the best sustainable gift guide 2020

It's finally here!! The holiday season is upon us, which means newsletters filled with gift guides are probably taking up a big chunk of your inbox. Honestly, I love gift guides and this time of year so I'm not mad about it. But, despite there being so many gift guides on the internet, I have yet to find one that encapsulates all of my values (i.e. sustainable & ethical) and fits my style/what I like! So I made my own.

I'm really really proud of this gift guide and hope you find it helpful as well! This sustainable gift guide features sustainable, ethical, BIPOC-owned, small, and size inclusive businesses. Let's get into it!

CLOTHING

1. Sotela (sustainable, ethical, size inclusive, BIPOC owned, small business)
   1. Simple & comfy made to order pieces made with eco-friendly fabrics
   2. on my list: luna wrap dress, lena pant (linen), & stella culotte jumpsuit
2. Galerie LA (sustainable, ethical, BIPOC owned, small business)
   1. Curated sustainable store
3. POPLINEN (sustainable, ethical, size inclusive, BIPOC owned, small business)
   1. Eco-friendly fabrics, simple basics
4. Proclaim (sustainable, ethical, size inclusive, BIPOC owned, small business)
1. Lovely inclusive nude lingerie line
5. MATE the Label (sustainable, ethical, small business)
1. Cute basics & loungewear made with non-toxic, natural, organic materials
2. favorites: organic cotton raw neck boxy tee, raglan sweatshirt, & classic joggers!! (use code 20SHIRLEYMAK for 20% off)
6. KOTN (sustainable, ethical)
   1. Amazing basics made with natural fibers, certified B corp
7. Free Label (sustainable, ethical, size inclusive)
1. Comfy basics, bras, leggings, loungewear
8. Two Days Off (sustainable, ethical, BIPOC owned, small business)
   1. Clothing, home goods, accessories, skincare
9. Knickey (sustainable, ethical)
   1. Organic cotton underwear (free from toxic chemicals!)
   2. cool: they have a cool thing where they take your old underwear and recycle it to be made into insulation, rug pads, and rags!
10. Lora Gene (sustainable, ethical, size inclusive, small business)
1. Elegant & chic pieces in the most effortless silhouettes
11. Nettle Studios (sustainable, ethical, size inclusive, small business)
1. Beautiful & versatile pieces in fun & modern silhouettes
12. For Days (sustainable, ethical)
1. Great basics and a super cool closed loop, zero waste system!! 

BEAUTY & SKINCARE

1. golde (BIPOC owned, small business)
   1. face masks & superfood mixes
2. yay for earth (clean, sustainable, BIPOC owned, small business)
1. one of the best lotion/moisturizers i have ever tried!
3. jo's body shop (clean, sustainable, BIPOC owned, small business)
1. body scrubs, body butters, & face masks
4. REN (clean, sustainable)
   1. clean & sustainable skincare
   2. favorites: overnight recovery balm, sunscreen (fyi: it's mattifying)
5. axiology (clean, sustainable, BIPOC owned, small business)
   1. lipsticks & lip balmies!
6. dieux (clean, sustainable, small business)
   1. reusable undereye masks
7. cocokind (clean, sustainable, BIPOC owned, small business)
1. clean & conscious skincare products
8. nola skinsentials (clean, sustainable, BIPOC owned, small business)
1. vegan & cruelty free skincare

ACCESSORIES

1. gldn (sustainable, ethical, BIPOC owned, small business)
   1. handmade, made to order delicate jewelry...seriously their pieces are beautiful!!
2. que cute (ethical, BIPOC owned, small business)
1. handmade, made to order face mask chains, necklaces, bracelets, etc.
2. favorites: this is who I bought my mask chain from!!
3. jewelsandaces (sustainable, ethical, BIPOC owned, small business)
   1. cool sustainable mix and match earrings
4. moon-seed (ethical, BIPOC owned, small business)
   1. handmade, small batch earrings
5. romy studio (ethical, BIPOC owned, small business)
1. handmade, statement pastel earrings
6. 'Kamama Beadwork (ethical, BIPOC owned, small business)
   1. beautiful intricate beaded earrings
7. UNWRP (sustainable, ethical, BIPOC owned, small business)
   1. the prettiest wraps
8. Cool and Brown (sustainable, ethical, BIPOC owned, small business)
1. handmade earrings, cushions, candles, and more!

HOME GOODS, STATIONARY, & BOOKS

1. lolly lolly ceramics (ethical, BIPOC owned, small business)
   1. the coolest mugs i've ever seen in my life
2. blueland (ethical, BIPOC owned)
   1. non-toxic cleaning products without single-use plastic
3. lotta blobs (ethical, BIPOC owned, small business)
   1. the most....beautiful, cutest, adoraBLE sculpted mirrors I've ever seen.
4. grl & co (ethical, BIPOC owned, small business)
   1. banners, greeting cards, magnets, prints, stickers, totes
5. bookshop (BIPOC owned, small business)
   1. proceeds goes towards supporting local independent bookstores
6. Aya Paper Co (sustainable, ethical, BIPOC owned, small business)
   1. sustainable stationary
7. alilscribble (BIPOC owned, small business)
1. art prints
8. M. Lovewell (BIPOC owned, small business)
   1. stationary, plants, prints, home goods, jewelry + more!
9. harrietts_bookshop (BIPOC owned, small business)
1. indie bookshop celebrating women authors, women artists, and women activists
10. sistersuptown (BIPOC owned, small business)
    1. The Only Black Owned Bookstore in Manhattan !

ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT

*Obviously not an exhaustive list by any means. Please do your own research and find organizations that you resonate with and want to support. It's more meaningful when you personally (or your receiver) wants to support a certain cause. The ones listed below are suggestions!

1. Fair Fight Action
   1. Fights for fair elections, encouraging voter participation and voter education
2. Sista Afya
   1. low cost community mental wellness services focused on Black women
3. Transgender District
   1. organization dedicated to stabilize and economically empower the transgender community through ownership of homes, businesses, historic and cultural sites, and safe community spaces (copied via website)
4. Rising Hearts
   1. organization helping to elevate Indigenous voices & causes
5. Go to native-land.ca to see what Indigenous territory you currently occupy/live in and donate to an Indigenous-run organization that benefits that Indigenous Tribe
6. The Loveland Foundation
   1. healing and therapy resources & initiatives dedicated to communities of color (particularly Black women and girls)
7. Sunrise Mvmt
   
   1. youth movement dedicated to stop climate change (& make it a priority in the US)
8. Get Out Stay Out
1. Indigenous youth-led nonprofit reconnecting to the outdoors through culturally equitable outdoor programming

OTHER GIFT IDEAS

1. write them a letter or card
2. make them a custom playlist
3. give them your favorite book to read & pass along (if they want!)
4. bake their favorite treat or make them their favorite food and drop it off
5. buy them a new plant, flowers, or seeds (dried flowers, bouquets, etc!)
1. or combine these!! i.e. a handwritten card with handmade cookies & a little bundle of flowers :)
6. make a scrapbook or order a photo album
7. buy them a cameo
8. book a class together
9. self defense/protection
1. mini stun gun (check state laws for carrying) & pepper spray
2. invisawear (safety devices disguised as jewelry and keychains)
3. for protection!! I think this is a great gift to give to any of your loved ones who feel unsafe when they're out and about

And lastly, a word on gift giving:

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Hope you enjoyed!! Pin the image below so you can save this for future reference. Gift guides featuring specific products coming soon :)

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