As we enter what is arguably retail’s holiday season — and with the year that has been 2020, be ready for the bombardment of all kinds of marketing tactics and an overwhelming amount of junk. Gift giving is one of five universal love languages — an act of thoughtfulness where the price tag is irrelevant where the heart is present. This year, skip the stress inducing financial pressures, regrettable purchases, the overwhelming amount of junk made just because — or all of the above and redefine what you seek to gift and receive. Whether that’s nourishment, empowerment, energy or adventure, let this article guide you.
Second hand — anything really
With online shopping reigning supreme, scouring for thrift finds is still a viable option, when given the time, commitment and perhaps an enthusiasm for eBay filters, you will find one-of-a-kind items that today, the only way to acquire them is through the secondary market. That and the Internet holds no shortage of upcycled curators who have already done the work for you. I would highly recommend, in addition to online stores and Instagram accounts—browse Etsy.
Begin within. Gifts to nourish
Loco Love Where cacao and healing herbs collide. Gift a box to them, one to you. The soul-soothing magic of this handcrafted chocolate is real.
Dark Horse Organic Probiotic Vinaigrette For those based in the United States, anything Dark Horse really. Vinaigrette as seen through the mind of Greg Arnold, of Dark Horse Organics. Organic Californian EVOO incorporates a rich probiotic liquid, a byproduct of sauerkraut. Spiked with pine pollen, activated coconut charcoal and sea salt for an up-levelled pantry addition.
Fix & Fogg Everything about this brand. We all go through an immense number of Fix & Fogg jars in any given month. There aren't enough good things to say about Fix & Fogg nut butters. I’m still eating their almond butter every day. Find your flavour.
Storm & India Matcha Drink your focus. Grassy, antioxidant-rich, our afternoons are all the better with Power Matcha blended with oat or almond milk. Founder, Dooley Crighton upholds her values and quality to the highest order.
Five Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil Practical home gifts like olive oil are the chicest. Produced in Finiki Lakonias, Greece, each bottle is filled with a single-varietal olive oil produced in limited quantities by method of cold extraction. I think the packaging is beautiful too.
Little Bird Organics Good Cookies No one makes cookies like these. A favourite from Megan Mays’s Unbakery beginnings, I couldn’t have been happier to realise these were 100% plants. Send happiness to others. Send some to yourself.
Seedlip For those who don’t wish to feel distracted by discipline but aim to feel vibrant and present a bottle of Seedlip is a must. I’ll be sipping on Spice 94 this summer paired with East Imperial.
GoodFor Store Voucher Stocking our pantry is an activity of sorts, one for which I have great enthusiasm. And so for those who get excited by groceries, contribute to a well-stocked pantry. If you are reading outside of New Zealand, then your equivalent.
Rivsalt Salt Like gemstones, this Himalayan salt encourages remineralisation, a high health option for cooking or finishing meals. This version includes a Japanese style stainless steel grater, Himalaya salt rock and stand, made from FSC-certified oak wood.
ZenBunni I love coffee, and there is no shortage of quality roasters with a higher level of ambition for raising ethical standards in the industry. My daily ritual is up-levelled with this in the cupboard.
Good Vibes Fungi A mushroom growing kit for those who lack patience. Fungi is arguably the most important of all the Kingdoms, and seeing how easy it is to grow fungi yourself is pretty powerful and ultimately more economical than store-bought.
Sunpotion These potent mushroom blends and tonic herbs support me all day long, and this is the one that I reach for first thing in the AM. Fuel someone’s morning, afternoon.
Avocados Give the gift of PERFECTLY ripe avocados to a friend — once or for several months on subscription. That and supporting farm to fork businesses makes for a more resilient economy. Find your local avocado dealer. We have ours delivered from the avo tree.
Noble Tonic 02 This one has SO much flavour. An ideal substitute for honey. This version incorporates Tahitian Vanilla Bean and Egyptian Chamomile Blossom — waffles, breakfast, in general, will never be the same!
Pineapple Collective ACV Founded to create community and support the incredible women in food, this apple cider vinegar was created in partnership with Joanne Krueger using Gravenstein, Red Rome Beauty, Golden Delicious and Pink Pearls hand-harvested from her orchard, Little Apple Treats. For whenever there’s a need for a hit of acid or something to elevate dishes. Even the non-practising cook can take it as a tonic. Sold out on their website but available via Norden Goods.
Self indulge
Maggie Marilyn Gold Petal Brooch Maggie Marilyn paired up with 0.8 Jewellery to create this rose petal brooch, gold plated, minimal and perfect. For that person in your life who likes to accentuate with subtlety.
Bare Hands Well-groomed hands and nails are an understated luxury. Bare Hands takes the art of nail care higher, with her kit that relies on just two steps for a clean manicure. For those located in New Zealand, Bare Hands is available from Ines Store.
Salt by Hendrix Nourish and Revive Hydrate and heal with this beautiful and nutrient-dense body oil. For long days, give yourself (or ask for) a massage for instant calm.
