21 Ethical Holiday Prezzies for Gift Inspiration!

It always happens that for some people on your list, you know exactly what to get, while others are just impossible to shop for. So we’ve put together some unique and interesting gifts for all sorts of folks, all made with our high standards, in each of the categories we specialize in here at Eco-Chick. We hope this helps you get through your shopping list this year—remember that supporting healthy and ethical companies means you are not only getting a great gift, but you are putting your dollars where your values are.

Happy Holidays! —Guide by Veronica Goin & Starre Vartan

 

H E A L T H   I S   B E A U T Y 

Kjaer Weis’ makeup is certified organic and works beautifully; but it is what the makeup comes in that makes it a lovely gift. Heavy, beautifully modern metal boxes can be refilled with your favorite colors (or a new one). Waste reduction, beauty and the feeling of something special in your hand makes me treasure my Kjaer Weis products (love this lip color).

Lavanila Laboratories: Inspired by Nature: In the spirit of all this gift-giving, you may want to reward yourself. The roller-ball fragrance collection from Lavanila Laboratories (vegan and cruelty free) includes Pure Vanilla, Vanilla Grapefruit, Vanilla Coconut, Fresh Vanilla Lemon, and Vanilla Lavender. Congratulate yourself on successfully completing your holiday shopping (with a conscience)!

 

Bath stuff is often either packed with chemicals and way too smelly (which gives me a headache) or all-natural, but not scented enough and messy too. Not so with Pura Botanica’s Bath Salts Single Packs, which are made with pure, vegan ingredients all sewn up into a pouch (so bits of the herbs don’t get all over the place).  The single packs are ideal for gifts/stocking stuffers, travel (I threw one in my bag—which made my packed stuff smell amazing too—on my last trip to Mexico and enjoyed a bath post-flight, which got me right in the spirit for my time off) and any other time you don’t want to carry around a large bag or jar of bath salts.

There are many reasons I love Mineral Fusion: They’re cruelty free, paraben-free, and fragrance-, FD&C dyes- and synthetic preservatives-free too. Their Sheer Moisture Lip Tints are bright and cheery (but sheer enough so they aren’t super-intense) and hydrate lips with cocoa butter—yum! 50% off everything on Monday 12/1 with code Cyber50!

BuddhiBox is a monthly gift-subscription box (perfect for those people you just have NO idea what to get!) put together by yogini Maxine Chapman, and it’s full of goodies that she has tested out herself. From delicious (all-natural, of course) candles, to body scrubs, pretty hair ties, muscle rubs and yoga socks, I got a chance to try one and I loved everything in the box (thanks Maxine), which is quite a feat! And every month, the sale of the boxes supports a different amazing charity, so these boxes give back in more ways than one. This is also a GREAT last-minute gift, since you just let your giftee know that they should expect a box and you don’t have to wrap anything!

 

Stumped trying to find a gift for the guy in your life? Look no further than the Herban Lifestyle Organic Vegan Men’s Grooming Set. The collection of soap, oils, and aftershave is entirely handmade with organic and vegan ingredients.

 

F A I R   F A S H I O N

Gudrun Sjoden’s winter-wonderland line, Arktis, is a perfect encapsulation of the brand’s unique Scandinavian style. The Alaska eco-cotton and wool poncho, above, is my pick for an ideal gift, but the Inuit leggings (also made with eco-cotton) are a close second.

 

Ambika Boutique’s gorgeous hat/neckwarmer is wonderfully adaptable to cold weather. And all Ambika’s pieces are made from lovingly raised angora bunnies (see more on that here) that are hand shorn. Then the supersoft fiber is hand spun and hand crocheted in upstate New York, where each piece is custom made to order.

 

People Tree has a pretty incredible gifts section (all handmade and fair trade), with items at all kinds of price points, but my favorite piece for the holiday is this adorable cat jumper, made by a fair-trade artisan collective in Nepal.

 

 

Elvis and Kresse‘s purses and bags are made from decommissioned red British fire-hoses and lined with reclaimed parachute silk; talk about upcycling!

 

Daub & Design’s Liberty Shorts are great for working out in, of course; but I found that they are also awesome for layering—both under shorter skirts if you need extra coverage, or over leggings for something a little more fun than just the same-old black yoga pants. Hand-dyed and made in Vancouver, the line offers other fabulously crafted pants and yoga layers, all great for gifts.

 

Soul Carrier‘s bags are handmade in Leon, Mexico by a small, family-run business paid a fair wage. The brand’s creative director, Jenn, is passionate about making a product that gives back to the people that make it; and creating something that will last for years.  The Jamie Leigh bag, above, has an extra long strap, so you can wear it cross-body, making it comfortable and convenient for travel and errands (I even wear mine, above, when I ride my bike around town).

 

Victoria Keen creates incredible hand-drawn patterns in striking colors combinations and prints them on all manner of comfy fabrics (including some organic cotton), including leggings, shruggy tops, sweet hoods, and dresses—all of which can be worn in both a warm-it-up vinyasa yoga class and out to drinks or dancing later. All her pieces are Made in NYC, and she has just debuted an adorable baby and kids’ line.

 

The vegan shoe company, Alternative Outfitters, has incredibly cute bags. This one is the perfect accessory for the environmentally-conscious creative in your life. The Blue Q bag is vegan and made from 95% post-consumer recycled material (and it is waterproof). A percentage of sales from this bag benefit the Nature Conservancy.

 

H O M E   S O U L

Dogwood & Hastings is a new line of 100% organic cotton sateen tablecloths and napkins, made in Oregon and designed by Eco Chick’s editor and founder, Starre Vartan! She has printed her original photographs of natural ephemera, like sea urchins, magic mushrooms, geological formations and more on long-lasting fabric that will stand the test of time. Get free shipping for Cyber Monday!

 

My partner is obsessed with Garnet Hill; he has, over the course of our relationship, converted me into fandom for their incredibly long-lasting and hard-wearing flannel sheets. The brand has been teaming up with Eileen Fisher as of late, and their gorgeous textured cashmere pillow cover and throw is one of those pieces that if you treat it right, will last for decades.

 

Strawesome reusable glass straws are a perfect one-size-fits-all gift; everyone will love them! Disposable straws account for a huge amount of preventable waste; glass straws are a gorgeous replacement that is great for the planet. These are a beautiful gift for anyone in your life.

 

Letitia Elizabeth has created a line of ethically made home products that has just debuted (today!) I love the Birthday Cake Pillow, which is festive and bright, without being overwhelming to your decor.

 

B O O K S   &   T E C H

If you’re a millenial, you grew up with Bill Nye The Science Guy. He made scientific literacy approachable and enjoyable. His book Undeniable has become an overnight sensation– the perfect gift any loved one who loves science.

 

ArmPocket protects your devices from getting accidentally dropped, and frees up your hands while you exercise—and it’s made from recycled plastic (PET) fibers, as well as natural bamboo rayon, which is moisture-wicking and resilient to bacteria, mold and mildew.

 

The Encyclopedia of Goddesses and Heroines is one of those books that you can just dip into when the mood strikes—or you can start at the front and read a bit each day, learning about all the women throughout history (and myth!) who have become famous (or infamous!) for their stories. I love that the book includes so many different and various cultures, from Native American to Micronesian, from ancient to more modern.

 

LSTN Headphones are made from reclaimed wood, so they look pretty and wear beautifully.  For every pair sold, LSTN donates to help restore hearing through the Starkey Hearing Foundation. So far LSTN has helped over 15,000 people hear in Kenya, Peru, Uganda and the United States.