18 Conscious Gifts for Everyone With Different Passions, Desires, and Needs
By Jharna Pariani
As a general rule of thumb, it’s always advisable to get your loved ones a gift that they’ll not only cherish but also put to good use. To help you achieve this gifting goal during the holidays, we’ve narrowed down six different personas and listed gifts that would suit each one of their varying tastes, goals, and personal styles.
Everybody has a personality type on their holiday shopping list, whether it’s a friend who loves all things wellness, a loved one who is always on the go, or one who is always canceling plans to coop up at home. Think of this guide as your very own sustainable gift supermarket. There’s an aisle for every type of person you’d know, with only the best options to choose from, eliminating the paradox of choice altogether.
Instead of bombarding you with a choice overload, we’ve worked hard to narrow down our options to only three of the best to suit each category.
From covetable closet essentials for the fashion-conscious to wellness essentials that’ll have them feeling zen in no time, our selection of eco-gift ideas is what holiday fantasies are made of. Click through for the most consciously curated gift guide ever!
The features listed in this guide are from CFC partners and our talented Conscious Fashion Collective Membership community. 💚
For the Adventurer Who's Always on the Go
We’ve curated eco-friendly gift ideas for the most savvy adventure-seekers who’ll appreciate a ’gram-worthy essential
1. Upcycled Scrap Bucket Hat
Conscious Highlights: Black-owned, Upcycled, Slow Made, Zero-waste | Price: $200
Filled with enough character to complete any tropical ensemble (or bring a dose of brightness to gloomy winter days), these upcycled scrap bucket hats are meticulously handmade from discarded cotton offcuts that take up to four and a half hours to create. Reminiscent of a retro swim cap, these hats will have her feeling as chic as an off-duty synchronized swimmer.
MAHDIYYAH is a progressive zero-waste fashion brand that transforms deadstock and discarded clothing scraps into stylish pieces and educates other brands to follow suit.
2. Quadra Square Extrafine Merino Scarf
Conscious Highlights: Woman-owned, RWS Certified, Natural Fibers | Price: $165
They’ll never look disheveled in transit with this scarf wrapped around their neck. Knitted with extra-fine merino wool using low-impact dyes, this lightweight scarf is big enough to be styled in numerous ways and will work with just about any outfit owing to its neutral shade combination.
The merino wool used to create this scarf is Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) Certified which ensures that the fiber comes from farms with a progressive approach to managing their land, and from sheep that have been treated responsibly.
3. Do Good Gift Box
Conscious Highlights: Woman-owned, Philanthropic, Recycled Materials | Price: $75
For the ones who love soaking up the sun, sand, and surf this eco-friendly gift box by Do Good Swimwear is filled with picks that’ll make for thoughtful additions to their beach bag and beyond. It includes a cute bucket hat, reef-safe sunscreen, cotton Turkish towel, bamboo fiber soap pouch, recycled mesh grocery bag, and a beach-themed handmade Christmas ornament for them to remember you by.
Just as its namesake suggests, your gift box purchase will do some good by either planting a mangrove tree or adopting a coral reef.
For the Hibernating Homebody Who’s Looking For an Excuse To Stay In
These conscious gift ideas will help them feel loved even if they’re always canceling plans
4. Lua Wool Pillow
Conscious Highlights: Woman-owned, Natural Fibers, Made-to-order | Price: $99
Don’t sleep on this cozy little pillow handcrafted by Pleasant Studio. Made using 100% wool, it comes in two earthy colorways featuring a minimalist design that’ll play well with just about any interior setting.
This cushy pillow is created on a made-to-order to help prioritize quality and reduce waste, so you’ll have to place this order at least two weeks in advance before you’d like to gift it.
5. Handcrafted Slippers
Conscious Highlights: Natural Fibers, B Corp Certified, Ethically Produced, Reforestation Program | Price: $89+
Give them yet another reason to feel warm and snug this winter with some of the comfiest slippers by Kingdom of Wow. Ethically handcrafted in Cambodia using a blend of bamboo and wool fibers, these slippers offer the comfort of walking barefoot with the added benefit of warmth.
