With the vegan beauty market on track to be worth over $20 billion by 2025, it’s safe to say that ethical products are here to stay, and that means that shopping ethically this holiday season is easier than ever.
Beauty
For the first time ever, Lush‘s Christmas range is 100% vegan. On top of that, they’ve placed an emphasis on ‘naked’ products – products that don’t require packaging – in an effort to cut down on waste. All of their products are made locally in Villawood, NSW, and they don’t test on animals.
My picks from the Christmas range are the Stardust, Jolly Holidays and Merry Christmas gift boxes, and be sure to check out the naked Charity Pots – all of the proceeds from pots sold in December will go towards charities and organisations fighting the Adani coal mine.
The Clean Collective‘s online store contains all the eco-friendly skin and body care, baby and pregnancy products, and household cleaning supplies you could ever need. Use their site to find the perfect gift for the eco-friendly mama in your friend group.
Clothing
Well Made Clothes is an online store that prioritises responsible and ethical fashion. You can sort using their eight values: sustainable, fair, transparent, vegan, gender equality, handcrafted, local, and minimal waste. For them to carry a label it has to meet their environmental and labour standards, as well as the requirements for at least one of their eight values.
The Social Outfit is a Sydney-based fashion label and social enterprise that provides employment and training in clothing production, retail, design and marketing to people from refugee and migrant communities.
In addition, they work with celebrated designers like Bianca Spender and artists like Kate Banazi to create unique and colourful prints and pieces. Since 2014, they have trained over 200 people through their specialist sewing program, have offered paid work experience to 24 people and employed 18 people.
Jewellery
Article 22 is a jewellery brand based in Laos that creates its pieces using recycled materials from old bombs, plane parts, military hardware and other aluminium scraps. A portion of profits are used to support community development for workers, and the brand supports traditional artisans and the further clearing of unexploded bombs in Laos.
Zoë Pook
If you’re thinking of popping the question this holiday season, check out Zoë Pook‘s rings. The brand uses gold from Fairtrade-certified, community-driven mines, ethically-sourced diamonds and gems, and often also uses recycled metals to create their gorgeous pieces.
Gifts
Oxfam Australia has a fantastic range of Christmas gifts available, including gifts for kids, foodies, and fashionistas. They also have an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander range, with prints designed by Indigenous artists available on wall hangings, baubles, cushion covers and more.
There’s also their Oxfam Unwrapped range, where you can buy things like a chicken, duck, or even a goat (our preferred animal) for someone in need.
