Before the shopping frenzy invades your thoughts on the run-up to Christmas Eve, we have a gift for you. Find the joy of giving with our sustainable Christmas gift ideas guide 2021 edition. For you, to make your life easier, and for the people who matter in your life.

Ph. cottonbro, Pexels

Fashions Finest team has been busy browsing the net for unmissable independent and sustainable Christmas gift ideas. Piled up under our virtual Christmas tree, you will find presents for your family, including kids, your loved ones and your cosy home.

From stocking fillers to gifts of love - or why not, self-love - have a look at our Christmas gift ideas until your lightbulb lits up!

Stocking Fillers Galore!

Society Socks

It is not a joke: why not fill a stocking with more socks?
Socks are probably the least given item yet they are everyday essentials. Society Socks was founded based on this simple fact and to provide socks to people in need. Every time you give a colourful pair of socks you are also making a gift for someone you do not know but needs warmth and love. Society Socks has fun socks for both men and women, bundles for men, customised socks and subscription boxes.

Discover Society Socks selection online.

PROCOAL

These egg-shaped solid soaps and exfoliators are the next big thing in town. Pop a soap or an exfoliating bar in your friends' stockings. With their unisex formula, PROCOAL Cleansing Eggs will be a fun discovery. They are also cruelty-free, natural-based, 100% vegan and eco-friendly, so they will be very much appreciated by the eco-warrior on your Christmas list.

Find them online at procoal.co.uk. Price ranges from £8.99 to £9.99.

In just three steps, PROCOAL Get The Glow Collection gift set promises glowing skin under the Christmas tree. This skincare set contains three full-size products (70ml x3) to introduce you or a lucky one to a cruelty-free and gentle routine with a resurfacing Glycolic Face Wash, a double-action Exfoliating Face Scrub, and a brightening Pink Clay Mask.

Find it online at procoal.co.uk at the retail price of £24.99.

teapigs

These days, the air is filled up with many festive fragrances: sweet, spicy, happy. Being a very cold time of the year, nothing beats a cosy evening under the blankets with a warm drink and a Christmas film. Make sure to add some teapigs seasonal teas and winter warmers to your Christmas gift list. A sip of glühwein tea creates the right atmosphere.

Find more online at teapigs.co.uk  with gift ideas starting from £1.75.

Hairslydz

Hairslydz Luxurious Soft Luxe by London hairstylist Andy Smith is an elegant kit that you would likely keep for yourself. We cannot blame you! Created by a hairdresser for his clients, this set consists of 7 hair accessories comprising scrunchies and a headband in pure black silk with a gift box.

Find this set online at £49.95 for a limited time only.

Farm Girl

In her grandpa's apple farm in Essex, Sarah Jane - an aesthetician passionate about facials and massages - set up her 'beauty farm'. Farm Girl Retinol + Niacinamide Serum (£48) is a treatment with two of the most looked for ingredients in skincare. Rejuvenating, perfecting and strengthening, this serum can be your BFF's best friend. Do not forget, its formula is cruelty-free and vegan, and it has an adorable packaging.

Visit Farm Girl online.

No Secrets

What is the secret to 'me time'? No Secrets!
The 'Mini Home Spa' is the perfect gift for those who really need to unplug. The kit, a portable spa, contains two of the brands' award-winning bath jellies, a hand butter and a soy wax votive candle. All the products are suitable for vegans and naturally based. No Secrets Mini Home Spa comes in a delicate gift box and it is available in two scents: ‘One’, fresh & uplifting, and ‘Four’, sensual & calming.

Find it online at NoSecretsBeauty priced £23.

Polaar

Save on wrapping with this adorable Polaar cracker. It is all done for you! Polaar Lapland Cracker is a ready-to-give and ready to crack open stocking filler with three hydrating products from the Nordic brand. Keep someone special's hand, face and lips protected from the chill with the anti-oxidant power of three Arctic berries found in The Genuine Lapland Cream (20ml), The Genuine Lapland Lip Balm (10ml) and The Genuine Lapland Hand Cream (25ml). Polaar is vegan and cruelty-free.

Available from Look Fantastic, All Beauty, Bath & Unwind and selected Fenwick store at £16.