Curio Noir Pocket Parfum These fragrances transport me. Since travel is not currently an option, gift 5ml of escapism. And if your budget is slightly smaller the hard soap.
Orris Paris Bar Soap Handcrafted in Paris and made from a healing, signature mix of nourishing botanical oils and butters to cleanse and decompress—no palm. Lather up!
Merino Possum Socks If you are going to gift socks, consider these socks for the AM and these Penney & Bennett Cloud Sleep Socks for when the sun goes down.
Go-To Face Mask For the fatigued friend. Nothing could be more self-indulgent than masking, where you do so little but can be rewarded so greatly. Gift better skin.
Herbivore EMERALD CBD + Adaptogens Deep Moisture Glow Oil Magical CBD, botanical oils and ingredients of ancient Ayurvedic healing practices to de-stress, nurture and protect the skin from environmental stressors. Amandine gifted my bottle. Who doesn’t need this?
Winden Pre-Consumer Recycled Comb Machine-made using scrap material from the factory that manufactures other Winden combs and barrettes — elevate someone’s hair care ritual.
J Hannah Nail Polish For friends who adorn their hands, J Hannah polishes are seven-free, highly-pigmented, cruelty-free and made in the USA. Mini Polish Sets are ideal for those undecided or concerned with wastage.
General Sleep Everyone Trouser Perfectly simple, I have worn these General Sleep pants every evening since they were delivered, and who isn’t spending more time at home now?
Youth To The People Yerba Mate Resurfacing Energy Facial Exfoliator For those seeking new ways to exfoliate, this at-home triple-powered microdermabrasion treatment combines active enzymes, micro-exfoliants and caffeine for radiant skin in minutes.
Everyday Oil (Mainstay Blend) A heady base of Coconut, Olive, Argan and Jojoba Oils that creates something that smells almost exactly like a hot summer night. Palo Santo and Clary Sage introduce grounding energy. A gift for everyday, everywhere.
Grounding down at home
Petley Salad Servers I do like to give gifts that have a practical element — highly useful in the case of these salad servers. Hand carved from Swamp Kauri finished with tung oil and locally produced beeswax, this gift will straddle between practical and luxury.
Bonnie and Neil Tea Towels Also highly practical — though also displayable, these Bonnie and Neil tea towels are hand screen printed in Melbourne, Australia using a combination of traditional and bespoke techniques and I’m really loving the Island collection.
Iron Candle Stand A perfect stocking filler this minimal Diayo cast iron candle stand is ideal for any home. And the candle size, perfect for a non-intrusive table setting. You couldn't go wrong with this for anyone. Pair with the Daiyo rice wax candle.
Situ Linen Throw Perfectly simple, Situ carefully selects linens from mill over-runs and designer end stock (all sustainably produced) then manufactures each piece locally.
Fourth St Linen Napkins I like the idea of gifting sets of napkins to people, you can never have too many in your kitchen. Who actually wants to be using paper? These ones from Fourth St are produced from reclaimed fabric.
Houseplants Plants are living. And life fuels a healthy home — cleaning the air, vibrating with growth, bringing the outdoor world indoors. Amandine’s friend is a procurer of plants, his home a suburban jungle with listings on Trade Me—the Internet provides no shortage of small sellers and Instagram accounts. Gifting for those looking to hop into the plant game? Find a plant that’s not too fussy, your local plant dealer should be able to assist.
Organic Towelling There is no better feeling than wrapping oneself in a fluffy towel or at the very least patting dry one’s face! I’m extra enthused about Otto Loom and Baina.
Aesop Room Spray Elevate a friend’s space. Scent has always had the ability to ground me, so in addition to all the incense I burn, I keep a bottle of this around. Vibrant, floral and smoky, it's really transportive.
Iris Hantverk Dustpan and Brush Making the chores less so. Invigorate a friend’s cleaning rituals with a dustpan and brush that can be left out of the cupboard.
Seletti The Bottle CM This one is for my juicing and blending friends. The formerly disposable becomes indispensable. Made from Borosilicate glass, this bottle makes for the perfect vessel.
Marimekko Puteli Candlestick Holder Make the everyday mystic. This beautiful candle holder is everything we need to unwind. Pair with unscented tapered natural candles and make candlelit dinners the new evening ritual.
Binu Binu Marble Soap Dish Find us a better soap dish than this. We’ll wait. Hand-polished marble, designed as a platform to partner with large bar soaps — consider this a solid investment for someone committed to hard soap.
Uplift and empower
Books Gift someone their next nightstand read. My wishlist on Book Depository has recently grown since my boyfriend asked me for suggestions.
Print Magazines Always seeking inspiration in words and imagery, Stack Magazines is a great place to start.
Digital magazines/subscriptions For when their reading cap goes beyond one free article per day. Give the gift of access. Our favourites include The Atlantic, The New Yorker, The Guardian and The New York Times.
Here’s to abundance, prosperity and limitless gifting for all. And let's not forget that giving is the greatest luxury. Here are some of our favourite international conservational causes: Virunga National Park, Lion Recovery Fund, Greenpeace, Sea Shepherd, Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.
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