Look, we love our family members just as much as you do.
But dang if they aren’t a royal pain in the rear when you have a lot of shopping to do just before the holidays! We understand if this is the twenty-something year in a row that you’ve been scratching your head about what conscious gifts to get your lovely family for the holidays.
But we’ve got your back. Here’s our guide to the best conscious gifts you can buy for every member of your family.
FOR MUM:
WHAT:
Bed linens that are both organic and fair trade, as well as household goods like African baskets that are manufactured with cultural sensitivity and ethical production practices.
WHY:
Because, let’s face it, all mums everywhere have a thing for colourful, decorative, and functional homeware. Let’s not even talk about the linen closet, which is stuffed with “excellent” bedsheets and stylish towels that no one is ever allowed to use. Since you already know she wants them, you may as well get them for her in an ethical manner by ensuring that they are organic and fair trade certified. That way, your present will satisfy her “fix” without harming the planet.
WHERE:
Fantastic, colourful, and exquisitely beautiful, Greenie Genie‘s ethically created home goods are sure to take your breath away. Shop here for their elegant wares.
Sojao does organic, fair trade bed sheets that your mother will be sorely tempted to add to the “nice” pile- but they’re so good she won’t be able to resist using them! Shop here.
FOR YOUR MUM’S MUM:
WHAT:
Healthy, non-toxic, and reasonably priced candles for the home, as well as 100% pure organic Moroccan argan oil
WHY:
Given that your grandma is (stereotypically and also probably) a homebody, it stands to reason that the gifts you give her will allow her to spend time doing what she enjoys most: pottering about and unwinding in her own home. To help her relax and unwind from the strains of a long life, give her a set of lovely enamel soy candles. You also know that your grandma has little faith in cutting-edge gadgets and prefers to stick with tried-and-true methods. For her, the rediscovery of pure organic Moroccan Argan oil—the greatest of the best oils for maintaining healthy, frizz-free hair—will be like the discovery of a long-lost treasure. Allow her to indulge in some much-deserved self-care this holiday season (plus point: there are no assurances that she won’t also buy you a bottle and insist that you use it).
WHERE:
To prove that they mean business, Ayelli only offers their own pure, organic Moroccan argan oil. Shop here for their heavenly oils.
The candles at Nine Wicker Ave. are created with wellness in mind. Infuse your space with a splash of colour thanks to the gemstones and flora that adorn each of its candles. If you’re thinking, “But candles aren’t really memorable,” well, the embellishment is hand-applied, so no two candles will ever look exactly alike. Even better, the candles can be sent without packaging, so yay! Less waste. Shop here for their gorgeous candles!
FOR DAD:
WHAT:
Ridiculously comfortable men’s t-shirts and stylish shirts that will suit their low-key and relaxed style for the weekend
WHY:
I know he puts in a lot of hours so that you may have a better life, but who is watching out for his well-being? Give him a pair of t-shirts to relax in that will make him feel 10 years younger and the most comfortable workplace shirt he’s ever owned to help him get through the day in style. The finest sort of dad is the full glass kind of dad, so don’t forget about him!
WHERE:
The people behind Monument Lifestyle created the local apparel brand Duxton with the idea of capturing the distinct character of the Duxton neighbourhood. Click here to browse through stylish clothes for your pops!
Believe us when we say that we’ve struck gold with Source Collections, since it’s not often that one comes across supple, high-quality T-shirts that are ethically and sustainably made. Using no harmful chemicals or pesticides, this local company makes and sells men’s T-shirts. The factory in China where they are manufactured has also been certified as ethical by WorldWide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP). Shop here to give your dad some well-deserved, high-quality t-shirts he’ll wear for a lifetime!
FOR YOUR DAD’S DAD:
WHAT:
Mattresses and pillows made from premium organic latex; natural wellness aids, including herbal supplements and essential oils
WHY:
How long has it been since your grandparents had a restful night of sleep? It’s a wonder they get any rest at all with all the aches and pains that come with old age. You know he’s always griping about his knees giving out and his back hurting strangely, so get him some natural cures that will make him feel like he’s fifty years younger. The least you can do is make your grandparents’ lives a little easier after they’ve worked their tails off for the last half century to keep you alive and then some to help you out when you arrived. And, you know, you should probably let Grandpa have a little party since he got a new bed. Also, maybe some pillows so they can engage in those sweet, timeless pillow fights they’ve always wanted to have but never had the time for until now. Heveya® by European Bedding has them covered if they get too excited and destroy their old bed slats.
WHERE:
Heveya® by European Bedding is a premium bedding store in Singapore and Hong Kong that specialises in natural organic latex mattresses. They can help you build customised sleeping systems which focus on good back support for all ages, builds, sleeping positions and personal preference. Shop here for the comfiest gift ever.
