THE HOLIDAYS ARE HERE!!! That time of the year again. The time for strong hugs with the ones we love and also, sadly, lots and lots of shopping! Christmas is one of the busiest seasons for all stores, which means most of us will spend hundreds or thousands of dollars taking advantage of sales and purchasing products that will potentially end up in landfills in a few months, or might support practices that are devastating for our planet and people. So... how about we choose which stores and brands to support wisely?! How about we buy less crap and more things we will use for years to come? How about we say no to fast fashion products and buy more eco-friendly clothing pieces we can reuse in a dozen different ways? How about we give the gift of consciousness this year?! Giving unique and lovely gifts that will raise an interesting conversation with those we love? How about we use the money we worked so hard for this year to make sure we have a planet to call our home in the future? What do you guys say?! Ready to become an agent of change this Holiday season?! If so, here are a few brands you might want to check out. Eco-friendly, vegan, fair-trade, charity-oriented. Nothing like conscious shopping!

I’ve separated them in categories, so you can find whatever you are looking for to gift this year.

For those not familiar with the language, these are the meanings of each label…
• Vegan: no animal byproducts or animal ingredients
• Cruelty-free: not tested on animals (applies mostly to beauty products)
•   Fair-trade: artisans are paid a fair wage for their work
•   Handprinted/ Block-printed: artisans design textiles by hand with different techniques. All stamped by hand (hand-carved wood stamp) and with natural colors.
•   Non-toxic: lacks the main harmful chemicals most brands put in their products (applies to beauty products, especially nail polishes)

CLOTHING:

The Onikas: Fair-trade and handprinted clothing with non-toxic colors by artisans in India and Ecuador.

Osom: Socks made from recycled textiles

Miakoda NY: fair-trade clothing made with biodegradable fibers such as bamboo and organic cotton. (softest fabrics ever!!!)

Melissa Shoes: Shoes made from recycled plastic reusing 99% of waste, water and unsold stock.

THX: Everyday products that suport everyday causes. You choose the nonprofit and the amount whenever you shop a THX product.

Symbology: fair-trade and handprinted clothing. Beautiful dresses! Use CODE: WTSXSYMBOLOGY for 10% off.

Nomad Tribe: fashion + social impact. Anything you need! Eco-friendly, vegan, and charity-oriented options. Use CODE: NTVH

LINGERIE & SWIM:

NAJA: fair-trade and sustainable lingerie. Every product you buy helps women rise above poverty. Naja provides fair wages and health care to each artisan.

EcoPeace: eco-friendly swim wear made with recycled and natural fibers and non-toxic dyes

Lume: fair-trade and eco-friendly swim wear supporting different artists and charities.

SHOES:

Beyond Skin: vegan and fair-trade shoe brand made with vegetable coating.

By Blanch: vegan and fair-trade shoe brand from Spain

VEJA: eco-friendly shoe brand with some vegan options. Use CODE: NTVH for discount.

Turqu ise: vegan and charity-oriented shoe brand. Use CODE: NTVH for discount.

Cult of Coquette: vegan leather high heels!!!!

BAGS:

Big Bubble Bags: really cool bags made from recycled bubble wrap. Use CODE: BUBBLEGIFT for 15% off

Matt and Nat: fair-trade and vegan bags made with natural materials and recycled plastic bottle interior lining.

Remember Me Green: Bags made from recycled NYC billboards.

Up Fuse: Fair-trade and eco-friendly bags made from recycled plastic bags. Use CODE: KINDCHRISTMAS for discount.

Stella McCartney: vegan luxury bags (a little pricey for those looking for high end options)

Angela Roi: beautiful and classic vegan bags in earthy colors.

JEWELRY:

WTS Malas: fair-trade, handmade and blessed by priests in Bali

The Fifth Element: handmade and spiritual jewelry. Her mandala rings are my favorite.

Simbi: handmade and fairtrade bracelets made from natural clay by artisans in Haiti. Each purchase provides clean water to Haiti. Use CODE: WATERTHRUSKIN for 15% off.

Alex and Ani: jewelry made from recycled materials that benefits different charities.

Kathe Cuervo: handmade jewelry made from recycled materials

BEAUTY:

Bite: vegan, cruelty-free, non-toxic and EDIBLE. Yes! Made with natural and fine ingredients! My favorite is the Agave lip mask!

Tarte: vegan, cruelty-free, non-toxic makeup. My faves are the lip colors, mascara and cheeky blush.

OneLoveOrganics: organic, vegan, cruelty-free, natural spa products and body lotions. My favorite is the Vitamin C Body Oil.

Sparitual: vegan, cruelty-free, non-toxic Nail polishes and spa products. Love their nail polishes!

Baiser Beauty: artisanal, vegan, organic, handmade beauty products. My favorite is their anti-aging oil.

AROMATHERAPY & PERFUMES:

Wholistic: organic and natural aromatherapy oils with crystals charged by the moon.

THX Co: perfumes and soy candles made with natural, fair-trade, and sustainable ingredients. THX lets you choose which nonprofit to donate to.

