Cause Celeb

'Tis the giving season, but who needs another Santa tie or flannel bathrobe? Why not spruce it up with green gifts that look fabulous, won't end up in the back of the closet, and will benefit earth and humanity?

Apparel tagged "Product Red" spreads goodwill by contributing up to half of the profits toward AIDS-affected women and children in Africa. While it's important to continue challenging companies who are using questionable production processes and labor practices, it's in good spirit to support Product Red considering that, according to the World Bank, 64 percent of all people with HIV/AIDS live in Africa. The Gap, Emporio Armani, Converse, Apple and Motorola are producing Product Red items. Check out www.joinred.com for the latest Product Red updates.

You'll be giving more than comfort and joy with soft, warm hand-knit alpaca sweaters, scarves and hats from Kusikuy (the name means "make yourself happy" in the native Andean language, Quechua). You'll also be providing Bolivian knitting communities with fair-wage incomes. Founder Tamara Stenn, whose work with the Peace Corps in the windswept highlands of Bolivia inspired her to create Kusikuy, looks to the local knitters for design ideas, with an eye on "New York and Paris fashion runways for a modern twist on things." Alpaca, says Tamara, is non-itchy, "warmer than lamb's wool, with a hollow fiber that makes it lightweight, has no lanolin (so it's not stinky when wet), is hypoallergenic, wears wonderfully...and drapes like butter."

Who doesn't look good in jeans and a T-shirt? Deck your loved ones out in Levi's Eco denim, made with all or a high percentage of organic cotton, and detailed with recycled buttons, rivets, zippers and natural indigo dye. Look for the green embroidered "e" inside the front pocket, or at bottom of the right leg of the jean. You won't forfeit fashion with the skinny fit while the boot-cut and vintage styles will keep the traditionalists happy, too. The good news, says Amy Jasmer, Levi Strauss spokesperson, is that by offering even more organic fiber products within the Capital E and Red Tab lines for 2007, the company hopes to stimulate "consumer demand for products that demand less from the environment."

Top those jeans with a bold unisex ONE T-shirt by Edun, created by U2's Bono, wife Ali Hewson and designer Rogan Gregory, with $10 from each shirt donated to providing AIDS education and medicine in Lesotho, Africa.

Here are some shopping ideas to get you started. Wrap your gift with a nice hemp bow and watch them smile.