Gifts For Him And Unisex

Shakeup Cosmetics

'Let's face it', men pay attention to their skin and not just to be picture-ready. To brighten your special one's face, Shakeup Cosmetics proposes it Let's Face It travellers set with three products from the brand's hybrid cosmetic range. You can build this kit yourself with any shade of Let’s Face It BB Tinted Moisturiser and of Eye Eye Captain Under Eye Concealer. Add the Lip Life To The Full volumising Lip Gel; receive the faux leather Toiletry Bag for free, and leave your gift under the Christmas tree.

Build your kit online at ShakeupCosmetics for only £57.

IKON

Iconic perfumes are a Christmas classic and they surely make a great impression. Why not try an alternative to high-end scents this year? IKON is the sustainable scented gift made socially and environmentally friendly. IKON EDP's natural elegance is in its minimal package topped with Manchurian ash wood caps and its gender-neutral blends of notes. Find a signature scent among the 6 Eau de parfum forming this exclusive vegan collection.

Sold exclusively at TheFragranceShop at £60 each.

Gifts For The Little Ones

KIDLY

It could be the first Christmas of your son, daughter, niece or nephew: make it special! Kids' clothing is a must and also a very welcome gift for the parents. Fashions Finest's next destination for all things kids is KIDLY, a store for those aged 0 to 5. KIDLY is a platform where you can find several brands and KIDLY's own label. The shop has been created by a fashion insider dad, James Hart, to provide parents with an effortless shopping experience. James and the KIDLY team listen to parents for precious feedback so you know you can trust your eyes. These three functional and stylish picks from the KIDLY label are made with organic cotton and a comfortable loose fit will be surely worn and loved to bits.

Find the whole KIDLY collection online  (Click here for the bandana, the organic easy sweatshirt, and the organic easy joggers)

A Special Sign Of Love

AURUM

Jewellery is another Christmas cult classic. You can fill it up with a special meaning, tell a story and say how much you love someone with a piece of jewellery. This time our eyes are all for AURUM by Guðbjörg. For her 34th collection, Basalt, the Icelandic jewellery designer has been inspired by the 'landscape of explosive energy' of her home country. Designed and produced in Reykjavik, AURUM uses only recycled gold and silver and ethically sourced gems. BASALT keeps with it the strength and drama of Icelandic nature where basalt pillar stones are thought to be trolls and moonstones are believed to help communicate with the spirits. Go for AURUM by Guðbjörg for ethical jewellery that speaks of faraway places and magical stories.

Discover AURUM online. 

Gifts For Her: Beauty

If you are wishing for a beautifully radiant Christmas, here is a selection of skincare, makeup and well-being sets that just need to be wrapped.

Environ

Environ suggests its curated festive collections to pamper the skin and listen to its needs. We recommend these three kits for the body and face. Shall we start with Environ Body Essential Set, a luxurious selection that features the new Body EssentiA Tri-Complex Contouring Cream, bestselling Vitamin A, C and E Body Oil and an Alpha Hydroxy Derma-Lac Lotion.

The Healthy Skin Set delivers a complete skincare routine of powerhouse formulations with essential vitamins and antioxidants. In this kit you will find Skin EssentiA® Mild Cleansing Lotion or Low Foam Cleansing Gel, Botanical Infused Moisturising Toner, Vita-Antioxidant AVST Moisturiser and Youth EssentiA® Vita-Peptide Eye Gel, a complimentary Focus Care Youth+ Tri Biobotanical Revival Masque, and complimentary discovery sizes of Even More Sun Care+ RAD Shield Mineral Sunscreen and Focus Care Youth+ Tri-Peptide Complex Avance DFP312 Moisturiser.

The Skin Luxury Set is the right one to discover ENVIRON quality or to travel with your favourite treatments. The limited-edition travel bag includes full-sized Youth EssentiA Vita-Peptide Eye Gel, the bestseller, and Focus Care Radiance+ Intense C-Boost Mela-Even Cream, plus deluxe-sized Focus Care Youth+ Tri-Peptide Complex Avance DFP312 Moisturiser, Focus Care Youth+ Tri Biobotanical Revival Masque and Body EssentiA Vitamin A, C and E Body Oil.

