MY CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE 2019
It’s Chriiiistmaaassss! OK, not yet, but the sights, sounds and smells of it are already everywhere! A month until the official day and the shops — virtual or otherwise — are awash with all things Christmas. As soon as the pumpkins for the jack o’ lanterns leave the supermarket shelves, the crackers come straight in. Every year I like to share a little gift guide of the things that have caught my eye. Many make very recognisable gifts, the kind of thing you see year after year simply because they are lovely things to be treated to, or on a more practical level, might need replacing — why reinvent the wheel constantly with new gadgets and things? But when it comes to scented candles, knitted jumpers and wooly socks, there are definitely “better than” brands that we can strive for — not only for our own health but the health of our planet. Read on for some inspiring new ideas and fresh takes on classic gifts.
BEDROOM
Rise & Fall Crisp & Cool Organic Luxury Pillow Cases
Get these cool and airy luxury pillow cases monogrammed — a thoughtful personalised gift that’s made using organic, chemical-free cotton that’s better for the environment and the farmers who grow it. Plus, from 3 to 20 December, all profits from the Rise & Fall line will be donated to leading youth homelessness charity Centrepoint.
Rotaro Gift Card
Give the gift of fashion! Especially for those who like to follow trends but want to be more sustainable and economical — a way of moving away from fast fashion but still enjoying the creativity of it! Choose an amount to allow your loved one to rent their favourite pieces and stop them clogging up their wardrobes.
Sheep Inc. Sublimely Soft Sweater
Oh, wool — it’s probably one of the most sustainable materials around: an age old fabric made from sheeps’ coats without harming the animals. Sheep Inc. take the love of animals one step further, by keeping you posted on how the sheep your jumper came from is getting on. How sweet is that?? As for the jumper itself, it’s as soft as cashmere and comes in one unisex design, perfect for all occasions.
Wool and The Gang Foxy Roxy Scarf
Remember when we used to make all our clothes ourselves?? Of course you don’t! But Wool and The Gang are on a mission to bring back the creativity and skill it takes to make our own wardrobe. They provide the (natural, renewable and biodegradable) threads, the pattern and the needles you or your loved one needs to make each design yourselves. I love this luxurious wooly scarf and the fun colours it comes in.
Genevieve Sweeney personalised socks
What’s Christmas without new socks?? Take the classic stocking filler up a few notches this year with Genevieve Sweeney’s sweet socks that can be personalised with your loved one’s initials! GS pride themselves on sourcing natural fibres and creating all their products right here in the UK based on a long artisanal tradition.
Allbirds Women's Wool Runner Mizzles
One of my favourite sustainable brands, these Allbirds trainers are just as good for walking the dog as they are for pottering around the house.
For something very special: Fenton & Co. Chevron Band
Make this ring exactly how they would want it, by choosing the metal and stones. Fenton & Co. are dedicated to sustainable jewellery, responsibly sourcing each stone and working with you all the way to make sure you get the perfect ring.
KITCHEN
Chai Spiced Cranberry Cookies
Homemade gifts pack a punch in a way that shop-bought items can’t. Why not whip up these yummy Christmassy biscuits, made with chickpea flour — vegan and gluten free — and pop them in a lovely jar for your friends and family?
Sri Lankan Celebration Pickle
Give the gift of pickle! I’ve had at least 5 “Christmas gift orders” come through from friends who have tasted this delicious concoction that goes with everything and ensures your 6 tastes of Ayurveda are covered. Get yourself a snazzy mandolin and get meditating as you prep a big pot of it. Then re-use all those glass honey, ghee and jam jars to make your own homemade gifts. If food is love, then give the gift of love.
Our Place Always Pan
Not only is this pan incredibly stylish, but it will also free up so much precious cupboard space for your giftee. It works as a skillet, saucepan, steamer, deep fryer and non-stick pan all at once! And don’t worry, it uses responsible PTFE- and PFAS-free non-stick ceramic coating, so you don’t have to worry about nasty chemicals.
Aerende Teal Blue-Green Serving Bowl
Handmade in Derbyshire by adults with learning difficulties, each of these bowls is unique and makes a beautiful gift for your friends who love hosting. They are created using stoneware clay from the West Midlands.
Beeswax Food Wraps
Friends don’t let friends use cling film! Plus, these pretty reusable wraps double as a decor item with their sweet patterns and once you get your head around using them, they really, really work.
For more kitchen essentials gift ideas, check out my Kitchen bench shop page!
LIVING ROOM
The Method Brass Incense Holder + ‘STILL’ Natural Incense Sticks
This super minimalist and elegant brass incense holder works with all sizes of incense sticks, such as The Method natural ones, scented with sweet wood, green notes and musk.
Cosy: The British Art of Comfort, by Laura Weir
This book is a lovely reminder to look to classic British comforts as an antidote to our stressful, technology-filled everyday, and will encourage your gift recipients to curl up on the sofa with it and get cosy — literally. Totally compatible with Ayurveda.
