Despite all the good will in the world, the intensity of the weeks leading up to Christmas sometimes pushes us to buy gifts that completely contradict our values.
And yet, the desire to both please our loved ones while respecting the planet is there!
I lived in Vancouver in Canada for 3 years and every Christmas, I returned to France for the end-of-year holidays.
Needless to say, I had informed my loved ones that it would not be possible for me to bring back in my suitcases the recipe books the size of a dictionary, the board game and all its extensions or the XXL bottles of products of beauty.
Without having to take extra baggage.
The solution: offer experiences rather than materials!
In the meantime, I returned to France but I was careful not to change my good habits.
The material accumulation disaster is more or less under control.
For Christmas, I myself have gotten into the habit of offering experiences rather than materials unless I know that the person has a very particular need, in which case I see if I can find the object in question (in good state) on Le Bon Coin.
Or if I find a cool project or a new brand that I want to support.
In this post, I share with you all my gift ideas for a greener Christmas!
1. Experiments
Offering experiences, what a great idea!
Especially since it's a gift that people don't give themselves spontaneously, your gift will be even more enjoyable.
Here is a small list of “experience gift” ideas that will leave great memories (instead of piling up in the back of a cupboard).
- A voucher for a restaurant
- A voucher for a getaway, hotel and restaurant
- A class: sewing, music, makeup, calligraphy, aromatherapy, massage, gardening, dance, yoga
- A boat ride, hot air balloon ride, bike ride
- A subscription to an application: newspapers, music, photos, etc.
- An escape game
- A cinema subscription, at the swimming pool
- A voucher for a massage or treatment
2. Consumables
Another type of gift I like to give are consumables. But not just any ones.
These are those little things that we eat/drink every day but don't buy the best version for everyday life.
For the holidays, we could move into the slightly more refined category, don't you think?
These gifts have the good taste of being super useful and not cluttering up the cupboards for very long!
Here are some ideas:
- Tea from a specialist.
- Gourmet olive oil for summer mozzarella salads
- Chocolate from a master
- Desirable coffee
- Rare and fragrant spices
- Wine, unusual spirits
- Essential oils, Bach flowers or CBD
Here are some brands recently discovered through Ulule or Etsy:
Nourea , chicory made in France
Ouliva , gourmet olive oil made in France
Mindology , CBD oils to reduce stress
Papa Outang , delicious spread without palm oil
A ball of wool , the very cute cuddly toys made in France
For green packaging, think about furoshiki, these fabric wrappers of Japanese origin which allow us to rewrap our gifts indefinitely, Christmas after Christmas. Or keep all the papers you receive during the year (kraft paper from the florist, magazine or newspaper pages, envelopes, etc.)
3. Made in France
A green gift can also be an object purchased from a brand made in France. I love the idea of supporting young brands while pleasing those close to me.
Here are some of my favorite brands made in France, by category:
Ready to wear
Ankore : Sweatshirts and t-shirts made from a knit made of recycled polyester from plastic recovered from the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean and organic cotton. The manufacturing is made in France.
Louison petticoats : customizable and adjustable wardrobe, made in France
Featured workshop : women's wardrobe, made in France
Rézine : women’s clothing made in France
Ecclo : fashion for women and men made in France in recycled fabrics
Marianne by Marie Jordane : all models are made in Paris from design to manufacturing. The brand only uses natural or GOTS certified organic materials, or those from upcycling. Two friends, Marianne and Julie, are at the helm of the brand!
Maison Cala : Quality is essential at Maison Cala. Everything is handmade in the North Isère workshop, from pattern making to packaging and manufacturing. Camille gives new life to fabrics and clothing found, selected, cleaned, reworked. Its collections favor unique or very small series, and it responds quickly to personalized orders.
Missègle: For almost 40 years, the Missegle workshop has been working on its know-how in Burlats in Tarn and offering pretty sweaters, socks and scarves in natural materials, knitted in France.
Palm : Clothing made from organic, recycled or environmentally friendly fabrics; manufactured in France or in the European Union according to the know-how mobilized in order to guarantee good working conditions and above all, a minimal carbon footprint.
Les Hirondelles : The brand that is committed to ensuring that fashion only lasts one spring. In 3 years, Les Hirondelles have made more than 4,300 garments, which saved nearly 6,000 meters of fabric. Les Hirondelles uses scraps from a roll of fabric. French manufacturing, made from Grenoble to Capbreton via Riorges. From the supply of raw materials to manufacturing, including design and logistics… the entire eco-system is concentrated less than 800 km from Annecy and we always take the greenest route.
