All in lists
The last of my gift guides for the year has been the most fun to put together. It's possible that kids are even harder to shop for than men, especially if you're trying to do so ethically. Although I try to always keep our Christmas gifts (very) simple and affordable for my two girls, I went a bit over the top with this guide. I include gifts for a wide age range and an even wider range of budgets ;)
It's Dressember day three, and fittingly, it's also International Day for the Abolition of Slavery.
Slavery is far from abolished. In fact, there are 30 million people worldwide trapped in some kind of slavery. That is more than any other time period in history. 55% of modern day slaves are women and children and 45% are men and boys. 26% of them are children under 18 years old.
These stats seem hopeless, but luckily, there are many organizations working night and day to abolish slavery, both overseas and in your back yard.
It can feel like there's nothing you can do, but supporting the brands who employ survivors and aid in rescuing those still enslaved is a small, but highly effective way to join in the fight. Each one of the products included on this list were made by a survivor of trafficking or someone who is at risk for being trafficked. Each product provides sustainable income, a safe workplace, and care as the men and women transition back into the "real world".
Voting with your dollars is one of the easiest ways to take a stand and shopping with brands like To the Market and the others in this list makes a difference on so many levels.
She may not be hard to shop for, but she may not speak her needs as quickly as everyone else. She may seem to "have it all". Or, she may carry herself so gracefully with what she has that you have no idea where to start when shopping for her. Whether she is your mom, your girlfriend, your sister, your aunt, or your best friend (or, if you're gathering some great ideas for your own Christmas list), she deserves a gift that is as beautiful as she is, but won't compromise on ethics.
All of these pieces are practical, can fit a wide range of ages/personalities/styles, and of course are made as ethically and sustainably as possible. Each of these brands have been hand selected (by me) for this guide with affordability and practicality in mind, things I've either personally used or think would fit well into a wide variety of lifestyles.
Whoever she is, she is sure to appreciate one of these consciously beautiful gifts.
He may be low maintenance, but for some reason, Christmas shopping for my husband is always the hardest part of the holiday. I know him and what he needs, and yet, I find myself stumped each year because guys are just so darn hard to shop for.
Adding ethics to the mix makes things even more difficult. It's one thing to run to Target and pick up a new set of steak knives or a new flannel, but when you're hoping to find conscious gifts for everyone on your list, things can get pricey really quickly. This gift guide focuses solely on items that are both practical and affordable- without sacrificing ethics. Everything is under $100 (except one splurge gift) and each piece is hand picked by me including brands I've personally worked with or researched. There may even be a discount code or two thrown in just for fun ;)
Happy shopping!
More often than not, when we're on the hunt for something new, be it a gift, an item for our home, or a piece of clothing, we turn to the places we are most familiar with. I tend to shop from the same ethical retailers over and over because they've earned my trust and there's a predictability about repeated positive experiences. However, like I mentioned in this week's post featuring Seek Wander Share, I think there is also value in branching out from the norm, and supporting brands whose global impact is the main focus of their existence.
