Shop Small, Sustainable, Independent, Local | Boycott Amazon
We’re not usually ones to jump on the run-up to Christmas buying bandwagon but with the year everyone’s had we’re actually pretty excited to take this opportunity to celebrate small businesses and encourage supporting independent makers / shops in the UK!
So without further ado – because we know our readers are already well aware of all the reasons to boycott Amazon and shop small – here are some of our top Gift Picks for 2020!
Self-Care
Seka Candles: Handmade Soy & Coconut wax candles infused with alleviating oils and wrapped in eco-friendly packaging. Oils such as roman chamomile and lavender are known to soothe anxiety and stress and improve mood and sleep, making this a kind gift to encourage your loved one to take care of themselves.
Our Lovely Goods vegan skincare: A family run business passionate about creating products that are good for you, your home and the environment.
Che Organics: Beautifully simple natural skincare, with nourishing, organic ingredients to leave you smelling and feeling luxurious. Handmade with love and 100% vegan.
Gift Boxes
Eco Treasure box: A gift box filled with hand sourced eco sustainable handmade goodies created by many small businesses up and down the UK. Every box is unique and made to order, making eco friendly gifts affordable, accessible, funky and fun. Order via DM on instagram.
Treat Them Green Gift Box: You can build your own box with a range of eco-friendly gifts, included is a card where you can write your own message and for every order made a tree is planted!
Homeware
Naked Clay Ceramics: Handcrafted and inspired by the natural colours and textures of the environment, this range is earthy, homely and has a beautiful simplicity. Each item is individual and unique.
Original Art by @rios.wills.art: One of a kind, hand painted blank cards which make beautiful gifts for any art lover. Not only are the words you write within the card a gift but the original work on the front doubles as a piece of art suitable for framing.⠀
Food & Drink
Forager Wild Food Hampers: There are a range of different hampers to choose from such as the full Wild Christmas Hamper packed with goodies or the Forager Wild Cocktail Kit to make your own drinks with vitamin-C rich Sea Buckthorn Juice. There’s also the Fruit and Flower Hamper with our favourite: pickled rose petals. Forager is based in Kent and celebrates new yet ancient flavours, reconnecting with the land and working with the wild ecology of places.
Thés Lac Rose Ethically Sourced Tea: Founded by French-Senegalese Dalla Niakhaté, Thés Lac Rose is a tea company specialising in ethically sourced, naturally flavoured black and herbal tea blends.
Functional
Goodordering Bags: Goodordering is an independent company based in Hackney, East London. Founded by Jacqui Ma, who saw a gap in the market for fun, functional bike bags back in 2012. The bag pictured is made from recycled waterbottles and is waterproof! The bags can be shipped around the world.
A Woven Plane socks: A Woven Plane are serious about making good socks for women. The UK-based duo started the brand when they couldn’t find well-fitting, ethically made socks to suit their taste, the result is luxury long-lasting merino wool / cotton blend socks in a gorgeous palette of colours, made in a small factory in Italy.
Experiences
Yoga Therapies: Quality online classes grounded in philosophy and the science of Yoga all filmed in the heart of Newcastle Upon Tyne. They have a monthly subscription to their full library as well as the option to buy static products such as the Intro Course which would be perfect for anyone wanting to get into Yoga for the first time. Online offerings are constantly developing so head to their website for the latest. https://yogatherapies.co.uk/
Learning: This is where we toot our own horn to celebrate our online course Meaningful Marketing for Freelancers & Changemakers. It’s all about breaking down the mountain of marketing into straightforward, tangible steps whilst keeping your well-being on the To-Do-List. An ideal gift to invest in the dream project of a loved one whose embarking on a freelancer / small biz journey!
Jewellery
Handcrafted earrings & broaches by Maria Sears Artist: We love the simplicity of the small silver studs, the design of the oak leaf earrings and the abstract metalwork in her broaches.
Wolf & Moon Handmade Jewellery: Statement jewellery handcrafted by artist Hannah Davis, bold shapes inspired by architecture, art and design. Made using recycled acrylic and FSC certified wood in their London studio. Wolf & Moon offer discounts to NHS workers.
Pressed Flower Jewelry: Carina is an artist and jewellery designer based in Newcastle upon Tyne. Inspired by nature, she started Bloom + Stone with hopes to preserve a little bit of its beauty into wearable keepsakes made with pressed flowers.
