For the past couple years, I've put together some eco-friendly gift guides, and this year, I'm giving you THREE gift guides! One for the ladies in your life, one for the guys, and one for the children.
Today, we're starting with the ladies.
These guides are far from comprehensive, but I hope they spark a little inspiration in your sustainable gift-giving journey.
Sustainable gifts can meet all sorts of criteria, if they're made of:
- Recycled materials
- Renewable or organic fabrics
- Upcycled or repurposed materials
- Vegan or vegan-friendly materials
- Natural or organic ingredients
They can also be responsible gifts:
- Companies that donate to charities with each purchase
- Companies that plant trees with each purchase
- Companies that provide fair working conditions for its employees
There are so many independent shops and online eco-minded businesses and brands that I couldn't even begin to scratch the surface in these gift guides. Visit my Resources page for a more comprehensive list of links. I've also got links to some of my favorite eco bloggers' gift guides at the bottom of this post.
Most of the brands I'm sharing are ones I've shopped from before, or collaborated with. A few were simply found through researching.
On to the guide!
Handbags
Look for handbags made of vegan leather or other eco-friendly materials. Secondhand shops are great for finding designer bags as well. I'm actually hunting for a vegan leather bag to put on my own Christmas list this year so I can make a responsible upgrade!A few brands:
- Canopy Verde
- Angela Roi (links to the bag pictured in the guide)
- GUNAS New York
- Thred Up
- Matt & Nat
- Sseko Designs
- Gaia for Women
- Remember Me Green
Beauty
Natural beauty products are so much better for your skin and your overall health, and they make great gifts. I wrote a blog post before my wedding last year highlighting the natural products I transitioned to using, and I've written about using the Environmental Working Group Skin Deep database to see how healthy products actually are.The products pictured in the guide are Farmacy Beauty's Honey Potion mask, Maple Holistic's Argan Oil shampoo and Sapovela's Winter Frost Soap. I'm absolutely obsessed with the Honey Potion mask and the way it makes my face feel refreshed. Farmacy has gift set options available for the holidays as well.
I wrote about trying Maple Holistics' Tea Tree Oil shampoo a couple months ago, and they asked if I would be interested in reviewing the Argan Oil shampoo as well. I've found that I like it even better, as it leaves my thick, frizzy, wavy hair extremely smooth - even before flat ironing! (Visit the Maple Holistics blog to learn more about Argan Oil face masks!) If you purchase a few gifts from Maple Holistics this year, make sure to add a few samples to your cart - they make great stocking stuffers.
A great gift for pampering is a locally made, chemical free soap. I'm not sure I can turn back to conventional soaps now that I've been using Sapovela's bar soaps for the past few months. They smell incredible, and they're made with clean ingredients. (2018 update: Sapovela has since closed.)
A few more brands:
Clothing/Shoes
There are so many amazing eco-friendly and fair-trade clothing brands around the world. I'll honestly defer here to send you to Sustainably Chic for a much more comprehensive style guide. Natalie has put a ton of work into developing her gift guides!I've become a big fan of Amour Vert this year, and now own five tops from them. They use eco-friendly fabrics like organic cotton, tencel, modal, linen and silk in their clothing. With every purchase of a tee, they plant a tree as well.
I'm also featuring Niyama Sol yoga leggings, which are made with recycled PET, aka soft drink and water bottles. The super soft blend incorporates spandex as well. I've had a pair of Niyama Sol leggings for about a year and a half and I'm still obsessed with them! There are tons of designs available for the yogi in your life.
A few more brands:
- Liz Alig
- Mata Traders
- Margu Design
- Nisolo
- Beyond Skin
- Passion Lilie
- Deux Mains
- TASC Performance
- Green Serene
- Sydney Brown Shoes
- Azura Bay
Jewelry/Accessories
One of my favorite eco-friendly style categories - jewelry! There are many great brands committed to using recycled and upcycled materials and many more who are dedicated to fair trade and ethical employment and production.Sseko Designs has some sweet and simple jewelry, like this brass bar necklace. (Note: This one is an affiliate link!) They are dedicated to empowering women in Uganda to pursue higher education.
Alex and Ani is a popular jewelry brand that's evolved far beyond their signature bracelets. All their jewelry is made in America, and the company focuses a lot on giving back to charity. They've got bracelets, cuff-style bracelets, necklaces, fine jewelry, and earrings, along with collections that focus on particular charities or organizations. (Photo in the gift guide is courtesy of the Alex and Ani Instagram!) I treated myself to this special little cuff a few months ago and I wear it every single day.
A few more brands:
- ReStrung Jewelry
- Secondline Jewels
- Brilliant Earth (if you're thinking of popping the question, check out their gorgeous engagement rings!)
- Raven + Lily
Lifestyle
Eco-friendly gifts can also extend to home goods, office items and on-the-go goods.Cell phone cases are pretty much a necessity, to protect our lifelines. These cases from Pelacase are made of compostable plant-based plastic alternative. They cover most iPhone and Android phone sizes. Carved is another brand (and the one I'm currently using), but I'll be featuring them in the Gift Guide for Guys later this week!
I've recently discovered Karst Stone Paper, a company that makes notebooks, journals and planners out of stone instead of trees. They've got a gorgeous minimalist look, and their 2018 planners are available on the site. I know many women, especially moms, swear by a paper planner, and this one helps remind users to live intentionally.
Goods That Matter is a New Orleans-based brand that focuses on eco-friendly goods made in America, and they give back to social and environmental causes. They're known for their Bird Project soaps, which is shaped to be cradled in your hand and is a powerful representation of all creatures affected by the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Disaster. Once the soap is used up, a ceramic bird is left to decorate your home or bathroom. They've got a large variety of clean soaps that give back to different nonprofits - including one that gives back to Puerto Rico disaster relief efforts.
A few more brands:
More Gift Guides
- Zero Waste Nerd: 101 Zero Waste Gift Ideas
- Sustainably Chic: Conscious Holiday Gift Guides
- Literally Nataly: Eco-Friendly Holiday Gift Guide: Stylish and Sustainable UK Brands
Happy shopping, y'all!
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