With the Holidays just around the bend, ‘tis the season for setting your sights on the perfect gift for everyone on your list. While there’s nothing more magical than seeing your loved ones’ faces light up as they open a gift they love, oftentimes that joy comes at the price of compromising your own sustainable values. We believe you can give gifts your family and friends will be thrilled about that you can also feel good about giving. To help you find that perfect sustainable gift for everyone this holiday, we’ve rounded up a list of our favorite brands who are doing their part to support the planet, their workers, and their customers—as well as an option for shopping each of them secondhand with Treet.
For the Fashionista
Boyish Jeans
Why we love them: Boyish Jeans are a sustainable California denim brand with incredibly cool styles who also prioritize sustainability and ethics throughout their supply chain. They work with fabric mills and factories that are part of the Roadmap to Zero program, collaboratively advancing the field of water safety in the textile and apparel industries.They also use organic and recycled cotton, deadstock fabric, or Tencel™. With vintage silhouettes, flattering classics, and the trendiest new styles, Boyish has something for every denimhead on your list.
Nooworks
Why we love them: Nooworks is a local woman-owned business that highlights an ever-fresh rotation of independent artists and styles to make some of the most unique garments around. All items are ethically produced in California, and we may have seen a celebrity or two in the wild wearing Nooworks—so if you want to be the coolest gift-giver this year, Nooworks is your shop.
For the Outdoorsy
Pistol Lake
Why we love them: Pistol Lake believes in Doing Good, Taking Less, and Doing More. They practice this by investing in ethical manufacturing to create well-paying jobs for people that need them most and developing rad recycled fabrics to lessen the impact of manufacturing on the world. Pistol Lake is creating ultra-functional gear with an effortlessly cool and casual aesthetic, and will appeal to anyone who likes the outdoors—or really anyone who likes being comfortable and stylish.
Wolven
Why we love them: Wolven is on a mission to make sustainability sexy, and they are excelling. One pair of Wolven leggings creates a new life for 27 recycled plastic water bottles, and for every Wolven order, the company collects 1 pound of ocean-bound plastic (verified by Cleanhub). Oh, and there’s also the fact that they make the cutest, most functional athletic attire out there.
For Gen Z
Woodley + Lowe
Why we love them: Woodley + Lowe hosts a collection of cute and comfy closet staples that are ethically made in LA. With an innovative and inclusive sizing system, they spent a long time making sure the fit, styles, and quality are just right, and it shows! The teen in your life will thank you...and that’s saying something.
For the Little Ones
Minnow
Why we love them: Founded by a mom in Southern California, Minnow is a kids brand that embraces the fun and playful moments in life. With sizes for 12 month olds through adults, they offer swimwear and clothes for all ages that will have you itching for your next vacation. Did someone say ‘family photoshoot’?
Firebird
Why we love them: Firebird is on a mission to help parents dress their children well while reducing the pile-up of cheap, outgrown clothing cluttering their closets. They use high-quality materials like certified organic cotton to ensure their clothing is comfortable, durable, and sustainable—and designed to be loved and lived in by multiple littles in a row. Made in small batches in LA and NY, the designs are also super cute; just take British Vogue's word for it—they recently featured Firebird as a favorite kids' brand.
For Someone Special
Rough & Tumble
Why we love them: Handmade one at a time, Rough & Tumble bags exemplify beauty, utility, and craftsmanship. They train local talent to help create job opportunities in rural Maine. Choose from one of their gorgeous designs, or if you’re shopping for a budding designer, you might direct them to ‘be the designer’, enabling your loved one to fully customize their own bag with a stunning selection of leathers, fabrics, and accents.
Coclico
Why we love them: Coclico believes that luxury isn’t the ability to purchase endlessly, but the privilege of choosing wisely, and we couldn’t agree more. The beautiful, artful styles are crafted with materials such as upcycled cork in a small family-run factory in Spain, where makers are paid living wages with fair working conditions. These shoes are designed to become one of your recipient’s most-treasured and longest-lasting pairs with their incredible level of craftsmanship.
For the Professional
époque évolution
Why we love them: époque evolution believes in one wardrobe doing it all from 6 am to 11 pm, and that style doesn’t need to be precious, or dry-clean only, or exclusive, or uncomfortable, or destructive. They’re also committed to sustainable materials, manufacturing, and fair wages and treatment for the people who make your clothing. What could be better than that?
