Indie Gift Guide 2020
We’ve scoured the internet for some of the very best gifts on the market. Our guide is made up of a mixture of small, independent and sustainable businesses that we know you’ll love! We’ve done the leg work so you don’t have to – after all, it’s been a hectic year and we can guarantee that the last thing you need in your life is more screen time!
For your fashionistas
Vegan leather? Yes, please!
Jw Pei’s 90s Classic Baguette Bag is made from croc-embossed vegan leather and has a 100% recycled plastic lining. This classic bag is a fail-safe shape and colour and will pair perfectly with items in anyone’s wardrobe.
Did we mention this bag is also on sale? It’s currently retailing for £25 which is an absolute steal considering its original RRP of £70.
“Maybe I’m working out, maybe I’m just not ready for jeans yet”
Got a leisurewear lover in your life? You can’t go wrong with a pair of TALA’s Zinia Leggings. With 11 fab colours to choose from, you are spoilt for choice. If in doubt, choose black but we love the Sea shade. These leggings are made from 92% up-cycled Polyamide which save over 40 litres of water and 2kg of CO2 compared to non-up-cycled Polyamide.
RRP £40
Too much? This collar? How dare you.
Whether you’re a fan of the oversized collar trend or not, you cannot deny that these beautiful shirts from cnstnceboutique are the best things you’ve ever seen. They’re designed and handmade in London and feel super special so would make the perfect gift for your fashionable friend.
RRP £55
For your foodie friends (aka, everyone)
(Almost) too good to eat
I couldn’t make a gift guide without including chocolate. This ARTHOUSE Unlimited Figureheads Dark Chocolate with Orange Caramel Crunch is handcrafted in the UK by a specialist chocolatier. The artwork for the packaging is created by a collaboration of ARTHOUSE Unlimited artists who are a collective of artists living with complex epilepsy and learning disabilities.
RRP £5.25
Comfort food
As a reminder of how far we’ve come this year, give the gift of fresh pasta (remember the pasta shortage back in April? *shudders*) Roll up your sleeves and get stuck in with Pasta Evangelists’ ‘Make Your Own Ravioli Kit’.
RRP £21
‘From Bombay with Love’
Dishoom is a restaurant that pays homage to the Irani cafés and the food of all Bombay and they’ve got an excellent cookbook. A cookbook is a gift that keeps on giving and this one comes with a Masala Dabba – a collection of Chef Naved's favourite spices and masalas with a trusty tin to keep them in (perfect if you’re trying to produce less waste)
RRP £50
For when we’re back on-the-go
We all love practical gifts, right? Well, this one’s perfect for your favourite eco-warrior. This travel bamboo cutlery set from Leave No Trace is great for popping in your bag when you’re on the go and means you’ll never need single-use cutlery again!
RRP £17.50
For the interior enthusiasts
Pastel dreams
Lotta Blobs is an independent, London-based business making the funkiest mirrors you ever did see. Each mirror is carefully sculpted by hand, making every order completely unique. This gift is sure to spice up 2021’s mirror selfies and will inject some fun into any room it’s placed in!
RRP £25-£36
Flowers that last
Flowers are a fail-safe gift but how about flowers that will last up to a year or longer? The Happy Blossoms is a family-run florist that creates spectacular dried bunches of flowers. They are dedicated to reducing their environmental impact and only use recyclable, reusable or compostable packaging.
RRP from £32
The upgraded gift card
Worried that, that special someone won’t like your gift? Hum London’s gift card will solve that problem for you! Hum London is an independent hand-painted lampshade company – you pick your shade and pattern and they will do the rest – and voilà you have a gift that’ll light up any room.
RRP from £55
The smell of a good book
Good Candles is a small batch candle company which are made in the UK using high quality, sustainably sourced soy wax. The Reading Books scent is an eclectic mix of cigarettes, old books, concrete, a croissant, a newspaper and the smell of summer in the distance. They also donate 10% of all Reading Books’ sales to help improve childhood literacy. An all-round good gift, don’t you think?
RRP £35
For the crafty folk
Hone your skills
This is going to be an unusual Christmas, but this Sculpd Pottery Kit will make the perfect gift for both you and a friend. Arrange a (virtual) date and you and your loved ones can catch up while crafting your own plant pots!
RRP £39
For cosy nights in (lockdown)
This soy candle kit from Hazel and Blue Candles makes a great gift for someone who loves to get creative but is conscious about the products they purchase. They can create their own vegan, sustainable candle which evokes a sense of calm and serenity – perfect for 2021.
RRP £28
For plant lovers
This is the gift for your crafty, plant-mum friend. This DIY macramé kit comes with all the things needed to make your own macramé, and the cotton is even made from recycled cord!
RRP £6.90
Recycling with style
This silver ring carving kit from Maggie Cross Jewellery is such a great gift. With this kit, you can create your own unique ring using jewellers wax and a selection of tools, your ring will then be transformed into recycled sterling silver using the process of lost wax casting.
RRP £65
For the beauty lovers
Small, sustainable changes
This zero-waste, vegan beauty bundle is an essential gift for beauty lovers. It includes reusable makeup remover pads, biodegradable bamboo cotton buds and other fantastic products to help kickstart a plastic-free 2021.
RRP £11
For a plastic-free bathroom
KanKan is a small batch artisan liquid soap refill company that is vegan and cruelty-free. This starter set makes a fab gift that can help your loved ones on their zero-waste/plastic-free journey!
RRP £45
The razor revolution
Estrid is a vegan razor delivered straight to your door on subscription.
For every purchase you make, Estrid donate a portion to Kvinna till Kvinna, Medica Mondiale, or the Fawcett Society, all of which work to support women and gender equality around the world.
A period hug from afar
For your friend that gets bad period cramps – gift them a cramp-free Christmas this year with Ohne’s ‘Cramp Fighter Bundle’, including a CBD bath bomb and period pain elixir.
RRP £34
For the Book Worm
Challenging power stereotypes
How to be a Gentlewoman: The Art of Soft Power in Hard Times by Lotte Jeffs is a must-read and is the first in our 2021 book club - stay tuned!
RRP £15
Laugh-out-loud romantic comedy
Ghosts by Dolly Alderton – is anyone missing The High Low yet? Get your friends this book so they can have their Dolly fix in 2021.
RRP £12.99
A saucy delight
A Curious History of Sex by Dr Kate Lister is based on the popular research project Whores of Yore and written with Kate’s distinctive humour and wit. It’s an absolute 10/10 and will have you second-guessing everything you believe!
RRP £25
A handy guide to navigating worklife
Little Black Book: A Toolkit For Working Women by Otegha Uwagba is the guide every woman needs. Whether you’re just starting out in your career or have years of experience – this is an excellent little gift for any woman in your life.
RRP £6.99
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