Does anybody actually enjoy Christmas shopping? Navigating your way through over-crowded shopping centres, narrowly missing a delightful, yet precariously stacked tower of boxed festive handkerchiefs, avoiding decimating a small child who darted across your path, whilst trying to mentally block out the nauseating sounds of "So this is Christmas, and what have you done..." (please... make it STOP) is not the one. Oh. And the queues. Is there anything worse than wasting precious hours of your life in endless queues?
To save you from such horrors, we've once again put together a Christmas Gift Guide (click here for last year's edit), all of which can be shopped from, well, pretty much anywhere thanks to the wonders of modern technology. So as you sit there, festive gin in one hand, phone in the other, you can scroll through our list of highly covetable gifts at your absolute leisure.
And to make you feel even more like an actual guru, each item on our list has been selected from brands which share our values of quality, sustainability and provenance. So you know that by buying any of the pieces below will have a wider impact.
And no matter whether you've been naughty or nice this year, you could end up with a sack of these goodies sitting under your tree in time for Christmas. Find out how you can enter to WIN the Gift Guide below.
1. Leather Journal by Bond & Knight
Bond & Knight are independent British leather designers specialising in handmade, bespoke leather goods. Every piece is crafted from the highest grade, naturally tanned Italian leathers, and handmade in England.
This refillable leather journal / notebook cover, has been created in England using a single piece of folded leather, meaning absolutely no seams or stitches, giving a very sleek and stylish look. It makes for a beautifully tactile and high end journal which will last for a long time, ageing beautifully with every day wear.
Ideal for the dad that appreciates a bit of quality workmanship, the businessman whose briefcase is crying out for a notebook of such excellence, or lets face it, your mate that just needs a little help getting organised.
SHOP NOW | Online: | https://www.bondandknight.com | Instagram: | @bondandknight |
2. The Kit and Caboodle set by Conscious Skincare
Rebecca, the founder of Conscious Skincare, was inspired to create her high quality, award-winning Organic skincare brand after both herself and her partner experienced illness and severe allergic reactions affecting their skin. Focusing on natural and Organic ingredients, the brand is built with an ethical philosophy, from the sourcing of ingredients to the eco-friendly packaging used. Part of their mission is to make products in small batches and get them to the consumer as soon as possible. This way the active ingredients are as fresh as possible for the skin.
The Kit and Caboodle set is an award-winning collection for face, body and hair. It includes three products, presented in a matt grey Conscious Man gift box. Conscious Skincare has it all covered from head to toe with their "Absolute Shower" multi-purpose Organic wash for hair, body and hands, their Organic "Fuzz Off" shave gel, and a bottle of Organic cold pressed jojoba oil which not only moisturises the skin but and makes an excellent beard oil too!
Click here to browse more Christmas Gifts from Conscious Skincare.
SHOP NOW | Online: | https://www.conscious-skincare.com | Instagram: | @conscious_skincare |
3. Dominic Bag by Beara Beara
Beara Beara is a British leather bag brand known for it's unique vintage vibe. Taking inspiration from old-school styles of the past century. Beara Beara believes in producing a quality product with a long lifespan, using generations of experience in craftsmanship and quality natural materials.
The brand approaches every situation and every day with a set of positive values, eager to make a positive difference in the world. Providing employment and improving people’s standards of living in Bolivia has always been a huge motivational factor for everyone in the company.
The Dominic backpack is designed for urban and rural exploration. The soft leather top rolls and is secured with a strong brass buckle. For those times when extra space is needed, the top can be extended to make an even more spacious backpack with a top zip. Thick padded straps reduce the burden on shoulders and a padded interior sleeve keeps your laptop safe and secure. This is an extremely durable bag and is the ultimate adaptable backpack for every occasion. The Dominic is available in two sizes and three colours.
SHOP NOW | Online: | https://bearabeara.co.uk/ | Instagram: | @beara_beara |
4. Bold Stripe Twisted Cotton Sock by Stand4Socks
For every pair of socks purchased, Stand4Socks donate one pair to homeless shelters. Having researched extensively, working closely with the community they support, Stand4Socks have engineered their socks to be hard wearing, with reinforced heel & toe parts for better comfort and durability.
These bold, three-stripe, twisted cotton socks will keep your feet warm, and someone else's. Created by twisting two cotton strands together, this fabric represents a great advancement in material for making more durable, hard-wearing socks. The socks feature seamless toe section (no rubbing!), reinforced heel & toe parts, as well as additional support across the arch of your feet.