Shop these sets exclusively at Harvey Nichols, priced respectively £82, £181, and £120

Advanced Nutrition Programme

Many times we hear that 'beauty starts from within'. This is so true that Advanced Nutrition Programme says ‘Your Future Skin Starts From Within™’ thanks to its science jam-packed supplements. For Christmas 2021, the brand has launched two festive skin duos featuring a new multivitamin called Skin Vitality, which delivers 28 smart nutrients in a one-a-day capsule for skin, hair, nail and body. We recommend Luminous Future Skin (£50) for skin that needs oomph and extra glow and Healthy Future Skin (£80) for very dry skin, particularly during this cold season.

Find more about Advance Nutrition Programme online.

PROJECT LIP

Hung the mistletoe and get ready for kiss-giving with PROJECT LIP. This beauty brand from Manchester is an expert in lip plumping products that do work. Give yourself or your best friend a PROJECT LIP plumping lip colour, gloss or three-step kit for lips that will never fear the cold, the wind or an unexpected kiss.

Find PROJECT LIP products sold in kit or separately from £3.95 to £24.95 online.

Soinvogue

Handy tools never go out of fashion. Soinvogue just put on its virtual shelves new gift sets and eco-friendly beauty tools from brands we trust like So Eco and BrushWorks.

Browse and shop your favourite at Soinvogue.

jane iredale

Bring back the glitz and glam with jane iredale Festive season 2021 Dazzle and Shine Collection. The skincare makeup brand launched its new vegan and cruelty-free sets for a glowy holiday look you can customise day to night. Do not miss the limited-edition and super versatile Dazzle and Shine Eye Shadow Kit, the Line & Define Brow Kits to complete the look and the Holiday Dazzle & Shine Mini Lip Trio. The latest is an exclusive preview of the next year's launch, the HydroPure Hyaluronic Acid Lip Glosses!

Available online priced respectively £45, £47, and £25.

Dr Jackson's

Award-winning Dr Jackson's, nominated 'Eco Brand Of The Year', is a science-led skincare and tea brand that cares about the environment down to every ingredient. With one of Dr Jackson's kit, you are not only making a healthy and sustainable choice but also supporting the farmers' communities in Zimbabwe where the key ingredients, baobab and kigelia fruit, are harvested. The Day to Evening kit follow your skin 24 hours to protect and replenish it with the best Africa's nature offers us: kigelia, baobab, marula and shea butter to name a few.

Find the set online at Dr Jackson's Skincare, now at £60.

Dermatology M

Where Chinese medicine meets skincare, there stands Dermatology M. The world leader in traditional Chinese medicine skin treatments awaits with its Christmas 2021 kits. The Illuminating Icons Set features two bestsellers from its range that fit nicely in anyone's winter skincare regime: the Rose Otto Rejuvenating Cream and the Zi Cao Run Chun Gao lip balm. You cannot go wrong with Dermatology M; its formulas are suitable for all skin types, even the most sensitive and upset.

Find Dermatology M festive kits online. The Illuminating Icons Set is now at £70.

thebeautyworX

If you are looking for effective yet affordable skin solutions, then thebeautyworX is here to help. The brand raises the flag of 'Clean Beauty', so you can be sure your skincare gift is high-performing, gentle and natural-based. You can choose among the Essential Face Serum Collection, the 3 Step Skin Solution, and the Day And Night Duo. Every product has 90 to 95% of natural and ethically-sourced ingredients, mostly vegan. You can cut the price but never on quality!

Find the collections online with prices from £12.99 to £17.99.

ALTERNA

Caviar is a very expensive festive delicacy you would instantly associate with grand balls and endless tables laden with exquisite taste. Caviar haircare is real and a true luxury. ALTERNA goes beyond ordinary haircare and celebrates the holiday season with exclusive gifts of self-care. The Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner comes in a ready-to-give box and is for every hair type. The duo will protect colour and give new vitality, strength and hydration to dull, dry hair.

Find the full catalogue and official retailers online.

Indie.

You already told all your friends how you successfully switched to an eco-conscious life, now they can do that too! Indie., the beauty start-up, has a brilliant idea for Christmas, an introduction to sustainable living. The Starter Duo has everything one needs to get started and save with bottles for life, shampoo and conditioner of your choice. Once your friend runs out, he/she can buy a new Refill and keep the green ball rolling.

