This is the first holiday gift guide of several that I will be rolling out over the next couple of weeks. I of course had to start with the one that resonates the most with me personally! I love all of these picks, and hope that you do, too. I tried to include items of a variety of price points, as well– they range from $20-$200, with most laying somewhere in the middle– and I so hope that you find it helpful! Stay tuned for the other guides, but for now… have fun shopping ethically with the options below!
- Fuse Sneakers! These are eco-friendly and vegan. I get asked SO OFTEN where to find ethically-made, plain, white tennis shoes… And this is my go-to brand! I wear the low tops all the time, especially with leggings and jeans, but I like the tan high tops with dresses for an unexpected, edgy, earthy effect. If you’re gifting for someone who is a little funkier, Fuse also has embroidered styles that are SO unique and cool! Some extra reasons to choose these sneaks instead of other brands out there: a) almost 9,000 gallons of water are saved in the production, compared to the average canvas shoe (!!! dang); b) they are fair trade certified; c) Fuse works with women artisans and give them above market price for their craft. I think a gift is always so much more meaningful (and fun to give/receive) when there is substance and a story behind the item.
- GUNAS vegan leather bags! I am such a longtime fan of this brand– like I noted in the collage, their pieces are just so ladylike and luxe looking! The oversize bow options are so cute and flirty, and the faux ostrich is just so well done and looks like a really, really expensive bag. TONS of colors are available, too, from a workplace-friendly camel color to a sophisticated bordeaux color to bright pink. I also really like the shoes I included in the collage– perfect for someone who wants to look chic while at work or running errands! ALSO! RIGHT NOW UNTIL DEC 1 AT MIDNIGHT, THEIR WHOLE SITE IS 35-50% OFF WITH CODE FRIYAY35!!!! Don’t sleep on that crazy amazing deal, y’all! It brings some of their luxury bags down to less than $100!
- SWEATERS! I get asked to recommend non-wool sweaters all the time, and unfortunately there really isn’t one brand who specializes in them. Luckily, though, there are several retailers that carry super cute options at affordable prices. Whenever I don’t know off the top of my head where to find something in the fashion or beauty realm, I look to Petit Vour— and that’s where I found this super pretty cream-colored sweater, ON SALE! And Everlane has a whole section of cotton sweaters, like this gorgeous burnt mustard colored one.
- Svala! I loveeee these handbags, and also the company ethos. Ethically handmade in LA, these bags are always PVC-free and made from innovative and sustainable materials. They are lined with organic cotton and recycled materials. The brand has been featured everywhere from Vogue to Forbes, and 10% of proceeds are donated to animals! CAN WE LOVE THEM ANY MORE? I have the white backpack/handbag (you can wear it either way) and love it so much; I always get compliments when I wear it. I also use their black Piñatex (pineapple leaf) tote as a laptop bag.
- HOZEN! Such a cool brand with a unique, free-spirited aesthetic. They offer a wide range of bags– in styles from canteen to belt to bucket to duffle to wristlet– and often with fun texture and color-blocking effects. It’s no surprise that they are focused on waste-reduction; the word “hozen” means conservation in Japanese. I LOVEEE my silver Piñatex bucket bag, and I have my eye on their Piñatex heart bag… so cute and fun for a charity function or a date night out!
- Hatsmithe! I am obsessed with this brand. I was honored to help promote the brand upon its launch, and I have three of their hats which I rotate throughout the cold months. Vegan hats are REALLY, really hard to find, and at $60 this is really the perfect holiday gift when you don’t have tons of money to spend.
- Vegan leather jackets! Similar to sweaters, there isn’t one retailer I turn to when shopping for these jackets– but a good place to start, and a place where I usually have good luck, is the Free People website. They have multiple, reasonably-priced vegan leather jackets on the site at any given point, and in my experience they hold up well and fit beautifully. (The one pictured in the collage is here.)
- Vegan leather belts! My quick go-to for this is Asos… You can easily filter to the vegan options by hitting the “non-leather” option, and they have hundreds! These are great stocking stuffers, or add-on gifts, since they tend to be super affordable and small. This is the type of item someone never thinks to buy for themself, so it will most likely be very appreciated. (This is the one featured in the collage, in case you liked that one! It’s less than $20.)
- Bearpaw “vegan uggs”! I own all three styles (the high boot, mid-rise boot, and slipper style) and they are so, so warm and cozy, and look super high quality for a really affordable price point! You would literally never be able to tell that the upper is made of faux suede as opposed to the real thing. This is another great item for gifting if you’re on a budget. Everyone loves slippers, after all. Note: this is not an entirely vegan brand!! Make sure to go to the vegan section to shop. They fit true to size, in my experience.
- Boots from Bhava, for the person in your life who loves luxury shoes but wants to reduce harm to animals (meeee!). This is one of my favorite shoe brands EVER, and it’s because the quality and aesthetic is consistently just so good. These shoes are not “cheap” but they are way less expensive than they look, and will last forever. I truly get stopped all the time when I wear my Bhava shoes. I love my booties, and am currently crushing on their GORGEOUS winter boots with faux fur in white or burgundy. Check them out! True to size fit.
- Noize! If you have a fashion lover in your life who either lives in a cold climate OR is traveling to one any time soon, you really should consider getting them an insanely warm Noize jacket or coat. The price point is SUPER low compared to other ethically-made, down-alternative winter jacket brands, AND they are on sale right now… bringing some of these luxury vegan jackets to prices around $50!!!!! Plus, they come in all different styles– so you’re bound to find the perfect one! (They fit true to size.)
Thanks so much for include GUNAS luxury vegan handbags in your gift guide Molly! We are big fans of yours! xo