The slippers owe their “barefoot comfort” to its roomy design which includes a wide toe box, thin soles that provide a grounding feel, and no added arch support that helps strengthen foot movement indoors.
6. Chalk Merino Throw
Conscious Highlights: WOC-owned, Natural Materials, Undyed, Ethically Produced | Price: $199
Help them make the art of curling up on the sofa a lot chicer with this textural merino throw blanket. Available in a chalky ivory hue this throw features stripes of woven slubs that create a soft gradient effect emphasizing its skillful handcrafting. Ethically woven by master weavers in Nepal, this artisanal throw is crafted using hand-spun merino wool and treated with earth-friendly dyes.
Trust they won’t be dragging their duvet to the sofa after receiving this.
For the Free-Spirited Folk Who Inspire You Every Day
These sustainable gift ideas will be sure to please your favorite rule breaker who loves defying convention not just with the way they dress but with everything they do
7. Full Support Bra-free Top
Conscious Highlights: Woman-owned, Extended Sizes, OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 Certified, Ethically Produced | Price: $195
Engineered to offer braless comfort with the benefit of built-in support and shaping in one, this top is bound to become their new workout companion.
Catering to all bust shapes, even those ranging from DD through L-cup sizes, this top does the work of a bra without the need for any elastic bands, hooks, or wires using a patented Body Responsive Fit™ that adapts to natural hormone and weight fluctuations. Uncompromising on style, this bra-free athleisure top can easily be worn outside the gym for those impromptu post-workout smoothies or catch-ups over matcha.
8. Private 1:1 Online Yin Yoga Sessions
Conscious Highlights: Woman-owned, Promotes Mindfulness | Price: $250 (for three sessions)
Give them the gift of inner peace with three private 1:1 Yin Yoga sessions with certified practitioner Liat Gorodeznik. Engaged in the discipline for over 10 years, Liat brings her slow-living expertise to these private sessions to help you experience a sense of calm, mindfulness, and self-care — all while stretching and loosening up any bodily stiffness.
A welcome treat especially after a busy holiday season, these Yin Yoga sessions will be the perfect gift for busy professionals, caregivers, wellness enthusiasts, athletes, active individuals, and anyone new to yoga.
9. Repurposed Secondhand Clothing
Conscious Highlights: Woman-owned, Small-batch Production, Reclaimed Materials, Circular | Price: $25+
One-of-a-kind clothing for the unique people you know, Velvet Moon uses only secondhand or vintage materials to create its statement making pieces that’ll ensure no one else is seen wearing the same item as them.
Featuring unmissable details like appliqué embroidery and screen prints on styles that’ll outlive trends, all of the clothes are crafted from landfill-bound materials to give them a second lease on life.
For the Ones Who Could Use Some Rest & Reflection
We found some lovely conscious gifts for the busy bees who could use a little push to pursue some moments of peace
10. Scented Candles
Conscious Highlights: Black-owned, Soy Wax, Artisanal | Price: $18+
Help them de-stress at the stroke of a match with these artisanal scented candles by Ceres Monae. With apt titles that go by the likes Comfort, Divine, Revive, and Revitalizing to name a few, these hand-poured soy wax candles offer a scentual escape with their delicate blend of aromas. You can even take their candle consultation quiz at the bottom of the candle page, to get a personalized scent recommendation tailored to your loved ones’ preferences.
Every order is shipped in a well-designed reusable gift package, providing an added touch of waste-free convenience by eliminating the need for extra wrapping.
11. Recycled Planner
Conscious Highlights: Recycled Materials, Promotes Mindfulness | Price: $20+
Known for its therapeutic benefits, the act of putting pen to paper can be healing. And there’s no better way to keep them motivated to stay on the journey to self-improvement than with a guided planner. Like a best friend, this planner prompts you to unravel random thoughts, feelings, inspirations, and dreams through its dedicated spaces that help reflect and jot everything down.
This planner is made using recycled paper and can be purchased with reversible cloth sleeves that can be reused to protect other books as well.
12. Sustainably Made Sweater
Conscious Highlights: Woman-owned, Vintage & Deadstock Materials, Artisan Made | Price: $99+
Give them the snug feeling of a warm hug this holiday season with a delightfully colorful sweater from Picnicwear. After all, is there any garment that more closely bears resemblance to the feeling of another person’s arms wrapped around you?