Buy online with prices from £15 to £25.

Gifts For Her: Fashion

Picture Organic Clothing

Back in 2008, a group of three French friends joined forces and creativity for the environment. Knowing that the textile industry is responsible for around 8% of carbon emissions, they built a sustainable label using organic cotton, linen, recycled textiles and bio-polyester made from... cane sugar! More than half of its outwear is made with this natural sweetness. To stay warm and stylish, we found out that the MURAX JKT is a very flattering jacket to give this Christmas. Plus, it can be worn alone or under another coat for extra protection.

Find more eco-friendly outwear and sportswear online.

Asquith

Active and loungewear make great gifts for your BFF. Look for Asquith, the ethical fashion brand based in London which uses 100% of upcycled material. We have created a comfortable outfit with the Be Calm Sweatshirt (now £42) and the complimentary joggers as a reminder to stay focused, relaxed and happy. Comfort and quality are not optional! These two pieces are made with organic cotton and elastane.

Browse Asquith catalogue online.

We like presents with meaning and real purpose, with quality that lasts longer than the festive season. If you are like us, your lightbulb is now fully switched and you are for gift-giving and shopping. Get ready with pens, cards, ribbons and wraps to spread joy and your love this year again.

Walking through life like a breeze, leaving little or no sign on our way. Newly-launched sustainable womenswear brand Organique proposes a minimal and low-impact fashion for a life in constant motion.

C’RIBBE (read [ker-rib-be]) is the creation of James Douglas, the founder. The name is inspired by the Caribbean which is at the very core of the brand.

October is an important month for us as we celebrate Black History Month. Fashions Finest salutes this month by celebrating big and small realities in the beauty and fashion industry with you all.

Ph. Rodnae Productions, Pexels

The contribution of the Black communities in the UK has been underrated or simply unseen for too long. Yet Black Britons have enriched our cultural landscape and economy with vibes and stories coming from afar. Fashions Finest wants to celebrate black innovators and strong business women who make our life more beautiful.

Every month tinges with different colours and surges as the flag for a cause. Fashions Finest's Black History Month is a journey across people and ideas fueled by a courageous entrepreneur spirit and passion.

Meet Tiph'arah

Tiph'arah is a UK-based haircare company born in Coventry, Midlands. The brand moved its first steps in the intimacy of a house - to be more precise - a kitchen. Jessica Oduro, the founder, was looking for intensive and natural options that could keep her Afro hair nourished and hydrated for longer. Failed to do so, she started to experiment with natural and organic ingredients at home until she found the right formulation for glorious hair. 'Tiph'arah means 'glory' in Hebrews, in fact! Tiph'arah's hair butters aim to strengthen the hair strands, hydrate and promote healthy growth. The product range, consisting of three types of hair butter (Shea Cocoa Mango, Paw Carrot and Shea-Mang AVO'), is made with 90% of pure and organic ingredients from Ghana and the remaining sourced in Europe at high standards.

Meet Aviela

Aviela (read [a-vee-el-ah]) is a word used in Northern Ghana for 'good', 'nice' or even 'beautiful'. This word conveys very positive vibes. Aviela is the child of Patricia Monney who, during a family holiday in Ghana in 2007, was introduced to the power of raw, unrefined shea butter to heal her little daughter's ankle. Patricia learnt about shea butter anti-inflammatories properties and, once back home in the UK, she focused on expanding her knowledge on shea butter. She found a way to work the natural ingredient without compromising the natural properties and qualities of shea butter. The solution was her kitchen helper which gives Aviela products that superb weightless whipped consistency. Aviela offers a range of skincare and body care for all skin types with 100% pure, unrefined shea butter. Patricia sources her shea butter ethically from a cooperative of 25 women from the village of Gurugu in the Northern region of Ghana.

Meet Pamoja

Pamoja (read [pam-oh-jah]) is a Swahili word meaning 'together' and is inspired by formulator and founder Sarah Taylor's Tanzanian/British heritage as well her skin journey. During pregnancy, she experienced severe sensitivity and succeeded in finding the solution by herself. She worked on her own products and formulations gaining also some spotlights in national magazines.

