Ethical Holiday Gift Ideas

The holiday shopping season is upon us, and if you’re not already in the full swing of it, I’m betting you will be soon. To help you shop according to your values, we have listed some gift suggestions from the stores in our guide. These gifts will brighten the season for your friends or family, as well as for the artisans who produced them in safe conditions for a fair wage. You’ll also find that ethically-made gifts are often comparable in price to conventionally-produced items, so you can give gifts that support your values without breaking the bank!

This basket made fairly in Thailand is perfect for storing throw blankets on chilly winter nights. $24.95 from 7 Loaves.

Cards from Africa has a wide variety of Christmas and holiday cards handcrafted in Rwanda by young people who have been orphaned by genocide or disease. I have a special fondness for the impossibly cute Holiday Hedgehog card. $4.99 from Cards from Africa.

This lavender silk scarf is hand woven in India and colored with natural vegetable dyes. $48 from Dolma Fair Trade.

Made by women affected by human trafficking and poverty in Thailand, this classic black beaded necklace could be worn to the office or on a night out and comes in two lengths. $50 (short) or $70 (long) from Freedom Stones.

These freshwater pearl earrings are made fairly in Thailand and feature an etched silver bead as an accent. $22 from Made by Survivors.

This bold fabric tote is made ethically in Kenya by graduates of life skills programs run by Caring Partners Global. $28 from NationWares.

What are your ethical gift ideas? You may have noticed that all of the gifts above are geared toward women—how do you shop ethically for the men in your life? We’d love to hear from you!