Wouldn’t it be joyous to only ever get good gifts? Gifts that really add to your life. Gifts that make memories. That’s the intention I’m setting with this year’s Christmas Gift Guide. Let’s stop getting each other stuff we don’t need, stuff we don’t want. Because let’s be honest: stocking fillers end up in the bin. 99.5% of Black Friday deals are cheaper at another point in the year. And 3 in 4 people regret their Black Friday purchases. So why not only give gifts with real purpose and intention?
I’m sure you could throw a few arguments at me: “But good gifts are expensive! These gifts take time and planning! And it’s awkward to ask opt-out of buying friends silly little gifts!” But I have counterpoints to throw back at you: take a look at my budget gift guide, or shop second-hand. If shopping for good gifts is time-consuming, gift them your time, gift them with drinks or a dinner. And simply say no to silly little gifts. Because in reality, those silly little gifts are linked to exploitation of people and pollution of our planet.
2024: The Year of Overconsumption
Overconsumption has become a big focus this year. We’ve seen the birth of #underconsumptioncore, and brands have started whispering about degrowth (well, 1% of them have). Less Waste Laura has personally motivated me to despise Stanley cups, and the cost of living crisis has made me much more careful with money.
However, overconsumption is symptomatic of the hardships many of us face. In the face of feeling like we’ll never be able to afford a home, we instead splash out on instant pleasures instead. A coffee on the go, a jelly face mask, or fresh haircut help us to feel a little more in control, even when our future financial prospects aren’t so rosy. And no, I’m not saying that buying less avocado on toast will help you afford a mortgage. Instead, I’m trying to highlight that the issue of not having enough, economically, socially, and politically, goads us into consuming more.
How To Buy Better Gifts
That being said, I do want to share some Christmas joy this year, and not be too much of a green Grinch! This year has been hard enough as it is. So, let me put you onto the ways you can buy better gifts, without breaking the bank, or spending all your time scouring the internet.
Here are four ways to buy better gifts:
- Plan your gifts ahead of Black Friday. In fact, try to avoid Black Friday altogether. Most items are no cheaper than they would be at other times in the year, so unless there’s something you’ve bookmarked to buy and will wait until you see the sale price, don’t fall for it.
- Go for gifts that match personal interests. This is especially true for second-hand gifts, where the newness isn’t a factor of the recipient’s joy. A thoughtful gift is much, much more rewarding than one that creates a strained smile and will sit on a shelf.
- As I said in my guide to buying better gifts, only gift quality pieces that will work well and truly last. Sometimes this is hard to do – for example, my brother is really into computers, but I wouldn’t have a clue about buying a graphics card. But reviews and independent testing sites such as BuyMeOnce, Ethical Consumer and Which? can help.
- If you’re unsure about a gift, pay-it-forward instead. Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone grease the wheels of your life a little? Well, why not gift that exact feeling by gifting a friend their next few trips to the nail salon, or a few sessions at their favourite yoga studio? If you know the recipient’s interests, you can surprise them with vouchers or money towards an existing activity, which will guarantee satisfaction!
It would also be remiss of me to not include charitable gifting in this guide. Making a donation to a friend or family member’s favourite charity makes for a really meaningful gift. Personally, I like to donate to both local and global charities, and in the space of sustainable fashion and underconsumption, charities like Fashion Revolution, Labour Behind The Label, The Or Foundation, and The Salvation Army are great places to donate.
The Underconsumption Christmas Gift Guide
With those tips under your wing, let me inspire you with my top picks for sustainable Christmas gifts this year! Here’s my Underconsumption Christmas Gift Guide, broken into budget, mid-range, and luxury price tiers, filled with gifts that make memories, gifts that will add value to someone’s life, and gifts I’ve personally enjoyed this year!
Sustainable Christmas Gifts On A Budget
Kintsugi Workshop* £28, Nissaba Perfume Discovery Set £30, Merit Beauty Flush Balm £32, The Seam Gift Card from £25, Charity Shop Gift Card from £25, Bialetti Moka Pot* from £30, Small Batch Coffee Subscription from £11, Peper Harrow Mary Jane Socks* £16, L’Occitane En Provence Hand Cream* £23, Monarc Jewellery Topaz Studs £39, Snake Plant with Pot* £32, Monica Vinader Mini Paperclip Chain* from £40, Petite Pott Refillable Candle £32, Candle Care Kit* £20, Sew Fabulous Sewing Class from £36.