Your Vitality Store is an online platform that provides natural wellness products such as herbal supplements, essential oils and skin care. Their products support conscious healing by being biocompatible (meaning with no addiction and no side effects) and bioavailable (easy assimilation by the body), and support the natural healing capacity of the body without disturbing the balance of its delicate physiology. Give your granddad the gift of health this Christmas. Shop here.
FOR YOUR SISTERS:
WHAT:
Handcrafted and natural stoles, scarves and shawls & customisable, eco-friendly shoes.
WHY:
Your little sister was born a magpie, and you know it. She loves shiny little trinkets and finds so much meaning in them that you can’t help but indulge her. Not only does she cherish the glittery stuff, she’s also got a sense of style nobody quite understands, yet she manages to pull it all off so well that you’ve got to admit you’re kinda jealous. On the other hand, let’s be real: Your older sister’s getting to the age where she’s got some serious adulting to do. And after having helped raise you, goodness knows she’s already far older than her years! With all the people she’ll be helping and the stories she can tell about her new, beautifully handmade scarves, she’s bound to feel like she’s found her place in the world. She’ll really appreciate it, and the next time she wants to murder you, she’ll think twice before killing off the sibling who buys her gifts as fabulous as the ones you do.
WHERE:
La Tierra is a fair trade and conscious brand whose scarves, stoles and shawls are handcrafted by women and self-help groups in India and Singapore. These skilled people not only independently earn a living but also help to keep the dying art and crafts alive. Shop here for creative scarves your sister will definitely cherish.
Stand is a Singapore brand that customises shoes with purposeful personalised inscriptions to represent and actualize what you stand for. Shop here now.
FOR YOUR BROTHERS:
WHAT:
Quality, eco-friendly handmade bags and accessories.
WHY:
He’s your bro, man. He’s always been there when you needed a shoulder to cry on, someone to bunk off class or work with, or someone to help you get through that nasty breakup. He’s the first one you call no matter what happens, and you know he’s always got your back. But his street cred is super important to him, so you can’t always be as sappy and grateful in public as you’d like to be. For the one who deserves the world (and who the world definitely does not deserve), get him the best in bold and edgy eco-friendly bags and bracelets so he can still rock his tough-guy persona while sharing his golden heart with the world.
WHERE:
Purnama creates rare and unique lifestyle-products that are bold and edgy for the new, urban human being. Locally produced, eco-friendly and socially conscious- dress to kill without killing the earth. Shop here
FOR THE COUNTLESS NIECES, NEPHEWS, COUSINS, AND GENERAL TINY HUMANS YOU ARE SOMEHOW RELATED TO:
WHAT:
Ethical and sustainable contemporary and modern baby and children’s wear.
WHY:
Because Christmas isn’t quite Christmas without hearing the delighted screams of children at 6 a.m. on the 25th, shouting “Santa came!” (and “WAKE UP!”). But this year, change the status quo a little bit and turn those internal moans and groans from those kids’ parents into actually excited, grateful grins with practical, conscious gifts instead. Rather than giving them plastic garbage that they’ll grow tired of and break in 45 seconds, give them some incredibly sustainable and stylish clothing that will make them playground kings and queens and delight their parents with the cutest sustainable baby clothes they’ve ever seen. The mini-mes and their giant counterparts will be charmed. We promise.
WHERE:
Hunter + Boo produces sustainable, ethical, affordable and totally cute and amazing children’s wear. They’re a brand of action and have built the business on a set of firm ethical foundations, and are Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified (for using purely raw, organic materials) and OEKO Tex 100 certified (for using environmentally safe, eco-friendly, low impact dyes). Shop here for the cutest children’s clothes.
Little Islanders is an ethical clothing label for kids. They make thoughtfully designed, contemporary everyday luxe kidswear with an urban-island aesthetic, using sustainably sourced artisanal hand-loomed fabric from the Philippines. They make good quality, durable pieces that can be worn in all seasons, which can take kids from the playground to dinner, and which can become heirloom pieces that can be handed down in time to come, while also supporting the artisans and weaving communities engaged in hand-looming work in the Philippines. Shop here now!
That’s enough about how you can make a difference with your gifts to your family members—have you checked out all the little ways to have a greener Christmas this year yet? You’ve definitely got to check out our selection of conscious gifts under $100 or how you can give back to your community. This holiday season, consider a vegan Christmas, the ultimate no-gift gift guide, or even how to talk about climate change this Christmas. We even have tips on 10 Ways to Lighten Your e-Shopping Load.