We hand craft many of our lavender products as we believe that hand made is "heart made". At Lavender-Blu we are committed to selecting a range of lavender products with the highest of standards. Our goal is to introduce you to lavender products that are natural and therefore embody all the qualities we have learned to love about lavender … just a few examples include:
soothing colour
relaxing aroma
antibacterial qualities
healing properties
beauty in the garden landscape
exotic flavour
artistic inspiration
positive role in sustainable agriculture
renewable resource
If we choose to select lavender products to add to our shop that are not made in our studio, we are dedicated to acquiring high-quality products from the source.
Lavender Farms
At Lavender-Blu we travel the world physically as well as virtually to find lavender products “fresh from the field”.
At present many of our products come from organic lavender farms in Washington State and Oregon as well as New Zealand. However, we also support growers of lavender who are lovingly and naturally tending their farms while awaiting proper organic certification by the USDA or otherwise.
Future collaboration is anticipated with Canadian organic lavender farms (from Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia) to provide the customer a wider selection of high-quality “local” lavender. In 2011 we have become an active member of the Ontario Lavender Association - our motto is: "To grow a prosperous and vibrant Ontario Lavender industry, together."
Lavender farming is picking up in popularity due to the fact that it is a renewable resource and plays a key role in sustainable agriculture. Lavender is also pest resistant (ideal for organic farming practices), requires little water (helping to conserve water), and grows in very inhospitable regions (allowing farmers to grow and prosper where otherwise little would grow).
Lavender farms are popping up across Canada and the US at a fast pace – not to mention New Zealand and Australia where an independent authority has been established called the Lavender Growers Association which overlooks the rules and regulations of organic lavender farming practices as well as the distilling processes and quality of lavender essential oil.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has put in place a set of national standards that food labelled "organic" must meet, whether it is grown in the United States or imported from other countries. After October 21, 2002, when you buy food labelled "organic," you can be sure that it was produced using the highest organic production and handling standards in the world.
Any “USDA Organic” labelled product sold at Lavender-Blu has received the USDA Organic seal and has been produced adhering to the USDA highest organic production and handling standards.
In discussions with lavender growers and farmers one quickly realizes that receiving the coveted organic seal of approval comes at a high price: there is a lengthy process involved, the process is very costly and requires a great amount of bureaucratic formalities.
Lavender-Blu supports growers of lavender who are lovingly and naturally tending their farms while awaiting proper organic certification by the USDA or otherwise.
In our Lavender-Blu store, any item labelled “Fair Trade” has received the Fair Trade seal and has been produced adhering to the Fair Trade organic production standards.
Fair Trade is an alternative approach to conventional international trade. It is a trading partnership, which aims at sustainable development for excluded and disadvantaged producers. It seeks to do this by providing better trading conditions, by awareness raising and by campaigning.
The Fair Trade movement has developed into a powerful force, symbolized by a high level of co-operation and supported by many Fair Trade organizations like the Fair Trade Labelling Organization (FLO). The FLO has affiliates in seventeen countries, TransFair Canada being one of them.
The term Fair Trade is used to describe the certification and labelling system governed by FLO. The corresponding certification logo is designed to allow consumers to identify goods produced under agreed FLO labour and environmental standards.
The Öko-Tex Standard 100 label gives the consumer confidence in textiles.
The Öko-Tex Standard 100 is an association of 12 internationally renowned textile technology institutes and their agencies. The Öko-Tex Standard 100 label proves that products are certified according to Öko-Tex 100 health label and that they have exclusively been produced in environment-friendly companies. All companies belonging to this production chain, from the first until the last, are certified according to Öko-Tex.
Artists and Artisans: Hand-made using natural products
There is something authentic in one-of-a-kind items made by hand using natural materials. In today’s world of mass production it is refreshing to know that an item has been hand crafted with care.
Lavender-Blu is committed to finding items made by artists and artisans who use lavender (its colours, flavour, scent, texture, beauty, etc.) to create unique items that can be enjoyed and treasured for years to come.
This element is of particular importance for Lavender-Blu when acquiring products for babies and children. Top quality, aesthetics, as well as longevity play a key role.
Our selection process is governed by quality, durability, longevity and aesthetics rather than by commercialism and brands.
