We know, we know, how is it that time of year already!? 2020 has certainly been a strange year for many of us, but there's one event we are truly looking forward to - Christmas! However you choose to celebrate the holidays this year, we're here to help you choose the perfect gifts for the special people in your life. Not only are our co-founders Amy and Bee running a virtual personal shopping service, we also have a whole series of Christmas gift guides lined up so you can find fabulous gifts for even the most difficult to buy for people! In this guide, we will be focusing on more affordable gifts for £25 & under as we know the pennies are tighter for many of us this year. Just because you are on a budget doesn't mean you have to sacrifice quality or sustainability. We hope this gift guide provides some inspiration and helps to get you in the festive mood!
The 'Take Care' Gift Bundle (£22.75)
We think practical yet beautiful gifts are definitely the way to go for almost anyone! Our range of soap and soap dishes can be mixed and matched to make the perfect little gift for those in your life who need a little TLC. Pictured above is our Hand Painted Indian Soap Dish in Dandelion perfect to pair with our ARTHOUSE Unlimited Organic Soap in Amber & Tonka Bean. Our full range of ARTHOUSE Unlimited soaps are organic, suitable for vegans and come in beautifully decorated packaging designed by artists living with complex epilepsy, learning and physical difficulties. This really is a gift that lets the recipient know how much you care.
The 'Bundle of Joy' Gift Bundle (£22)
One for all the little bundles of joy in your life! Here we have paired together our colourful Organic Cotton Baby Bib with our Ghanaian Wicker Hand Woven Rattle - two of our most popular products for babies. Our super soft baby bibs are made from 100% organic cotton that has been grown, woven and assembled in Tanzania at a Fair Trade Certified workshop. Designed in house by Amy, the heart design has been hand screen printed using non toxic dyes by our Fair Trade partner workshop in Kenya. These super fun rattles are handmade in Ghana and are filled with jingly bells - perfect for tiny musicians! We also have a range of colourful rattles filled with seeds that create a more soothing, natural sound.
The 'Messy Chef' Gift Bundle (£22)
The perfect gift for keen cooks (who maybe aren't so keen on the cleaning!) Our hand-carved Kenyan soapstone ovals make fantastic spoon rests and look effortlessly elegant on your kitchen counter. They are also fantastically versatile and can be used to serve up snacks and canapés at dinner parties. Our Olive Wood Flat Mixing Spoon is also perfect for anyone who loves spending time in the kitchen. These spoons are hand carved to fair trade standards in Kenya, using sustainably sourced wild olive wood meaning you can cook with confidence knowing that our flat mixing spoons are made with as much love and care as the food you're stirring up. You can read more about how our spoons are made here.
The 'Stay Safe' Gift Bundle (£19.50)
A perfectly 2020 gift, we think keeping our loved ones safe is one of the greatest gifts we can give. Our Handmade Face Masks come in a range of colourful fabrics that are remnants from our past collections and adventures. Pictured above is our current most popular mask, the Abstract Pomegranate print. Every mask is hand sewn with care, with muslin cloth on the inside, and an opening for you to insert your own filter if you so choose. The perfect partner to a face mask is of course a high quality hand sanitiser. Our Hand Ginitiser from 58 Gin comes in a super handy spray bottle, making it perfect for on the go. 58 Gin are also a fabulous company that support local community initiatives every year. You can read more about them here.
The 'Lots of Love' Gift Bundle (£23)
What better way to say 'I love you' than with beautiful, ethically produced goods? Our Kenyan Beaded Leather Heart Keyrings always prove popular for gifting. The are available in 3 colourways - pink, white and red (as pictured above), black and white or white and gold and make perfect key fobs and bag charms. Traditionally hand beaded to fair-trade standards in Kenya, the glass beads are backed onto sturdy leather which will ensure that your keyring will last for years to come. Paired with our super cute Olive Wood Heart Spoon, this gift really is packed full of love! This spoon is perfect for for sugar, hot chocolate, coffee or even bath salts.
The 'Little Ones' Gift Bundle (£25)
Little ones simply love these charming Kitenge Soft Fabric Monkeys! Made using scraps of traditional African print fabric and recycled polyester stuffing, by adults with learning difficulties and physical disabilities in Kenya. These cheeky little monkeys are sure to put a smile on little ones faces. Also available as elephants and giraffes. Paired with one of our Kenyan Tiny Baskets which are perfect for little ones to store away all their tiny treasures. These baskets are all made using traditional hand weaving techniques by groups of talented women-weavers living in rural Kenya. If you'd like to read more about our wonderful group of women weavers, have a look at our blog post here. We think this gift is the perfect balance of playful and practical!
The 'Hug in a Mug' Gift Bundle (£22.50)
Who doesn't love a good old cup of tea?! For those you can't share a cuppa with this year, why not send the tools for the perfect comforting cup of tea their way. We have a range of ARTHOUSE Unlimited Fine Bone Mugs in beautiful designs that are all hand illustrated by the talented artists at this social enterprise. Pictured above is the Angels of the Deep Mug with artwork that explores life on the coral reef with stunning gold accents. Paired with our Batik Handle Olive Wood Sugar Spoon which is perfect accompaniment to a cup of tea. These hand carved sugar spoons with sustainably sourced batik bone tips are all completely unique, making them a really special gift.
We hope this gift guide gave you some shopping inspiration! No matter what budget you have, we truly do believe it is that thought that counts which is why we think shopping ethically and sustainably is so important. If you are in need of sustainable gift wrapping inspiration, you can read our blog post from last year here.