CUTS
Why we love them: CUTS was created to fill the void for that perfect t-shirt with enough quality to be worn professionally at work yet also enough style for a night out. Favored by professional athletes, entrepreneurs, musicians, and everyone in between, CUTS strives to be more sustainable by offsetting carbon emissions for all bulk shipments en route to their warehouse and introducing natural fiber materials like Pima Cotton. With a product line that also includes pants and outerwear, CUTS is the perfect gift for any guy in your life.
Shop CUTS here. The CUTS Marketplace (certified resale site) is coming early 2022.
Fortress
Why we love them: Beautifully handmade in Peru, Fortress ensures fair wages, gender equity, and good working conditions for all of their shoemakers. With timeless-yet-fashionable, versatile, and comfortable styles that can be dressed up or down, every Fortress shoe is the perfect shoe to commute, café, or cocktail in.
For the Comfort Enthusiast
Sozy
Why we love them: A Climate Neutral brand and Certified B Corp, Sozy (Soft + Cozy) designs clothing that empowers women to look and feel good every single day. With everything from closet staples to gorgeous dresses, Sozy is the perfect option for mom, sister, or friend. Plus with every Sozy purchase, 10% of profit supports survivors of sexual violence and an additional 10% supports other charitable and environmental initiatives.
Poplinen
Why we love them: Poplinen celebrates the female figure in all its beautiful shapes and sizes by creating thoughtfully designed pieces in sizes XS-3X, made ethically in LA. Each item is created with premium, earth-friendly fabrics including Tencel™, Modal, Organic Cotton, and Upcycled Denim. With the cutest, coziest, softest styles, you’ll want to stock up for your loved ones….and yourself.
For the New Parent
Lighthouse Kids Co.
Why we love them: Lighthouse Kids Co.’s passion for making parenthood more sustainable is carried on through every part of their business. Made in small batches, these reusable cloth diapers are made with OEKO-TEX Certified Bamboo to ensure no chemicals are left in the fabric, making these one of safest diapers on the market. If there’s a new mama or daddy on your list, do them (and the earth) a favor by gifting these stylish, durable diapers and diaper accessories.
For Everyone on your List
Altar
Why we love them: Altar celebrates independent manufacturers and artists from across North America, with a focus on the stories that are woven into their work. With a thoughtfully curated selection of home goods, skincare, jewelry, and apparel, Altar is your one stop shop this holiday season. Plus, their very own clothing line Altar Houseline is proudly made in America using deadstock materials and serves sizes small to 6XL.
UnHide
Why we love them: Aside from being the softest (truly, the softest!) blanket you’ll ever find, UnHide supports the movement for a more sensible and ethical future in the fashion industry. Each purchase helps the Humane Society with their mission to stop animal cruelty. Wrap all your loved ones in UnHide this year, and instantly become everyone’s favorite aunt/uncle/cousin/coworker/friend.
8 Tips for Sustainable Gift Wrapping
8,000 tons of wrapping paper are used during the holidays each year, or roughly 50,000 trees*. Use recyclable wrapping paper, or better yet, save and reuse wrapping paper, tissue, and gift bags from other gifts you receive throughout the season. *Source: Sustainable America
Instead of throwing your ribbons and bows in the trash, collect them into a box to be used next holiday season. You’ll be surprised at how many years a gift bow will last, and you’ll save money to boot.
For a fun and sustainable twist, use materials from around the house to wrap your gifts, such as newspapers or shoe boxes. Add some paint or stamps for custom flair.
Use cloth bags to wrap gifts that can be repurposed into grocery bags, wine bags, or lunch bags for your recipient.
Use fabric scraps you may have sitting around to wrap or tie gifts. You can also use small objects such as toys or bells, and reuse them every year.
Cotton, linen, hemp, or jute twine are all excellent sustainable materials to consider for wrapping this holiday season.
For a chic and seasonal option, decorate with plant materials collected in your yard or local park. Look for fallen spruce branches, pine cones, flowers, or cranberries, and use these to top your packages in lieu of bows.
Add a Note: share a little bit about the brand or item you’re gifting (especially if it’s secondhand), and specifically how your gift is making a small difference to increase circularity and reduce waste and consumption this holiday season.