YOGA & FITNESS:

Global Groove Life: fair-trade products made by artisans in Asia. I have their yoga ball.

Portdebras: Fair-trade yoga clothing made with natural biodegradable fibers.

Waterlust: yoga pants made from recycled plastic bottles and supports different Marine Research nonprofits.

InnerFire: yoga clothes made from natural fibers and recycled plastic bottles

YolohaYoga: yoga props and products made from natural cork and recycled tire rubber

I love Gurus: yogi sandals and wear made from natural eco-friendly products. For each purchase, they plant a tree.

TRAVEL:

Matt and Nat: fair-trade and vegan bags made with natural materials and recycled plastic bottle interior lining.

WTS Kits: vegan, eco-friendly, natural and organic travel kits with everything you need for your trips.

WTS Hotels: what about gifting a vacation at an eco-friendly hotel? Get inspired by all the trips I’ve taken.

LSTN Headphones: Headphones that give back! With each purchase LSTN provides hearing aid to people in need.

To look at last year's WTS holiday gift guide inspiration, click here!

It's that time of the year again guys!!! Lights everywhere, people singing, stores getting crowded, and money "mysteriously" flying out of our wallets like free birds. And don't even get me started on the post-Holiday remorse we get once the credit card bill hits home! But what if we could give all that shopping a meaning other than showing affection towards our loved ones? What if we could help our planet with every dollar? And no, I don't mean making a donation on someone else's behalf (even though I love that type of gift, most people don't appreciate it!). This type of giving involves your loved ones getting their awesome gifts while your Benjamin Franklins make a difference in our planet. Yeap! All that is very much possible! I’ve been doing it for 2 years now, not only for the Holidays but every day, by looking for and shopping eco-friendly and charity-loving brands. To save you guys the hours of research, here are some of the gifts I have in mind this year. I hope you like them as much as I do! <3

Sunnies: ever thought about buying cool shades that give eye-care to people in need? Well, these are it! For women and men. TOMS is revolutionizing they way we shop completely!

Bags: Let’s be honest ladies…we can never have enough bags in our closet. Something that makes me truly happy though, is receiving a vegan and eco-friendly bag that looks like actual leather but is made from recycled plastic bottles and other cruelty-free materials. Here are some great options. For women and men (briefcases).

Matt&Nat (Beige bag & black briefcase)
M.R.K.T Backpack (vegan and eco-friendly. LOVE this brand!)

Scarves: Now this brand has me completely head over heels! Scarves that are not only fashionable but are blessed with 4 knots in each corner representing Love, Adventure, Happiness and Mystery AND also give back big time! For each one you purchase, the owner (Matt) designs a blessed blankie for homeless children and doggie beds for homeless dogs.

Winter Booties: This topic is HUGE!!! I’m sure you’ve all heard of UGGS but did you know there’s an overload of cruelty behind them? Even though they are made from wool and companies have painted and sold us this peaceful and beautiful picture of men and sheep hugging while they are being shed, reality is…THAT IS NOT THE CASE! Sheep get tortured and suffer tremendously with some of them bleeding to death because of the brusque treatment. Click here to read more. Fortunately, Pammies have come to the rescue! These incredibly soft and comfy booties are made from recycled polyester, TV screens and other vegan and eco-friendly materials!!

Cruelty-free & Natural Makeup: In case you babes didn’t know, most beauty products are not only toxic but also tested on animals in horrendous ways. Therefore, I’m always looking for natural and kinder alternatives and Tarte fits this concept completely. Most of my makeup is by Tarte. Plus, their packaging designs are flawless!

Clothing with a heart: This brand does not only have fabulous day-to-day essentials with cool designs but they are all fairtrade and provide school uniforms to girls in Nepal for each clothing piece sold! This tee is by far my fave! It helps victims of Nepal’s earthquake too.

Eco Yoga mats: For all yoga and planet-lovers, this is a must! JadeYoga produces yoga mats entirely made from renewable tree rubber with amazing colors AND plant a tree for every mat purchased!

Eco Skateboard: Now this is what I like to call “flying through the streets without leaving a trace”! These skateboards are made from ocean waste (recycled fishing net), vegetable oil and more.

Diamonds: Who doesn’t like jewelry? Specially when it’s the type of design that involves ethical diamonds and charities that educate and empower women! Unleashed diamonds is reshaping the diamond industry BIG time! (PS: Santa.. I want this necklace please!!! ;) )

Reclaimed Wood Clock that plants trees: This entire store has incredible products made from recycled materials and plants trees for each one bought.

Eco coffee mug: I have this one at home and LOVE it! It is made from bamboo and keeps the temperature of your tea or coffee hot for hours!!

Make it yourself: In my opinion, there’s nothing that shows more dedication and love than a gift that is actually made by the person who gives it to you. I saw this little baby and thought it was a cute and delicate gift idea or even home décor. All you need is a mason jar, gold paint, and a plant.

Planet-saving Holiday Gift Guide!