With 2020 finally drawing to a close this only means one thing – Christmas. We are here to help make Christmas a little less stressful, with our Christmas Gift Guides for men and women, so you can find the perfect gift for your loved ones this holiday season. This gift guide mainly focusses on sustainability and being eco-friendly.

This year has been one of the most difficult, with everyone feeling the strain of the global pandemic. It seems to have all merged into one.2020 went: January, February, lockdown, eat out to help out and then back into lockdown and then Christmas. However, many struggles have been faced whether losing a loved one, facing financial struggles or mental health issues, heightened due to not seeing friends and family for months, uncertainty, and losing any sort of routine. We are all forever grateful for the great work from the NHS and key workers who played a huge role in keeping everyone going.

Back in 2019, we could not have predicted this year, however, there have been some positives to come out of this whirlwind. 

2020 is the year where we had time to just stop and have some time, the hustle and bustle of the majority of everyone’s lives just stopped. We had more time to spend with your kids, pick up a new hobby, start a business, 2020 gave people time to stop and appreciate the small things in life.  The simple things such as being able to hug your friends and family, be able to go to work, go out for a meal, celebrate birthdays, are things we never fully appreciated before.

Toiletries

Toiletries are often overlooked by most men and are not something that they spend too much time or money on. Making toiletries such a perfect, and practical present. Extra appreciation to you as you’ve done all of the hard work for them!

Bambaw – razors

Razors are a product that most men use, however the use of disposable razors can be really unsustainable for the environment. Bambaw are a brand focusing on sustainability and encouraging people to make “zero-waste swaps”. By creating razors from bamboo, which is of course, a biodegradable material, and the fact that the razor is reusable, illuminates unnecessary waste. This also removed plastic from shaving, which cannot be recycled due to the metal being embedded in the plastic.

Green people Skincare

Skincare is stereotypically often aimed at women, however men also suffer with acne, dryness and even irritation from shaving. Skincare is just as important for men to help them look after the skin and stay looking younger for longer. Green People’s products are Vegan, Cruelty-free and made without harsh chemicals for all skin types. An ideal present for any age whether it be for a teenager or an older male.

FeGoo Upcycled Wash Bag

These wash bags are the perfect gift for a man who travels a lot and needs a toiletry bag to hold all their things. These are made from old cycling inner tubes and the zip toggle is made from the tyre valve. This bag is sustainable while also being very long lasting, due to if there was a rip or tear you can just repair it with a puncture repair kit!

Fashion

Some men have a good eye for fashion and some need a bit more of a helping hand, and that’s why clothes make the perfect present to help the men in your life stay on trend.

Levi’s

Jeans are what most of us live in. Back in 2017, denim brand Levi decided to make 55% of their jeans using ‘Water<Less’ practises. How cool is that? Typically, a pair of jeans uses a couple thousand gallons of water to make just one pair. With most of us not looking to change our usage, or love for jeans, it makes it even more important that companies pivot and change the way they produce their garments. Levi is heading in the right direction in the aim of making more sustainable jeans which use less water while still being fashionable and a key piece in your wardrobe.

Zara – Join Life

Zara is very on trend as a brand this year and with their new introduction to their Join Life line it is even becoming more sustainable. With fast fashion causing many issues environmentally, it is time for many brands to begin to look into more sustainable solutions. With Zara using recycled polyamide and using more sustainable raw materials. This is the perfect gift to stay up to date with all the trends, yet sustainably.

Pangaia

Loungewear has been the new trend in 2020, this brand is perfect to get all your comfy loungewear to work from home in. Created with organic cotton and environmentally friendly dye this is the perfect option for loungewear. 

Nightire

Men often don’t think of buying new pyjamas like us women, as they see it as practicality and that their old ragged pair will do. So why not treat them to some new pyjamas! Nightire sell 100% organic bamboo boxer shorts, to be worn on their own or under loungewear. They are temperature regulating and cut for optimal flow. With the classic blue and white stripped pair and some more other fun printed pairs!

Homeware

Homeware, is so important to help make a house a home, whether someone you know has moved into a new house, or is looking to do-up their house, homeware is the perfect gift. In order to make a house feel like a home, you need a touch of personality, a whole lot of comfort and some stylish key pieces that reflect your aesthetic. Homeware is usually not at the top of peoples ‘need-to-get’ lists, especially when finances are tough. So help brighten up someone’s home by gifting them one of the following… 

Happy Beds

Happy Beds specialise in beds, whether it be fun bunk beds for kids, luxurious beds for adults, or beds with lots of storage to optimise space, Happy Beds have you covered. They also sell lots of furniture which can help enhance and make a home. Having a good quality bed is so important for good sleep and productivity while also being the centre of attention in a room and sets the tone.

Victoria Stories

Victoria Stories is an independent, online travel photo print shop founded by photographer Victoria Metaxas. The shop was created to help bring her travel images to life, producing them into prints for your home. Featuring prints from all over the world from summers in Greece to fall in Paris, this being the perfect gift to bring colour and vibrance into a home with these prints. 

Eco Straws

Another way to help protect the environment is through reusable straws, there are many different brands and types out there from glass and metal straws. These all help in protecting the planet and stop straws ending up in our oceans and even coming in many different designs.

Fitness

With 2021 around the corner, fitness shall be at the top of most of our New Years resolution lists. Health & Wellness has taken a turn for the better this year, with more focus on creating a healthy balance in our lives and finding a routine that works for us, than striving for a body that isn’t possible, or reduces your happiness. Is your friend a passionate runner? Dad a footballer? How about gifting them with some new equipment or gym wear to put a smile on their face every time they head out for their “me-time’.

Patagonia

Patagonia is the perfect clothing brand for someone who is active and passionate about the outdoors, they sell clothing for surfing, skiing, climbing. They use recycled polyester and the brand has plans to reduce emissions while producing their clothing. They have also created their first wetsuit which is an ideal gift for a avid surfer, where they are developing a ‘green’ wetsuit. By using 85% natural rubber to create their wetsuits which are more sustainable than using neoprene. 

Allbirds - Tree Dasher

A good pair of trainers are essential for any sort of fitness and these trainers go even further by being a great option for a sustainable running shoe. With the uppers of this shoe originating from eucalyptus tree and merino wool, each one of these shoes produced creates 9kg CO2e.

Chilly’s

Chilly’s is a very on trend reusable bottle brand, the bottle is designed to keep cold drinks ‘chilly’ and hot drinks hot. The aim of their brand is for consumers to be able to have cold water wherever they are, and therefore there being no need for them to buy a plastic bottle of water out. This is perfect for people when going to the gym, to have cold water to hydrate and cool them down.

Food & Drink

The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach! 

Beer52

Beer52 is a craft beer subscription which would be perfect for any beer lover! This giving the receiver the opportunity to try different beers from across the world. With being able to choose the length of subscription giving you flexibility.

Yeti and The Fox

Yeti and The Fox is the gift that keeps on giving even to the next morning after a few too many drinks. This supplement helps support wellness after drinking alcohol, this gift is ideal for those who love a large glass of wine or for a university student who is looking to still make their 9 am lecture after a night of partying. This gift is perfect to ensure you wake up feeling fresh no matter what, who wouldn’t want that?