This may be my favourite list of gifts I’ve ever pulled together – and they’re all under £40 too! Instead of gifting ceramics, why not gift a kintsugi workshop to fix a broken bowl or plate? Don’t buy your loved one clothes, buy them a voucher to repair their existing, well-loved clothing with The Seam! And if you know someone who loves coffee, candles, or learning new skills, there’s gifts on the list for them too!
Alongside the experiential gifts, I’ve also included gifts that give back; my favourite L’Occitane Hand Cream supports workers in their supply chain, and Nissaba is my new favourite perfumer, supporting the communities in its supply chains to adopt climate resiliency and regenerative agriculture.
Spotlight on: Peper Harow Socks | Ad
If you’re looking for a little extra gift this year, I recommend a pair of socks from Peper Harow. These long-lasting, high quality socks are made in the UK in their solar-powered factory with a range of sustainable materials. I was delighted to design my very own pair of socks with them this year too: the Mary Jane socks, perfect for anyone who wears pumps or brogues. You can read my full review and design process here!
In the past, I have also gifted friends and family their cosy bed socks, and their gift boxes, starting at £26. Plus, you can get a generous 20% off side-wide at Peper Harow with my code: CURIOUSLYSTYLISH
Mid-Range Sustainable Christmas Gifts
LIYA Collective Classic Silk Scarf* £47, ClassPass Gift Card from £50, Hurr Gift Card from £50, Brighton & Hove Food Partnership Cookery Class Voucher from £30, Little Portland Street Cooking Class Voucher from £75, Wellicious Yoga Clothing* from £79, Marhen.J Recycled Nylon Bag* £77, Lush Chelsea Morning Perfume £40, Hourglass Powder Palette £66, National Art Pass from £36, Haeckels Bath & Body Set* £80, Monica Vinader Jewellery Box* £68, Sweet Olive Drop Earrings* £75, Manduka eKO Yoga Mat £102, Sussex Foraging Workshop from £60.
If you’re looking to give a more generous gift, may I recommend experiences such as visiting an art gallery for half price with the National Art Pass, or a trip out into the countryside to go foraging? My partner and I went foraging with Fern Freud back in 2022 and had a really lovely day out, discovering different edible plants right under our feet!
For gifts that will go above and beyond, consider gifting a fashion rental gift card to a snazzy dresser, or a ClassPass membership to a gym bunny. And if you’d prefer to hit the high street to get your Christmas gifts, Lush is a great stop for well-meaning gifts; this year they celebrated giving over £100 million to charity, and some of that benefitted Sustainable Fashion Week Brighton this year too.
Luxury Sustainable Christmas Gifts
Paravel Carry-on Suitcase £455, Dualit Toaster* £169, Dualit Kettle* £99, Boos Blocks Chopping Board from £159, Belkin Charging Stand* £120, Sana Jardin Eau de Parfum* £115, Navygrey Jumper from £225, Jana Reinhardt Snake Earrings from £110, Linen Tales Bedding Bundles* from £90, Monica Vinader Nura Wrap Earrings* £138, Medik8 Gift Set* £85, Arena Flowers 3-Month Gift Subscription* from £70.
Finally, for luxury gifts, I’ve got to recommend some gifts-for-a-lifetime. Items such as a Dualit Toaster or a Navygrey Jumper may be premium, but they will last for years and years, and I really do believe in buying less and buying better. On my wishlist this year is a Boos Block and Global Chef’s Knife, because I love food and I know they’ll be enjoyable to use every day for years to come. If you’ve got the budget, these will make for some really beautiful gifts.
Plus, many of these support good causes too. Independent jewellery designer Jana Reinhardt’s extensive animal collection includes a generous £20 donation to related animal charities, with all pieces handmade in her studio in Worthing. And Arena Flowers is my go-to recommendation for flower subscriptions, because they are one of the only Fairtrade-certified florists in the UK.
For more inspiration, check out my past guides: circular gifts, much-loved items, and gifts supporting refugees.
+ If you’d like more eco Christmas ideas, check out my 14 sustainable Christmas tips!
