A lot of thought goes into finding the ultimate gift for everyone on your holiday list, but there’s one detail you might have missed — the environment. Holiday shopping is hard enough as it is, and trying to stay green throughout the process takes things to a whole new level. Where can you actually score these green goods, and who makes them? The answer: They’re right under your nose. There are so many brands out there looking to make a difference by using recycled or organic materials, nixing harsh chemicals from the production process and boosting local economies by hiring skilled artisans. This quick and dirty list will give you the lowdown on a few of these fab labels, plus 22 gift ideas that’ll make staying in tune with your eco side this season a whole lot easier.
1. Reformation Abbey Alpaca Sweater ($228): Reformation is serious about getting sustainability right. Not only do they make a point of using recycled, eco-conscious and vintage garments to create their killer products, but every item is produced in-house in the label’s environmentally friendly sewing factory and sent off in minimal, 100% recycled packaging. Keep your mum, sibling or bestie warm all season long with an alpaca sweater from their winter collection.
2. RMS Beauty Buriti Bronzer ($27): Even when the sun’s not shining, your girl will be glowing thanks to this little pot of sunshine. Formulated with raw, organic and non-toxic ingredients, RMS Beauty’s line of products is free of harmful chemicals, synthetic preservatives and GMOs — plus they’re gluten, soy and nano free. And if that in itself isn’t enough to love, the company packages its products in recyclable glass with air-tight aluminum lids.
3. A Peace Treaty Odin Black Necklace ($260): Unique, high quality slow fashion is what A Peace Treaty is all about, which is totally refreshing in an age where fast fashion reigns supreme. From their bohemian-meets-high-fashion baubles to their standout selection of scarves and outwear, each and every piece in the label’s collection is handmade by extremely skilled artisan groups, with whom founders Farah Marlik and Dana Arbib work directly, in 10 different countries.
4. Fig + Yarrow Bath and Body Kit ($88): A girl needs a little pampering every once in a while. Give the gift of relaxation with products that are luxurious, soothing and, above all, safe. Fig + Yarrow is a small-batch, artisanal apothecary that focuses on creating products that are cruelty-free, organic and handmade using local ingredients. From the soaps to the oils and scrubs, all of Fig + Yarrow’s products are preservative, paraben and toxin free.
5. Riyka Wanda Dress ($122): Bright colors and sports-chic silhouettes are what Riyka does best — that and the whole sustainability thing. The label looks to recycled, organic and British-made fabrics to create a small and stylish edit of next-level basics that minimalists and spotlight-seekers will love.
6. Kure Bazaar Kale Nail Polish ($17): This 4-Free nail polish is made from a unique composition of 85% natural ingredients (wood pulp, corn, cotton, potato and wheat) that will keep nails healthy and lookin’ fly. Kure Bazaar nail polishes are fast-drying and deliver intense color and shine — sometimes it is possible to have it all.
7. Scout & Catalogue Oaxaca Tote ($152): If you’re thinking of gifting a bombshell bag this season, start your search with Scout & Catalogue’s collection of hand-dyed totes, clutches and crossbody sacs. Each piece is made with vegetable-tanned leather by a small community of artisans in Mexico — the country whose culture kickstarted the company itself — and then dyed by designer Breanna Musgrove’s studio with natural and organic dyes to give each bag a unique look.
8. Grown Alchemist Watermelon & Vanilla Lip Balm ($23): Grown Alchemist wants to totally transform your beauty routine. The company is serious about the health benefits of an all-organic beauty regimen (they’ve got some crazy science to back it up), which is why you won’t find any harmful chemicals or preservatives in any of their products. They also avoid testing on animals and their line of makeup, skin care and bath products is free of animal ingredients.
9. Prairie Underground Trip Tunic Dress ($145): Homegrown fashion has some pretty big — and awesome — implications not only for the economy, but the environment too. Produced in Seattle, Prairie Underground’s line of understated, thoughtful and flattering garments are lovingly made by local manufacturers with sustainable materials like hemp jersey, cotton elastic twill and more.
10. MeowMeow Tweet Face Mask ($30): If the super cute and silly name didn’t grab your attention, the super gentle yet kick-butt ingredients certainly will. MeowMeow Tweet doesn’t do the icky chemical thing and uses only organic, unrefined plant oils and butters, steam-distilled and cold-pressed essential oils and organic botanicals. Products are packaged in recycled paper or glass containers, helping the company limit their use of plastics as much as possible.