Batch #001 Handmade Beeswax Candle
An eco-friendly, healthy and sustainable candle that looks just as luxurious as the famous brands but without the toxic ingredients! It smells subtly delicious and also helps purify the air.
Wolf and Mermaid Rainbow Dance Bolster
So this is a little sneak peak into what’s on my Christmas wish list. Give your back some love and take time out morning or night — or even better midday if you work somewhere where this is possible — and stretch out the length of your back or support your hips or open up your shoulders. This bolster is a great prop for meditation too, and just looking at it makes you feel dreamy...
Moss Green Triceratops Knitted Dinosaur Soft Toy
The sweetest sustainable and ethical toy for your kids or your friends’! This triceratops is part of the Natural Collection range, meaning it has been specially selected for its environmentally friendly materials and recyclability, and part of the proceeds go to small schools in Bangladesh.
BATHROOM
Romilly Wilde Idle Eau de Parfum
A beautiful, musky, woody perfume that’s also vegan and made with all natural ingredients including linden blossom, jasmine (hi!) and cardamom. I love Romilly Wilde for their luxurious products always made to the highest standards and never with “Unacceptable Ingredients” like palm oil or parabens.
East by West Tongue Tingler
Love me, love my Tongue Tingler! Tongue scraping is one of my favourite Ayurvedic rituals and I can’t tell you how life-changing this practice has been for me. Get this nifty little copper tool for a loved one looking to improve their wellbeing — or treat yourself (I promise I won’t tell)!
Brown The Naked Plastic Free Shave Kit
When old-fashioned makes a chic comeback. A razor kit for all genders that will grace any bathroom while making it more sustainable, this is a plastic-free alternative to your friend’s basic razor, and comes with extra blades and a shaving soap that’s vegan-friendly, paraben-free, palm oil-free and cruelty-free. Win, win, and win!
For more bathroom essentials gift ideas, check out my Beauty shop page!
GARDEN
Husk Mini Pots - Set of 5
These pretty little plant pots are perfect for anyone with a green thumb looking for more sustainable alternatives for their plants. They are made from a blend of bamboo and coffee husk, and are suitable for outdoors and indoors — so your city-dwelling mates can also enjoy them.
OFFICE
Black+Blum Stainless Steel Lunch Box
A smart and sustainable alternative to their old plastic containers. Stainless steel is inert, easy to clean and lighter than a glass lunch box, as well as less breakable. Unlike plastic ones, they don’t become grubby and unsightly. This is a useful gift for life — they can even use it as kitchen storage instead of more cling film.
Bamboo Spork
A three-in-one (it’s got a little jagged knife edge on one side of the fork!) solution to plastic disposable cutlery when your loved ones are travelling. For those who grab breakfast/lunch/dinner out on their lunch break, they can keep it in their handbag and forego those free plastic forks, knives and spoons that are readily available at their favourite eateries, which are heading for landfill after just one meal.
Issara Leather Laptop Sleeve
This is a truly chic laptop sleeve for your writer/freelancer/startup-y friends. Not only is it super practical with its internal pockets, but it’s also designed in Issara’s East London studio, then brought to life by artisans in East India, who use traditional techniques and are paid fairly. A purchase to feel good about.
FAR FROM HOME
Pela Eco-Friendly Phone Case
Have you noticed your friend’s phone case looking a little… uh… well loved recently? You could treat them to a new model that lasts and is kind to the planet. These cases are a bit more expensive than your basic plastic one but so much cheaper than a designer one — either way, it’s worth it when it’s not costing the Earth.
Kaarigar Handicrafts Handmade Copper Water Bottle
Made from copper to support all three Doshas, this is also a simply beautiful bottle. An Ayurvedic product, it allows the copper to infuse into your water, naturally providing antibacterial properties to help avoid illness, as well as helping detox your Agni, alongside many other benefits.
De Mamiel Altitude Oil
I love carrying this oil when I’m flying or travelling a long distance — it keeps my head clear, my body grounded and my energy steady and smells wonderful.
ClassPass Gift Card
For the friend who’s been talking about trying that new yoga studio down the road, and also that dance class, and maybe a group meditation? ClassPass gives them access to hundreds of studios around town every month.
Treatwell Gift Card
Another wonderful experience to treat your friends and family to. A Treatwell gift card for the amount of your choice lets them choose their own pampering — whether that’s a manicure or a reiki session — in cities around the UK. For Londoners, tell them to check out some of my favs like Cloud Twelve and Organic Pharmacy.
Sponsor A Sister - Women for Women
This inspiring Women for Women initiative supports a woman survivor of war by teaching her skills that can change her life. You can sponsor a woman on behalf of a loved one — an impactful way of spreading the goodwill.
Nothing here caught your eye? Then check out B Corp certified companies that create beautiful products of all kinds according to strict ethical and sustainable principles, so you can be kind to your loved ones, as well as the planet and communities worldwide.