Avoiding fast fashion and making considered clothing decisions doesn’t have to go out the window for the festive season. Instead, opt for brands consciously moving towards slow fashion and responsible craftsmanship with our guide to gifting fashion sustainably.
Christmas shopping is stressful at the best of times, but when trying to factor in making sustainable purchases and avoiding all things cheap and fast fashion, it can be even harder. Clothing often finds itself at the top of many of our wishlists – a new winter coat, party dress or scarf set – however this Christmas we’ll be focusing on keeping it slow, with wardrobe staples from some of our favourite sustainable brands whose collections are both socially and environmentally responsible. Alternatively, if you’re trying to find ways to buy less stuff this holiday season, why not try a fashion focused experience that will continue giving well into the new year? Perhaps pencilling in a day to explore secondhand shops, or visiting an exhibition of fashion from the past. Most importantly, when considering clothes this Christmas make sure you’re opting for small, artisinal and conscious; secondhand if possible and slow fashion always. Here’s our guide to shopping clothes, accessories and experiences as sustainably as possible.
Clothing
Bite the Bullet Jumpsuit, Maggie Marilyn £394
Maggie Marilyn‘s lavendar edit has us feeling optimistic for spring, with this jumpsuit covering all bases from comfy and casual to office ready. Made from 100% organic cotton, this jumpsuit is both soft and sustainable – with the website detailing everything from where the cotton has been sourced from to where it was stitched.
Boyfriend Shirt, Neu Nomads $118
A classic black shirt, oversized and made from non-toxic dyes and sustainably sourced materials, is an essential in any wardrobe. Neu Nomad‘s boyfriend fit shirt is the definition of effortless style, making it easy to take this Christmas gift well over #30Wears.
Dusty Jeans, Outland Denim £160
Treat someone like royalty this Christmas with Outland Denim – a firm favourite of the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle. An everyday staple in our wardrobes, Outland Denim’s 98% organic cotton jeans avoid harmful chemicals and are sourced in a socially and environmentally responsible way.
Off White Khadi Scattered Mirror Tunic, Purvi Doshi £167.35
Purvi Doshi‘s beautifully embroidered clothing is designed with sustainability in mind, collaborating with over 300 artisans across India. In gifting such a dress for Christmas, not only are you supporting hundreds of craftsmen but also a company who places importance on being a zero waste brand.
Valbonne Shirt, Ché £75
This Cuban collar shirt from Ché will quickly become a summer essential in any wardrobe, with its breathable fabric keeping things cool in every sense of the word. Our favourite detailing is the fold up sleeves, offering the opportunity to turn a classic shirt to something with a little more flair.
Floral A-Line Skirt, Birdsong £75
The perfect gift for a lover of bold prints and 70s fashion, Birdsong‘s handwoven denim skirt is inspired by William Morris floral prints and will leave you pining for the days of flares and bangs. A female-led brand, Birdsong champion not only the women who wear its clothes but also the women who make them.
The Unisex Sheep Inc. Sweater, £190
Knitwear is always top of our Christmas lists and Sheep Inc.‘s classic knit is the perfect combination of cosy and conscious. The best thing about gifting Sheep Inc. is that you are giving more than just clothing, with each jumper including the allocation of a ‘real-life sheep’ from one of the farms your sweater’s wool is from. A gift that keeps on giving!
Wallflower Dress, Reformation £255
If you’re looking for something a little fancier to gift this Christmas, look no further than a Reformation dress. The added bonus is that this midi dress in a botanical-inspired print has saved 17.0 lbs of carbon dioxide, 1.3 gal. of water and 29.0 lbs of waste.
Federick Top, HANNA FIEDLER £470
This 100% silk blouse from HANNA FIEDLER can be worn with either a high neck or reversed and worn unbuttoned with a v-shaped neckline. Made to order and focusing on natural materials and traditional bespoke tailoring methods, this blouse is the perfect gift for any minimalist dresser.
Save Me Jumper, Alberta Ferretti £455
Cosy up for Christmas and make a statement with your knitwear with Alberta Ferretti’s latest slogan jumper in their Love Me Wild sustainable capsule – versatile enough to layer over dresses, roll knecks or mini skirts, this knit will quickly become a wardrobe staple.
Layla Tie Belt Lounge Pants, lemlem x The Woolmark Company £75
Know someone who is already planning for summer? Inspired by African textiles, lemlem’s collection in partnership with The Woolmark Company is inspired by travel, hand-woven in Ethiopia and made from Australian Merino wool.
Cross Ribbed Cashmere Sweater, Varana £550
Knitwear makes for the perfect under the tree gift, with Varana’s cashmere knits having been crafted from beautifully soft fabrics to create winter ready jumpers. Available in green, navy and white – there’s a shade for everyone.