SHOP NOW | Online: | https://www.stand4socks.com/ | Instagram: | @stand4socks |
5. Brunello Check Robe by British Boxers
Manufacturing in Britain and Europe, British Boxers are proud that their products are made ethically by people who are paid properly. Working with very skilled tailors, they have designed a sublime nightwear and underwear collection, bringing a traditional product to a whole new generation.
The Brunello Check Robe is made from the softest brushed two-fold cotton flannel in a classic red tartan. This signature robe is the perfect apparel for lounging all year round. This fabric is woven to the brand's own specifications and the fibres are brushed repeatedly, in order to ensure the fabric feels wonderfully luxurious against the skin. The Robe features two pockets at the front, inside ties, a shawl collar and belt tie.
SHOP NOW | Online: | https://british-boxers.com | Instagram: | @britishboxers |
6. WAKEbag Wallet by GlobalWakeCup
6Old friends Buffie and Nick started GlobalWAKEcup off the back of watching David Attenborough's iconic Blue Planet II series, highlighting the magnitude of the problem with single-use plastics filling the oceans. "Each year 100 billion single-use coffee cups end up as landfill, that's enough to fill The Royal Albert Hall a 1000 times over. This fact gets us out of bed every single day"
Wanting to do something to help, GlobalWAKEcup was born, creating reusable alternatives to plastic cups, straws, bottles and bags. The brand's products are made from sustainable, recyclable materials like farmed bamboo, stainless steel and double-walled glass and 10% of profits go directly The Marine Conservation Society.
This stylish men's vegan wallet features beautiful stitching and a brown paper bag finish. It's waterproof, lightweight yet extremely durable, and the perfect fit for all your cards and pocket. It has the appearance of recycled brown paper, whilst having the strength and thickness of the toughest leather.
SHOP NOW | Online: | https://globalwakecup.com/ | Instagram: | @globalwakecup |
7. Frankincense Soap by Soap Daze
Soap Daze make wholesome, boutique quality soaps and skin care products that are honest, have simple ingredients, and are kind to your skin and the environment. All products are vegan and palm oil free, made with no artificial fragrances, only essential oils. Using plant oils, botanicals, essential oils, herbs and spices, all Soap Daze products are 100% natural and preservative free.
Hand-crafted in Devon, this natural handmade soap is suitable for vegans, as it is made with Organic coconut milk. Frankincense has a scent reminiscent of pine forests, and is sweet and woody. It can protect skin cells, reduce the appearance of large pores and help prevent wrinkles. Sweet Orange has a sweet, revitalising scent. Also contains hints of clove and nutmeg essential oils. Ground cinnamon is swirled into this soap, and it is brushed with gold mica, which is a natural mineral pigment.
SHOP NOW | Online: | http://soapdaze.com | Instagram: | @soapdazedevon |
8. Shao Sneakers by EcoAlf
Ecoalf presents its OCEAN WASTE shoes: its fabric is made from recycled plastic bottles from the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea and its innovative sole is made from seaweed. This high-performance foam fights against excessive algae and protects the marine habitat. A revolutionary ecodesign that minimizes the use of raw materials and the generation of new waste.
SHOP NOW | Online: | https://ecoalf.com/ | Instagram: | @ecoalf |
9. Origin Pineapple Leaf Cardholder by Ivywake
Whilst at university, Ivywake founder Sam McCarthy spent some time researching sustainable clothing for a project. After looking but not finding a single item of sustainable clothing that he would wear, he started researching how to start a his own company. Seeing a gap in the market, he dropped out of university and began creating Ivywake.
Sick of carrying around a bulky wallet which barely fits in your pocket? Grab yourself one of these bad boys! They are made out of PIÑATEX®, a material created from pineapple leaves which is biodegradable. The fabric will be tight when the cardholder first arrives, however after a couple of days of use the fabric will stretch to allow up to 12 cards & cash. There are four slots for cards, but fit 8 cards very comfortably by doubling up on each slot, and there's also one central section for cash. Committed to creating a sustainable future Ivywake donate £4 for every Cardholder sold to the brand's Innovation: Africa Project. These donations will provide a rural medical clinic in Africa with life-saving equipment.
SHOP NOW | Online: | https://ivywake.com | Instagram: | @ivywake |
10. Jon Wool Slippers by Shepherd
Shepherd of Sweden is passionate about sheepskin. Founded in 1982, this lifestyle brand manufactures their sheepskin and wool designs in Europe, by the hands of skilled craftsmen. The combination of pure Swedish design and experience in craftsmanship results in timeless, beautiful products.
Slippers have always been a solid Christmas gift choice for men (hands up if you haven't received a pair on Christmas morning before...?), but this pair have a sleek, modern Scandi design that won't disappoint. Named Jon, these slip-ons are ideal for winter months, providing warmth and comfort for lounging around the house. They have a soft, inner sole of wool and an outer sole of rubber.