This independent, black-owned company offers natural skincare with high performance and quality standards. Cruelty-free and environmentally friendly, Pamoja takes equal care of sensitive skin and the environment with sustainable packaging, ethically sourced botanical ingredients and zero palm oil. Sarah thinks that 'everyone deserves to feel good and that when you are kinder to yourself, it will help you be your very best.' For Sarah 'Black History Month is an opportunity to be more inclusive, to shine a spotlight on the contributions and the challenges we face so that we can better understand our collective history every single month of the year.'

Meet Wax + Wraps

For many of us, the pandemic represented a forced stop; however, this suspended time allowed us to reset priorities and rebuild ourselves. This happened to Jaqueline Shaw with Wax + Wraps. The fashion expert and entrepreneur overcame the COVID-19 backlash thanks to her acumen and love for fashion design. She realised how many people get interested in handmade and sewing during the pandemic and she also noticed how popular were and are still crafting subscription boxes.

Jaqueline, who has an MA in Ethical Fashion, is passionate about Africa and traditional fabrics. She put this personal love in her own subscription box by sourcing unique textiles printed, woven or knitted by hand in African states and regions. 'Other sewing boxes do the job but they are all very similar and I felt that they don’t inspire me to learn more about the people or even to source responsible fabrics and textiles too. My Master's degree in Ethical Fashion from the UCA Epsom, taught me that in this fashion industry, WE the consumers are the change we want to see. We are responsible for the impact of the industry on our planet and our purchasing decisions can build or break the industry. And its environment impact.'
Jaqueline thinks that 'Africa is Fashion's Future' and has been spreading awareness at previous London Fashion Weeks and events in Africa and the States. We could not but totally agree on that. Her sewing box does not just quench our thirst for crafts but also disclose stories from beautiful lands and people as no other service does.

Saka Luxe Beauty

Many feels puzzled by the length and complexity of cosmetic labels. This exact reaction is behind Saka Luxe Beauty, a UK natural hair and skincare company founded in Bristol in 2020. Available on Etsy, eponymous of everything handcrafted, the brand's ethos is based on creating simple and affordable products to moisturise and nourish hair, beard and body. Every jar of butter, every bottle of oil is handmade in small batches to ensure a caring and luxurious feel.

Jessica, Patricia, Sarah and Jacqueline are just four of the many black businesswomen that turn their creative verve or necessity to express themselves and made a living from their passion. Black History Month is important to us because the majority of the black-owned businesses are too small to gain the deserved visibility on the media and still struggle in this overcrowded industry.

We invite you to have a look around and discover the authenticity of these companies and that of many similar ones. As you and we shop independent and black-owned, we can support these individuals and make a little but significant change in their lives, ours, and the way we shop.

Fashions Finest is happy to bring you these personal stories and call all the black-founded companies to get in touch to join us and build together a network of creators beyond Black History Month.

Fast Fashion is so last season, meet Aqua & Rock a high-quality premium sustainable fashion and lifestyle brand.

Their motto ‘Where ethical meets aesthetic’ hits the spot. Too often people still associate sustainability with strong limitations and unsightliness. Aqua & Rock surely prove this to be a false prejudice.

If you think sustainable fashion must have a dated aesthetic and cannot possibly look stunning and modern without any compromise, then read on to get to know this brand and pay their new flagship store in Covent Garden a visit when your interest is sparked.

An interior collection consisting of lamps and vases uses naturally sourced materials. All items are one of a kind due to the variable key components of wood grain, natural sand, clay and alpine hay, which naturally do not appear uniform. Furthermore, they are carefully crafted by hand.

This store is unique, since every little detail, down to the lamps, hangers and even drinks is produced 100% sustainable and guilt-free, reflecting the genuine dedication and passion behind the brand. Aqua & Rock was established in 2019 and has been driving forward innovative concepts for ethical fashion ever since. Everybody is more than eager to put a ‘sustainable’ stamp on their clothes now with younger generations, especially Gen Z becoming ever more aware of shortcomings and accordingly concerned about our planet’s future. 'Green washing’ developed to become a huge issue. Customers are getting blatantly misinformed about the background of their goods and continue to shop with a false sense of righteousness. We all know those high street companies for instance, that suddenly hop on the bandwagon by realising an allegedly sustainable line when we honestly ask ourselves: who are they trying to fool? Huge fast-fashion retailers aim to transform their il repute, however, in the end, merely a minority can really state that their company meets the necessary regulations in all areas. Founder Dea Baker and her team instead showcase what true passion and competence in the industry can look like. That is why they also deservedly won the award for “Innovator” of the year at the Drapers Independent Awards 2021 this September.

