Buy Less, Buy Better.
This is a shopping guide featuring independent and ethical brands from the UK. I wanted to provide a shopping resource to encourage you to shop small and support independent businesses when purchasing gifts for your loved ones. I know how tough it can be to make ethical decisions when browsing a sea of big name brands and I hope this guide provides an easy-to-use resource for seeking out unique products you can’t find anywhere else.
My criteria for including shops on this list was simple: they must be an independent business available to shop online; and/or be considered responsible, ethical, sustainable, and/or environmentally conscious. The majority of fashion brands I chose to include have a minimal style and design with the exception of those “doing something original and different.” Websites must be trustworthy and well designed so it makes shopping with them easy and reliable.
If you’re not in the UK, most if not all of these brands will ship worldwide - you’ll just need to place your order a little earlier than usual to get your gifts on time!
Homewares: Collective Sites
The Future Kept - items from independent designers, makers, and artisans
Lo + Behold - modern homewares and gifts
Ethical Superstore - Fairtrade, organic, vegan, and eco-friendly products
Forest and Found - a sustainable craft and design partnership
Hus and Hem - Scandinavian design, interiors, and gifts
Momosan Shop - handmade homewares and gifts
Native & Co. - an independent homeware shop
Objects of Use - kitchen and household tools, and useful devices
One World Trading Co. - furniture and interiors from around the world
Osmology - the home of scented candles
Such & Such - contemporary and unique homeware
This Modern Life - fun and modern decor for babies, children, and the home
TwentyTwentyOne - designer furniture, lighting, and accessories
Workshop Living - simple design for everyday living
Homewares: Individual Designers
And Smile Studio - illustrations and artwork
Annie Dornan Smith Design - illustrated stationery and homeware
Birch & Brook - hand crafted scented candles
Charlotte Mei - fun handmade ceramics and accessories
Cocofour - small batch soy candles and home fragrances
Emma Block - custom portraits, wedding stationery, illustrations, and prints
Essence + Alchemy - organic natural fragrances & candles
Faye Moorhouse - peculiar original artwork and illustrations
Floss & Mischief - crossstitch patterns and kits
Fran Meneses - original artwork and prints
Heiho - lifestyle shop with prints and accessories
Hello Harriet - accessories, clothing, and stationery
Kinska - original ceramics
Lorna Scobie - animal inspired prints and illustrations
Ohh Deer - illustrated gifts including stationery, greeting cards, cushions, and more
Papersmiths - fine paper goods and lifestyle accessories
Present & Correct - office sundries for the modern workspace
Rosemary Milner - wallpapers, fabrics & bespoke embroidery
Sighh - accessories, stationery, and homeware
The Happy Pencil - art, illustrations, and homewares
Victoria Clare Gray - prints and accessories
Zoe Austin - original ceramics and pottery
Clothing
Bamboo Clothing - organic clothing made from bamboo
Beaumont Organic - organic and ethical clothing
Bibico - simple, natural, and ethical women's clothing
Birdsong - unique, hand made women's clothing
Braintree - thoughtfully-designed clothing
Colenimo - timeless, quality clothing
Finisterre - functional and sustainable products
Gather & See - organic, fair trade, and ethical clothing
Henri - locally and ethically made clothing
Komodo - organic and eco-friendly clothing
Lite Apparel - ethical casual clothing
Lowie - ethical women's fashion and accessories
Nadinoo - well-designed women's wear
Oska - fashion for women
Ownbrown - high quality nude tights for women of colour
People Tree - fair trade fashion
Riyka - created with love and sustainably made
Stalf - simple easy-wear
The Acey - women's ethical clothing
The White Shirt Co. - luxury organic cotton clothing
Trouva - 150 of the UK's best independent boutiques
Veryan - ethical and organic minimal designer womenswear
69b - independent womenswear boutique
Nightwear & Lingerie
Gilda & Pearl - luxury lingerie and sleepwear
Luva Huva - eco-friendly lingerie, Nightwear, bras, and active wear
Neon Moon - supportive lingerie for all ages, shapes, and sizes
Tales of Thread - classic and contemporary sleepwear
Yawn - sleepwear made for relaxing
Shoes
Bourgeois Boheme - vegan and vegetarian footwear
Wills - vegetarian shoes and vegan shoes
Accessories
Dianne Tanner - handmade, vegan-friendly clutch bags
Matt & Nat - eco-friendly, vegan-leather bags, and accessories
Oh My Clumsy Heart - minimal everyday jewellery
Thamon London - bags made with leaves
Skin Care
Honest Skincare - organic, handmade, natural, and ethical skincare
Ravenscroft Apothecary - handmade, vegan-friendly, all-natural skincare
Sister & Co. - raw, food-grade, 100% natural beauty and skincare
The Soap Co. - an ethical luxury brand employing people who are blind or otherwise disabled or disadvantaged
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