Known for creating its pieces using only deadstock or vintage materials, a few of the sweaters in its one-of-a-kind collection have been thrifted, mended, and revived with hand-sewn appliqué details. Don’t be surprised to find them wearing the sweater with pride for their holiday card picture this festive season.
For the Ones Who Love Wearing All Things Artisanal
We’ve cherry-picked the most sustainable fashion gifts for your loved ones who ooze personality
13. Fair Trade Clothing
Conscious Highlights: Woman-owned, Fair Trade, Organic Cotton, Pays Living Wages | Price: $64+
Offering a range of extremely versatile separates and dresses that’ll always be in style, any of the items you pick from Passion Lilie will easily stand the test of time as true standby staples in their wardrobe. Crafted from organic cotton, a lot of the styles feature details like handwoven ikat patterns or screen prints using organic dyes that are ethically made by skilled artisans in India.
Overwhelmed by all the lovely choices? Passion Lilie provides the option of purchasing a gift card so your loved ones can pick something of their liking.
14. Handmade Artisan Scarves
Conscious Highlights: WOC-owned, Artisanal, Philanthropic, Zero-waste Practices | Price: $75+
Whether you’re picking a conversation starter like this felted scarf or this nonchalant handwoven capelet, these pieces will punctuate even the most basic outfit while helping them stay warm.
Known for offering artisanal quality styles, AGAATI is the place to find something completely unique for your most treasured friends. The brand works with non-profits in India and Nepal that employ female artisans to handcraft their pieces.
15. Mini+Me Outfits
Conscious Highlights: Woman-owned, GOTS Certified, Fair Trade Certified™, Resale Program | Price: $15+
For the fashion-conscious mom whose daughter is always dressed to the nines, a gift from this collection of coordinated Mini+Me outfits will leave her in awe. Offering matching sets for both, this range was created in collaboration with Of an Origin, a woman-owned sustainable maternity brand that features prints designed by artist Abby Houston with nature-inspired patterns in playful colors that pop.
All of these pieces are ethically made using organic cotton at Fair Trade Certified™ factories.
For the Fashionista Who Is Known for Turning Heads
We’ve curated sustainable gifts your stylishly-superior friend will really appreciate
16. Pretty in Pink Velvet Blazer
Conscious Highlights: Woman-owned, Secondhand Clothing, Circular | Price: $240
Let them take a page out of Molly Ringwald’s sartorial notebook with this Pretty in Pink velvet blazer that is a nod to ’80s preppy style with a twist.
A thrifted J Crew piece, this blazer has been revived with a sparkle at the hem from a dress, lace at the collar, and floral patches that make it unique. All of the pieces designed by Crooked Stitch Clothing are thrifted and reimagined into new styles that ooze creativity while showcasing the benefits of circularity.
17. DIY Sewing Pattern
Conscious Highlights: Woman-owned, Size-Inclusive Patterns, Slow Fashion | Price: $16
For the DIY sewists who take pride in making their own clothes, Maiden Mary Designs offers sewing patterns that have been tested for wearability on different body types to offer size-inclusive patterns that range from US sizes 00-36.
Unlike most sewing pattern brands, their pattern instructions integrate slow sewing practices into the creation process for their customers
18. Formal Dress Rental Gift Card
Conscious Highlights: Woman-owned, Rental Service, Circular
A sustainable and low-cost alternative to buying a new dress, revu is a pre-loved formal and bridesmaid dress boutique that encourages renting formalwear for those wear it once occasions.
Perfect for events such as weddings, galas, black tie parties, or even styled photoshoots (think: pre-wedding!), these formal dresses will help keep the fashionista in your life within her expense budget and offer her the freedom to wear something different every single time.
Dresses from revu can be rented for flexible periods ranging from one week up to six weeks.
About the Author:
Jharna Pariani is a fashion writer and creative strategist whose work is rooted in honesty and deep observation of the world around her. When she isn’t busy penning down her thoughts, she moonlights as a video editor creating fashion and food reels on Instagram for several brands and influencers.