SHOP NOW | Online: | https://www.shepherdofsweden.se/ | Instagram: | @shepherdofsweden |
11. Local Planet Sweatshirt by Dedicated
11. Dedicated is a sustainable streetwear label from Sweden. They are Dedicated to doing good. The brand's vision is to be the positive alternative, to always use the most sustainable fabrics and to secure decent working conditions for both farmers and workers. Dedicated make sure these are not empty words by working with some of the toughest certifications in the industry.
This sweatshirt is made from 100% Organic & Fairtrade certified Cotton and features an embroidered "Support Your Local Planet" design across the chest.
SHOP NOW | Online: | https://www.dedicatedbrand.com/ | Instagram: | @dedicatedbrand |
12. Alpaca Hat by Ted & Bessie
12. Alpaca Hat by Ted & Bessie What do you do when you inherit enough money from your grandparents to put a deposit down on a house or buy a new car? You buy four Alpacas of course. That's what Ted & Bessie founder Catherine did, with the intention of launching her own company, creating sustainable and ethical knitwear.
Alpaca is strong, super soft and luxurious. Not only is it light and durable, it does not contain the natural oils found in wool. This means it’s great to wear even if you have incredibly sensitive skin.
The fibre is sustainable because an alpaca will grow a new fleece every year. This must be removed to stop it from becoming too heavy, causing the alpaca to fall ill. The fibre can be harvested for the whole life of an alpaca, which can be anything up to 15 years. Knitwear made from alpaca fibre can last a lifetime if it is cared for properly.
The herd has since grown, as has the business, and everything from the alpaca wool to the final products is made in Britain. This beanie is made from 100% alpaca, is naturally coloured and no chemicals have been used at any point in the knit life cycle. The yarn is spun in Bournemouth and the hat itself was manufactured in Nottingham only a couple of hours from the alpaca farm.
SHOP NOW | Online: | https://www.tedandbessie.co.uk/| Instagram: | @tedandbessiealpaca |
13. Cable T-Shirt by RUN&FELL
Here at RUN&FELL, we like to do things properly. We source organic fabrics, and select them for their quality and "feel appeal". We cut and sew each garment here in Manchester, England. We collaborate with local businesses to apply the print designs using both traditional screen print methods and digital printing technology. Our aim is to avoid exploitation across our supply chain, so that our customers can be confident that their clothing has been made fairly and made well.
This T-shirt has been constructed from a luxuriously soft Bamboo and Organic Cotton stretch jersey. This fabric is always a customer favourite, being so unbelievably comfortable and light. It has been meticulously cut and sewn by hand in Manchester, England. Organic Cotton is skin-friendly, soothing and a harmless natural fibre. Chemical-free, it's not going to have any adverse affects on your skin or your health. (Find out more about why we use Organic Cotton here.)
As with all our garments, the fabric has been meticulously cut and sewn by hand in Manchester, England. We believe that in selecting luxuriously soft, organic fabrics, our products have a noticeably high quality and comfortably soft feel. The print has then been applied directly to the finished garment, using water-based inks, here in Manchester.
SHOP NOW | Online: | https://www.runandfell.com/ | Instagram: | @runandfell |
We've collaborated with the incredible brands featured in our Gift Guide to give you the chance to WIN a grand prize worth over £450.
Here's what you can win:
1 x Leather Journal by Bong & Knight - £45
1 x The Kit and Caboodle set by Conscious Skincare - £36
1 x Voucher to spend at Beara Beara - £80
1 x Bold Stripe Twisted Cotton Sock by Stand4Socks - £12.99
1 x Two pack of stretch trunks by British Boxers - £29
1 x WAKEbag Wallet by GlobalWakeCup - £20
1 x Frankincense Soap by Soapdaze - £6
1 x Local Planet Sweatshirt by Dedicated (size M) - £59.95
1 x Origin Pineapple Leaf Cardholder by Ivywake - £39
1 x Pair of Jon Wool Slippers by Shepherd - £40
1 x Alpaca Hat by Ted & Bessie - £51
1 x T-shirt by RUN&FELL - £60
How to Enter:
To be in with a chance of winning over £450 worth of gifts just follow the following steps:
2. Follow us on Instagram (@runandfell)
T&Cs: The competition closes midnight 18th December 2018. One winner will be chosen at random to win all of the prizes listed above. The prize cannot be exchanged for cash. The winner will be chosen and notified after the 18th December 2018. Open to entrants based in the United Kingdom only.
