It’s that time of year again, and you’ve either been really organised and started your Christmas shopping back in August or you’re just beginning to make some lists now. Trying to think of new, interesting gifts in a society where everything anyone wants is available at their fingertips, making shopping for presents very challenging. We all want to be the one who gives the most thoughtful gift!
OR
Loved ones are asking you what you would like for Christmas, and you have no clue. Stumped, Uninspired and completely underwhelmed with the usual suspects on the shelves.
Well, we are happy to say we’ve compiled a little shopping list to include our personal favourite conscious brands. We have either had the pleasure of showcasing alongside them or they are the brands we have been obsessive fangirls of for a while. Either way, rest assured that our gift guide is tried and tested, and we will recommend only the best!
We love Ruby for her handmade, made to order leather goods. Every aspect of the product is considered with Ruby; she uses two different types of leather, either sustainably sourced vegetable died Italian, or Devon Oak tanned. The bespoke products are hand stitched into a waxed paper (which was originally used to transport the Devon leather, how amazing is that!) and then posted in a 100% recycled heavyweight potato sack (made in Glasgow).
Everything about this brand feels natural and earthy and there’s something for everyone, I have the pleasure of using this purse everyday and I love it! Gorgeous, luxury stocking fillers.
Hand-stitched Purse in Camello £70
The winter arrives with its cruel ability to dry out our skin and really puts us through the limits with cold winds and central heating. Cosmetics are one of the biggest Christmas gifting categories, so if you have a beauty lover you need to buy for, we recommend looking at Upcircle.
Upcircle take used coffee grounds, and brewed chai spices and turn them into tubes of drying relief for your skin. Their scrubs really do good, and the repurposing of what would be landfill, make it great for the environment as well. We recommend the Coffee and Lemongrass Body Scrub for an all-round deep exfoliator, and the face-scrub enhanced with Rosehip and shea butter for a moisturising winter fix.
Body Scrub £14.99, Face Scrub £12.99
Based in the North West, Laura Knight is practically our neighbour! Specialising in graphic prints for homeware, gifts and stationary with a focus on proving that colour and print can be used in a simple, contemporary and minimal way yet still create an impact. If you recognise her work, we’re not surprised, Knight is stocked across the country in artistically renowned venues such as The Barbican and The Southbank Centre to name a few.
We especially love her Christmas card range and we are desperate to commission a bespoke piece! As an environmentally conscious studio they are constantly striving to reduce waste and use clear protective sleeves made from starch, which are fully biodegradable and compostable.
Laura Knight Christmas cards, from £3
Personalisation is always big at Christmas – everyone loves to gift something that has a personal touch. Our favourite ceramicist, Emma Alington, hand craft beautifully functional ceramics in their UK studio. Their large bowls come with a hand painted initial on them and a 24k gold painted rim for some added luxury. They are perfect for your favourite bowl of cereal, holding Christmas chocolates or better yet, keeping your ANUKA Jewellery in!
We’ve been following Navy Grey since they launched, and we love the simplicity behind their designs for easy everyday wear. We guarantee these are jumpers that will last the gift receiver a lifetime, and ‘Spark Joy’ every time they wear it. Navy Grey have a completely transparent process, much like us, and detail every step of the sustainable journey your jumper takes on their sleek website. We’re eyeing up the Relaxed Funnel to cosy up in for the post-dinner walk.
ANUKA (How could we not!)
Our Mani range is the perfect timeless Christmas gifting collection. Focusing around the multifaceted design, featured in every piece, it has the appearance and lustre of a precious stone making it a contemporary alternative to an expensive diamond.
Hand crafted in 100% recycled silver and Fairmined gold, the Mani studs are perfect stocking fillers whilst the 18 carat gold lariat Mani necklace is ideal as a grand gesture gift. We are also launching a brand new stacking earring range just in time for Christmas, watch this space for the launch this week.
We could go on, and there are so many amazing sustainable brands out there which we love! But, these inspiring people (because that’s who are behind all of these products, one or two determined people) are top of our list, and I’m off to send this to my other half for inspiration RIGHT NOW.