Accessories
Sonia Large Clutch Bag, From Belo £34
From Belo‘s recycled plastic bags are perfectly sized for anything from notebooks to makeup, with their fun embroidered mantra ‘feed goodness into the world’ epitomising their do good ethos. Each product within the collection is thoughtfully created using recycled materials, in this case plastic bottles.
Recycled Cashmere Scarf, Riley Studio £145
What’s Christmas without a new hat and scarf set? This recycled cashmere scarf from Riley Studio is made from pre and post-consumer fibre waste, offering the same softness and quality as virgin cashmere but with a much smaller carbon footprint.
Lux Mini Backpack, Ministry of Tomorrow $230
Elegantly handcrafted in Nairobi, the mini backpack from Ministry of Tomorrow is ideal for small electorinics, documents or an everyday handbag. At the heart of Ministry of Tomorrow’s ethos is ensuring no harm is done to people, animals and the planet as a result of their products, making it the perfect gift for anyone looking to dress a little more consciously.
Pearl Time Earring, Ana Khouri $6,000
If you want something that says luxury this Christmas, but don’t want to compromise on your sustainable principles, Anna Khouri‘s fairmined gold and handcrafted earrings will be adored by any loved one. Its philosophy of keeping their ethical and ecological values at the heart of the company thread comes through in each and every element of its pieces.
Aurora Clutch, Joanique on Relevé Fashion £365
Buying from online retailer Relevé Fashion means being able to filter sustainable and ethical commitments, in addition to each item being broken down to cost and cause per wear. This clutch from Joanique in a camouflage pattern is made from hand-carved wood and leather, with its sustainable credentials including artisinal, charitable and ethical and sustainable production. Every purchase from the Relevé Fashion will come with a fonation made from the gift recipients name!
The Block Heel Sandal, Everlane £124
There’s nothing quite like a new pair of heels for Christmas, especially when they are made from 100% Italian leather and have a walkable – and essential – 2″ heel. Everlane‘s nod to the ’90s square toe makes for the perfect everyday heel, with its traceable supply chain and transparent pricing ensuring nothing is left unsaid from start to finish.
Soleil Sapphire Necklace, Bayou With Love £612
Bayou With Love’s sustainably sourced sapphires, recycled gold all handcrafted to create a sun-inspired necklace is at the top of our wish list. With gemstones that capture the light, this necklace will add a little natural sparkle to any outfit.
Green Carpet Bag by Chloë Sevigny, Chopard £1,820
Inspired by iconic images of the 1940s, Chopard’s heart clutch is made from responsibly sourced and fully-traceable leather. Perfectly sized for all the essentials, upgrade any outfit with this pocket-sized clutch.
Roxy Ankle Boots, Mother of Pearl £395
If you’re wanting to upgrade your wardrobe classics this Christmas, these Mother of Pearl ankle boots with signature pearl heel are the perfect fashion twist on a classic. Made with 100% traceability, from fabric to final, these boots come with a sustainable certification to make them all the more fabulous.
Experiences
Take A Much Loved Item to The Restory
Rather than buying something new, why not offer to take someone’s very much loved items to The Restory to be restored or repaired back to its highest standard. Bags, boots, trainers and heels, simply book an appoitment and have The Restory fix broken heels, scratched fabrics or worn soles.
Museum Membership
Whether its an annual membership to the V&A Museum or a fabric-cutting and embroidery workshop at the Fashion and Textile Museum, why not gift your fashion loving friend the opportunity to explore exhibitions of some of the best in the business.
Jewellery-Making Workshop
Gifting a workshop goes one step further than wrapping up a pair of earrings, giving the recipient the chance to get creative and personal with their choice of accessories, whilst slowing down to consider the craftsmanship that goes into what we wear. Wolf & Moon‘s workshops offer the chance to customise a pair of their classic charm hoop earrings while also supporting small and independent British design.
Fashion Magazine Subscription
Why not explore the world of independent print and gift someone a magazine subscription such as Stack Magazines? Each month a different independent magazine will get delivered to their door, with the option to pick fashion focused titles such as The Gentlewomen and Gal-dem.
A Day of Vintage
If 2019 has been the year of reassessing fast-fashion and exploring the world of vintage and secondhand, don’t let the lure of the festive period deter you. Instead, plan a day of charity shop-hopping and exploring vintage shops with your friends and family, offering to buy them a piece they’ve fallen in love with along the way.
Get Crafty with Selkie Patterns
Selkie Patterns are on a mission to prove you can be stylish and sustainable through sewing, and what better time to get crafty than Christmas. Choose from their range of sewing patterns, teaching you how to make jumpsuits, dresses and add-on sleeves in sizes ranging from a UK 6-20.
Discover our favourite ethical stocking fillers to wake up to on Christmas morning.
Why not try making your gifts this year? See our homemade Christmas gift ideas.
Find more festive things to do with our guide to London’s sustainable Christmas events.