With the holidays upon us, we could all use a little inspiration, whether it be from entertaining ideas to vacation plans. For many of us, gift giving tends to dominate this festive season. It can be easy to become lost in the commercial side of holiday giving, but here, in our Conscious Gift Guide, we lay out a few ways you can give with integrity.
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Go Clean (Beauty): It seems we are all a bit more conscious about the products we choose to include in our beauty regimen these days. Avoiding harmful ingredients is a priority for many, but we still want to nourish our skin with the very best. At Kalya, Summer Fridays is our latest clean beauty addiction. The brand offers indulgent face masks that, in addition to being formulated without the likes of sulphates, parabens, formaldehydes, phthalates, synthetic fragrance and other harmful ingredients, it is vegan and cruelty-free. The Jet Lag mask is the holy grail of hydrating masks. Part face mask, part hydrating moisturizer, this mask leaves your skin dewy, glowing and hydrated. Your face (and loved one) will thank you.
Summer Friday Jet Lag Mask
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Give to a Good Cause: Everyone has that one person on their list that makes gift giving nearly impossible. For that person who may have everything they need, you might consider a gift to charity. It never goes out of style to support organizations that provides care and resources to those in need, spread love and education, and protect our environment. Donating to a friend or loved one’s favourite cause in their honour is a wonderful way to share the holiday spirit. The list of deserving non-profits run the gamut, from international organizations championing human rights to local grassroots groups aiding the community. Here are a few suggestions for your consideration:
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Sun Youth/Jeunesse Au Soleil: A Montreal-based organization founded by two childhood friends over 60 years ago, Sun Youth is an invaluable resource to its community, doing everything from enabling youth participation in sports to providing food to those in need.
Sun Youth Organization
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Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal: The mission statement of the Native Women’s Shelter is to provide Aboriginal women and their children with a safe and supportive environment. And, they do just that. Native communities are among the most marginalized in North America, and the women within these communities even more so. If you would like to help on the road to reconciliation, please consider a donation to this fine organization.
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The International Rescue Committee: This organization devoted to aiding those who have been affected by conflict and disaster. They are currently providing much needed support on the ground in Yemen, and they also publish a list of humanitarian crises of which we should all be aware in the new year. Donate and you will help this big world feel a bit smaller.
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Support an Artist: There is nothing more sophisticated than gifting a piece of art. And, there is nothing more satisfying than investing in local talent. With the triumverate of social media, online shopping and pop-up market initiatives, it has never been easier to seek out and engage with local artists. The Fine Black Pen is one such artist. Created by Montreal-based multi-media artist, Veronika Gruntovskaya, the Fine Black Pen produces magical weaves of all shapes and sizes that add depth and character to any living space, as well beautiful handmade wooden ornaments with wood-burned images. She also caters to custom orders. Find her on Instagram and Facebook @thefineblackpen.
Handmade wooden ornaments courtesy of The Fine Black Pen
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Shop Local: By now, the benefits of shopping local have been fully expounded upon us all. Supporting local retailers is a great way to keep the flow of money within your community and help smaller companies remain viable in this modern world of big brands. Explore your neighbourhood to discover the plethora of local retailers deserving of your hard earned dollars. In the every stylish Plateau Mont-Royal, Freitag Concept Boutique, is one such local gem that offers a stunningly curated collection of baubles that will catch anyone’s eye. It is the perfect stop for anyone looking to indulge a loved one for the holidays, offering accessories for both women and men, and a comfortable shopping experience in a beautifully lit space where you will be ensconced with all that glitters.
Freitag Concept Boutique
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Inspire: Books are always a good choice. Books have the power to motivate, educate, provoke and affect. By giving a book this holiday season, you can transport someone to a fantastic world, share a new hobby, encourage healthy eating habits, and inspire curiosity. An excellent example is “Comfortable with Uncertaintly: 108 Teachings on Cultivating Fearlessness and Compassion” by renowned American Buddhist nun Pema Chödrön. The collection of short teachings is a profound reminder of Buddhist teachings for the novice and expert alike, and will help ease you into 2019 with a focus on mindfulness and gratitude.
Comfortable with Uncertainty by Pema Chödrön
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Get into Eco-Fashion: The pitfalls of fast fashion have come into sharp relief in recent years. While this industry may satisfy our style needs in the most expedient and economical way, it has many unpleasant social and environmental repercussions. But, luckily for us fashionistas, not all fast fashion is created equal. The Reformation is a L.A.-based brand that puts ecological practices at the forefront, all while steadily producing divinely feminine outfits for all occasions, from your epic street style moments to your wedding day. The forward-thinking fashion retailer employs green clothing production techniques to minimize its environmental footprint, relying on eco-friendly infrastructure and materials, and even transforms excess offcut material from other designers and manufacturers in the industry into the highly in demand products in their catalogue. In addition to this, The Reformation provides a RefScale for each product sold, allowing clients to track the ecological impact of their purchase, as well as investing in offset techniques to build new forests. Not convinced yet? Just check out The NYE collection, and you will be.
The Reformation Aussie Jacket made with recycled denim and faux fur