The Blue Thetis Trench Coat pictured at the front is a centrepiece of the 2021 collection. It incorporates wooden buckles and is made from 100% organic cotton.

Each piece of the latest collection is designed to be ‘seasonless’, so it can be reworked according to season and mood. Not only can they be either composted, recycled or biodegraded, but also include the use of fertiliser to support organic farming. The main concept is based upon a bio-circular model with four components, them being: organic, natural, recycled, and upcycled. All the resources like wood, hay, leaves, cotton, hemp, and flowers are organically grown. Wood, aloe vera, cotton, hemp, wool, as well as the colouring are naturally sourced. Existing materials are updated and reinvented within the upcycling process.

The model is designed to avoid the use of chemicals during manufacturing. Aqua & Rock have even created their own sustainable fabric dubbed 'Aqua Triblend', which is inspired by the French riviera. Among organic cotton, it incorporates recycled plastic and upcycled clothing. With overwhelming numbers regarding beef consumption, the brand saves the by-product of the meat industry from organic farms. Thereby, waste that otherwise would hit the landfill sites is further minimised.

According to Baker this variant of recycled leather is even more sustainable than buying vegan leather, which many people would never assume.

And that is by far not all, since the leather is going through a 'Wet-White' process it is completely free of chrome and other harmful chemicals. So, it is not only better for mother nature, but also for our own bodies. Due to this way of production the Ecotan leather items can be sent to their organic fertiliser partners. After being turned into organic fertiliser it is then used to fertilise fields and plants on organic farms, resulting in the regrowth of organic harm-free vegetation. In being reverted back to nature the bio circle is closed, ending where we started, the animal, which can gaily graze on these natural fields again.

The collection has been designed and produced in the UK, no sweatshops or underpaid labour included in any form, that the customer can be certain of. All pieces of the 2021 collection come in muted colour tones like brown, mint, white, and crème, all easy on the eyes and extremely versatile, giving customers lots of room for creative combining.

British musician Elle L gave the attendees an exclusive glimpse into her new single 'Hoping'. She took on the role of first brand ambassador because she is personally very passionate about the subject in all areas of her life and wants to advocate for less waste. As a public figure, she feels like having a responsibility to inform and positively influence others to have an impact on a larger scale and act as a role model for younger people. She aims to actively contribute to 'leaving a legacy for future generations' by not only talking about it but committing to an accordingly lifestyle.

Fashions Finest thinks this store is a great addition to the Covent Garden area and will hopefully attract lots of new customers to join forces with for a better world. Supporting this goal by shopping for beautiful clothes does sound dreamy, right? Yes, it is actually that easy to partake and conduce a little bit. Maybe this shop will be a starting point for some people to become more immersed and engaged in sustainability in other areas of their everyday life as well. Aqua & Rock officially opened their doors on the 27th of September, a visit is not only highly recommended but a must for everyone interested in sustainability and all its facets. The power for real change lies in our consumer behaviour, supply and demand regulate the market after all and progressive brands like Aqua & Rock are successfully leading the way in a current turnover. The aim does not have to be a Utopia!

The journey towards inclusive fashion also passes through 'petites' and their underestimated necessities. Today, petite fashion sees more protagonists like LacunaFit which is ready for a denim-tinted launch.

grüum, Manchester-based skincare and haircare brand, launched a new range of sustainable wash bags to help fighting ocean pollution thanks to a toiletry essential.

Charlotte Rhys made its name in South Africa as a luxury fragrance brand that takes responsible actions toward the environment, the local flora and society. Fashions Finest dived into this new scented world to share some considerations.

Give a romantic flair to your makeup look and add all the gentleness of mineral-based cosmetics with Pure Anada and its award-winning 'Dreamy Compact Palette'.

On the World Day Against Child Labour, leading ethical jewellery brand Lebrusan Studio has launched a fundraiser in aid of the Global March Against Child Labour.