Carrousel : Clothes designed and developed in a workshop in Annecy, and manufactured in limited series in workshops in the Rhône-Alpes region. The brand's style is urban, graphic, chic, to accompany the modern young woman who likes to undertake and move around town with fluidity.
Accessories
Aglaia : a jewelry brand made in France with a real commitment to the environment such as the use of 75% recycled silver today, with the objective of reaching 100% by the end of 2021, the use of ethical stones (6 by the end of 2021).
Lightning neck : Scarves entirely made in France to snuggle up in a soft material, healthy for the body and the environment!
Forest blue : Socks and tights for men and women made in France in the Vosges.
Labonal : Another brand of socks for men, women and children made in France since 1924 in Alsace in Dambach la Ville.
Royalties Paris : Socks made in France for men, women and children made south of Limoges.
The PERRIN Manufacture : It is the last family-owned manufacturer of socks and tights to produce 100% of its creations in France. 4th generation in Montceau-les-Mines in Saône-et-Loire. The company was awarded the “Living Heritage Company” label in August 2014.
Shandor : Scarves, cushions and hair accessories in 100% silk printed with ecological ink and made in France. “Arty” style!
Entrenoue : Turbans for women and children created by Fanny. Handcrafted in France.
Ylle : Hair accessories, scarves, headbands, jewelry, hats made from recycled fibers in France.
Cage Créations : original headbands and accessories made in Montpellier by Camille Gastesoleil.
Stamp : Recycled socks and tights for men and women
Ozaelle : hair accessories and jewelry made with passion by artisans in France. Textile accessories are made with carefully selected ecological materials.
Lingerie
Maud and Marjorie : Lingerie and swimwear, free and rock and roll made in France from noble materials (silk, lace, jacquard) or Italian lycra.
Occidente : French house of haute lingerie, well-being loungewear created from pure organic textiles, made in France in the Côte d'Azur and Provence.
Meila : Lingerie and underwear made near Poitiers, the workshop is labeled Living Heritage Company.
Maline : Pretty underwear made in a tailoring workshop in Ain, from Italian fabrics.
Ah nana cheeky : Ethical and authentic tailor-made underwear made in France in Ain!
Cucul la praline : lingerie made in France from upcycled fabrics with heathered fabrics, recovered from the ends of rolls, forgotten fabrics or new GOTS certified or Oeko-Tex labeled fabrics.
Leather goods
Lenocip : Handmade handbags and fashion accessories in Paris.
Atelier verde : Bags and pouches made from tractor inner tubes!
Dema creation : Fine vegetable leather goods, made by hand in France in New Aquitaine
Jack of spades : leather saddle maker made in France , leather of French, Italian or Spanish origin
Camille Vegan Bags : Pretty bags made in a small family workshop located in the Paris region. The brand sources its materials from French weavers (for jacquards and linings) and, if this is not possible, favors European partners. The materials chosen are innovative and durable such as Piñatex and Apple Skin as well as synthetic fibers and Okeo-Tex certified jacquards.
Decoration
Wabi-Sabi: candles with scents that take you on a journey, handmade in Bregagne from eco-responsible soy wax.
Small porcelains: Justine makes her pieces by hand in an artisanal way. Every year in June, the collection changes. At the moment, the Hacienda collection is in the spotlight, mixing the warmth of Latin America and the colors of Morocco.
Household linens
Bihan : organic and supportive bed linen in cotton woven in France and made in a reintegration site in Seine-Saint-Denis.
Blanc des Vosges : Established in Gérardmer since 1843, Blanc des Vosges is a company family run from father to son by Jean-François Birac, representative of the 5th generation. The company is labeled Vosges Terre Textile, a label recognizing only products whose manufacturing stages are carried out more than 75% in the Vosges massif. Blanc des Vosges was awarded the Living Heritage Company label in 2011.
Hemp color: household linen and tableware made in France made from hemp.
Kalos Paris : linen family linen, elegant, well-made pieces with a refined style, designed to last and be passed down. Love of linen, this noble material with discreet luxury, to accompany sweet family moments.
Cosmetics & Well-being
Slolie: natural and responsible care, made in France.
Umaï : make the transition and wash your hair with solid shampoo.
Krème Paris: healthy, organic & effective treatments, freshly formulated in France.
Do you have any other brands in mind that should be featured in this post?
Share them with us in the comments 👇
Discover here our eco-responsible yoga outfits made in France from recycled materials, perfectly suited to practicing all types of yoga!
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Photo credit :
- Alex Robert
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