis the season to be jolly and generous! MLC presents gifts that give back, add these to your stockings and we’ll tell Santa you’ve been good this year. Whether it’s for your hipster boyfriend or stylish grandpa, Playdate Custom-made bicycles make a sophisticated and healthy gift.   $599, proceeds go to Playdatebuilds, an organization set up by the bicycle maker to train under-privileged youth in the craft of bike making and maintenance. . Not... 

Women’s Wear Daily published an interesting interview this week with Charity: water’s Scott Harrison about luxury brands’ role (right now and in the future) in world-wide philanthropy. Here is an excerpt: WWD: How have your collaborations with fashion companies helped? S.H.: Our most successful campaign has been with Saks Fifth Avenue. [Since 2008, the retailer has sold $5 rubber bracelets at various outlets, with 100 percent of... 

Austrian crystal brand Swarovski decided to go all out for their launch of a new crystallized concept store in SoHo by not only having Gossip Girl actress Blake Lively host the fete, but also designing a special crystal necklace to benefit charity: water. Lively (wearing the Divine Rock necklace) hosted the store opening in SoHo As this blog has highlighted before, 1 in 6 people do not have access to clean drinking water – charity: water aims... 

In addition to designing necklaces for charity: water, former i-banker turned luxury jeweler Monique Pean has also been designing jewelry for the Alaska Native Arts Foundation. Her Bering collection was inspired by local Alaskan native artists with 10% of sales from the collection going to the foundation. The Bering collection features necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings and cuff-links priced between $700 – $28,500. She uses an interesting... 

Drop of Water necklace, $795 – 50% of proceeds are donated to charity: water Monique Pean, UPenn grad and former Wall Streeter, has created a ecologically sustainable and socially responsible collection of jewelry to help support charity: water. Her necklaces are made from “re-purposed” (read: recycled) metals and conflict-free stones.  These necklaces feature 18 carat gold and a rough/natural diamond drop. The collection was...