The 2020 Sustainable Scottish Christmas Gift Guide
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Despite everything that 2020 has thrown our way, I am so excited for the festive season, not least because it gives me a chance to shout about some of my favourite sustainable brands here in Scotland. Small businesses need our support more than ever, and as a massive cheerleader for Scottish design, I thought I’d dedicate this year’s Christmas gift guide to our thriving community of creatives who want to put their beautiful stamp on the world without leaving a negative footprint.
Scroll on to explore my top picks from Scotland-based independent brands to shop from this Christmas and far beyond, and make sure to check on delivery deadlines as small businesses usually wrap up a little earlier than the big guys. The brands featured in this blog post have paid a small fee to be featured, but I have personally selected the products I love from designers and makers with values I connect with.
Hayley McSporran
Hayley McSporran is a fashion designer based in Glasgow. Her slow, streamlined, functional designs are perfect for the minimalist in your life - I’ve got my eyes on this faux leather crossbody bag, available in black or white (£79). The last UK order dates for clothing is Tuesday 1st December and for bags, Tuesday 8th December.
Hilary Grant
Scotland’s Central Belt shouldn’t hog all the small business love - that’s where Hilary Grant’s Orkney-based knitwear studio comes in. Each graphic-print piece is crafted from responsibly-sourced lambswool, and I can personally attest to its luxuriously soft handle, suitable for even the most sensitive skin. I’ve got the Flock blanket (£140) and Forest bedspread (£240) on my wishlist. The last order date for UK shipping is Tuesday 22nd December.
Lucky Cloud
For cruelty-free beauty enthusiasts, look no further than Lucky Cloud. From cleansing balms to facial oils, scented candles to soaps, and the most effective lip balm I’ve ever used, Lucy makes every single product with 100% natural and vegan ingredients using plastic-free packaging. This year, she’s put together balancing and nourishing mini skincare kits (£25) that make beautiful little gifts.
Collingwood Norris
Collingwood-Norris is a knitwear brand by Flora Collingwood-Norris, based in the Scottish Borders. Flora knits the most joyful jumpers and accessories from lambswool spun in Kinross, but her other talent is visible mending. This year, she has created DIY kits so you can learn to mend at home - a brilliant sustainable fashion skill to have in your toolbelt all year round. The How to Darn Kit (£20) includes detailed instructions, a small piece of knitted fabric, a darning needle and five colours of lambswool, all wrapped up and ready to gift. Order before Monday 21st December for UK delivery in time for Christmas.
You can listen to Flora on Common Threads podcast to find out more about her work!
ReJean Denim
Give the gift of sustainable denim by supporting Glasgow-based designer Siobhan McKenna’s zero-waste fashion brand, ReJean. Siobhan creates one-of-a-kind patchwork denim jackets and accessories from preloved jeans - check out the ready-to-wear collection (from £120) and order before 21st December, or pick up a gift card (from £10) to let your lucky loved one design their very own custom denim jacket.
LAW Design Studio
LAW Design Studio is a slow fashion brand headed up by Glaswegian designer Gillian McNeill. Gill creates thoughtful, minimalist womenswear for an inclusive size range, putting natural fabrics and a small-batch capsule mindset at the heart of each impeccable design. I’ve got the linen Olivia top (£70) and cosy wool hat (£25) added to my basket. The lead time for clothing is approximately two weeks.
Hemp Eyewear
Hemp Eyewear are the pioneers of the world’s first hemp fibre eyewear frames. They make each and every pair of sunglasses and glasses from 100% natural and vegan ingredients right here in Edinburgh by hand. My personal favourites for Christmas gifts are the Canepina (£145) and the Gaudi (£145), and the brand offers gift cards for custom designs too. The best part is the lifetime guarantee for repairs and recycling, creating the only circular system for eyewear I’ve ever come across.
Photography by Stark Studio.
Photography by Stark Studio
Behind Bracken
Behind Bracken is an Edinburgh-based jewellery brand designed for elegant, everyday wear. Ashley’s delicate, minimalist pieces are inspired by ‘myth, memory and the celestial’, and each one is made using 100% recycled silver and gold. As a self-confessed earring addict, I’m particularly taken with the Luna hoops (from £70) and the Sol hoops (from £80). Most of the jewellery is made-to-order, so allow for a two week lead time.
Bellanude
Bellanude is a newly-launched womenswear brand by couture designer Sarah Murphy, based in Fife. The Bellanude ready-to-wear collection is a fairytale full of sumptuous tulle and satin, perfect for festive Zoom party or Christmas day looks. I am dreaming of the blush pink Ella top (£139), and I’m willing my hair to grow longer so I can adorn it with these gorgeous zero-waste scrunchies (from £12).
Nmarra
Nmarra is the brainchild of Jen Stewart, a Glasgow jewellery designer who is passionate about bold, irreverent brass earrings that are destined to make a statement. It’s hard to pick a favourite, but the Arca studs (£24.50) remind me of the Great Gatsby, and I think we all need a bit of glamour right now. I love wearing my pair of Giga earrings too.
Rosana Expósito
Rosana Expósito is a Scottish-Spanish fashion designer based in Glasgow, with a focus on natural and deadstock fabrics and slow, small-batch, made-to-order production. Her new knitwear range uses traditional artisan techniques to create accessories made from surplus luxury lambswool yarn. I’m obsessed with the deep mustard and rust tones in Rosana’s hat and scarf set (£117) to brighten up the dark, cold Scottish winter.
Lauren Smith
Lauren Smith an Edinburgh-based embroidery artist who transforms colourful threads into retro-inspired designs that adorn pins, necklaces and hoops. While the patterns look simple, each one is stitched painstakingly by hand. Lauren’s brand new collection launches next week - keep an eye on the online shop to snap it up before Christmas (prices start at £8).
Photography by Stark Studio
Photography by Stark Studio
Akvile Su
Akvile Su is a jeweller based in Edinburgh using traditional metalwork to create thoroughly modern, minimalist, gender-neutral jewellery from recycled Ecosilver. Akvile’s bold, structural Hollow ring (£290) is truly a masterpiece, and I love the architectural simplicity of her Chain link collier (£340), as well as these delicate everyday Modern Hoop studs (£35). Order before Monday 21st December for UK Christmas delivery.
Maik Lifestyle
Maik Lifestyle is a collection of sustainable homeware and textile products designed by Cat Thorogood in Edinburgh. Cat’s bold and beautiful designs are made to fill your home with sunshine, and most importantly, made to last. I’m planning Gossip Girl-inspired preppy outfits styled with these houndstooth print ankle socks (£14), and I’d very much feel like a Proper Adult with these placemats (£58) and coasters (£5).
Lind & Lime
Perhaps the most local in the list, the delicious and award-winning Lind & Lime gin is distilled at the Port of Leith Distillery. The perfect Christmas Eve drink on ice with a squeeze of lime and sugar, Lind & Lime is a classic, balanced London Dry Gin in a vintage-inspired bottle, available to order online (£35).
Hayley Scanlan
Hayley Scanlan is the iconic Dundee designer best known for her boutique full of Scottish fashion treats, like her signature biker dresses, and for her role on the Netflix Next in Fashion talent show (a proud moment for Scottish fashion fans everywhere). This year, she’s collaborated with Kelsie Mae Greig on a capsule collection adorned with statement florals - I particularly love the wrap top (£120), shoulder bag (£65), and cushion (£55).