11. Matt & Nat Abiko Clutch ($85): Matt & Nat has set the bar high for sustainable fashion with a strong emphasis on environmental awareness and the practices to back it up. Their ultra chic sacs are made made with natural vegan leather (read: no PU or PVC) and recycled materials including cardboard, cork, nylon, rubber and plastic bottles.
12. Kahina Giving Beauty Argan Oil ($36): Opting for alternative products doesn’t have to mean compromising on quality. Certified by Ecocert, Kahina’s products are made with only the highest quality organic and natural ingredients. They’re free of GMOs, parabens and a whole slew of other less-than-awesome chemicals, and they’re cruelty-free to boot. And did we mention they use FSC-certified products? Because there’s that too.
13. Bhava Cognac Alden Peep-Toe Booties ($249): Bhava knows what’s up when it comes to creating standout steppers that do right by the environment. Every pair is entirely vegan and cruelty-free, and their materials take a pass on the oil-based plastics often found in vegan shoes, like PCP, aromatic amines, formaldehyde, PVC, phthalates, AZO dyes and chrome. Their vegan leathers are manufactured in an energy-efficient, solar-powered facility in Italy and the company often calls upon skilled cobblers and artisans in the crafting of limited-edition batches. One of the best parts? Bhava’s shoes are made in small, limited-edition collections, so don’t expect to spot a similar pair out on the streets.
14. Kjaer Weis Cream Blush ($28): This stuff was created by a professional makeup artist, so you know it’s good. Boasting stunning colors and organic formulations, the line is a true double whammy. To cut down on waste, the company created a refillable system of compacts, leaving traditional disposable packaging in the dust. This is one gift that will keep on giving.
15. Amour Vert Kieran Sweater ($195): From sustainable fibers to non-toxic dyes and a zero-waste design philosophy, there’s a whole lot to love about eco-chic brand Amour Vert. And that’s just the beginning. The versatile, effortless pieces are the perfect complement to any closet, and proof that fashion and sustainability can go hand-in-hand.
16. Milk It Utility Jacket With Faux Fur Collar ($81): Brand Milk It brings new life to surplus duds (no virgin materials = big deal) by reimagining them into statement pieces with of-the-moment flair.
17. Rachel Comey Embroidered Cross Bag ($310): With Rachel Comey, you get a lot more than unique and incredibly covetable design — you get an ethical, slow fashion product too. Many of the designer’s woven pieces are made right in New York, with accessories being the result of ethical manufacturing initiatives in Spain, Portugal and Peru.
18. Laura Siegel Sleeveless Turtleneck ($249): On-trend pieces doesn’t have to translate into environmentally damaging. Winner of the CFDA Eco-Fashion Challenge, Laura Siegel designs relaxed, effortless pieces with the fashion-forward and globally minded woman in mind. Large scale production and its associated pollution is passed up for teams of artisans in rural villages across the globe, who create small collections of expertly executed pieces with their special skills and knowledge. The company provides its employees with ethical working conditions, living wages, mentorships and workshops that allow them to further develop on an artistic and personal level.
19. Kowtow Figurine Sweater ($165): What do you get when you pair modern, minimalist design with 100% organic and fair-trade materials? A label you definitely should be wearing. Kowtow is pushing the envelope in the fashion industry when it comes to keepin’ it eco-friendly, challenging business-as-usual practices with each and every one of its supremely stylish pieces.
20. Fade Out Label Star Lite Tank Top ($152): A dump-to-hanger ethos guides Fade Out Label’s every collection, with designers Nicola Gomiero and Andrea Bonfini looking to recycled materials — namely vintage denim — and innovative design to bring their unisex line of edgy separates to life. Every single item is handmade in their studio in Berlin, and you best believe every top, bottom and bag is made with sustainable, recycled or reclaimed materials.
21. Elezar Campbell Floral Clutch ($110): Made with biodegradable and cruelty-free materials, Elezar’s trendy accessories make conscious consumerism the epitome of chic.
22. H&M Conscious Collection ($60): An affordable way to gift a little eco-friendly style this season? H&M’s Conscious collection, duh. Made with warm wool and recycled fibers, this sweater dress will keep anyone on your list cozy and on-trend all winter long.
Will you be going green this holiday season? Who are some of your favorite eco-friendly and ethical brands? Tell us in the comments!
