It has been way too long since my last post, and I promise not to leave it for this long in the future. Of course, work and child-rearing has seen me too busy to concentrate on the blog, which is also why this year's Christmas guide is TEN days late. However, I hope not too late.

This year, I decided to take inspiration from my work, which has taken me from Malawi to Guyana, and everywhere in between. As a result, I have titled this year's Christmas Guide as "The Globetrotter's Edition," which looks at ethical brands and gifts to give around the world. Divided into regions, readers will be introduced to ethical Made in China brands as well as brands from Norway, Bali, St Vincent and Uganda (to name only a few). I hope you enjoy, and stay tuned for a style post.

I hope you enjoy this Ethical Gift Guide I have just finished. Unlike the previous gift guide, I had no professional help (Stephanie R. I missed your talent) nor did I have my partner-in-crime, Emma H. to help. However, after a week of 5-6am shifts, I finally managed to put together something I am proud to share with you.

The Conscious Gifts Guide is merely a small representation of the many brands that are offering aesthetically pleasing products with ethically pleasing impacts. I cannot express how many more pages I wanted to create, with how many more brands, but I knew I had to stop at some point, so this is what I created. It did highlight one thing, that we are spoilt for choice when it comes to brands that offer us products The Collective can be proud to feature.

This year, The Gift Guide also comes with special promotions from some of the most beautiful brands, which will make your shopping experience (and mine) all the more pleasing to the heart and to the pocket. Particularly, I would like to thank BLUMA PROJECT, FAIR HARBOR CLOTHING, FOSTERIE, P.i.C. STYLE, STARFISH PROJECT and TIKLARI for setting up special Conscience Collective discounts for readers.

As we did in our last Christmas Guide, this year FAIRE COLLECTION will be giving away a few goodies in our second Christmas Giveaway, so please enter tomorrow, when the giveaway officially starts.

Please feel free to comment below on other brands you would like to see in the future, or for any critiques, advice or well-wishes you may have. Also, keep an eye out for more Gift Guides and posts on Brands on the blog starting from tomorrow.

Season's Greetings!
Stacy H

Ok! Time to be realistic! TWO DAYS LEFT for Christmas, and unless you are going out to do some last minute shopping, there is no chance of you making it in time to get those last minute gifts delivered to your house to be wrapped and then handed over to the giftee. But not to worry, this is why you have The Conscience Collective at hand to guide you through this nightmare. GIFT CARDS! 

Yes, you thought it, but I said it! Gift Cards are an amazing way to save face in case you forgot to buy a gift for your little cousin, who has had his or her little hearts set on receiving a gift from their favourite older cousin (I am not admitting to anything). And, because you have spent almost all of your budget, you're also a little reluctant to spend a lot, so a gift card is an ideal way to show them that you have not forgotten, that you care, and that they now have the power to get the item they really want, and man, are there loads of great gift cards to places that market ethical brands for all to see. 

Therefore, I have created a little gift card guide all for no more than £20/$25. Enjoy and Seasons Greetings!

Sunglasses: N 8.1 \\ Ultramarine by Westward Leaning, $210 || Knife: Nontron NA #38 Camp Knife by Best Made Company, $150 || Hat: Canvas Longill Cap by Patagonia, $35 || Rucksack: Critical Mass Pack 22L by Patagonia, $129 || Compass: MC-2G Mil Scale Compass by Suunto, $75 CAD || Shirt: Double Layered Check Shirt by Knowledge Cotton Apparel, $115 || Case: Waxed Canvas Travel Zip-Case by Best Made Company, $82 || Book: US Army Field Manuals (Set of Three) by US Army, $22 || Safe: Match Safe by Best Made Company, $9 || Undershirt: Hemp Henley Layer by Groceries, $40 || Cup: Seamless & Steadfast Enamel Steel Cups (Set of Two) by Best Made Company, $32 || Trousers: Harem Pants Army by Arbor, $80

As our first Conscious Gift Guide has been creating quite a buzz, I thought it necessary to capitalise on this and continue with our gift guide series through the blog. I've just finished my Christmas shopping for the women to whom I wish to give gifts, but I am still battling with other gifts to give the men (although I also want to gift everything on my and Em's Gifts for Him section in the Magazine). This is mainly because I tend to gift shop based on personalities, and right now I'm shopping for those who love the Great Outdoors. 

When it comes to the great outdoors, I always get product-envy as the sustainable outdoors companies are mainly male-dominated. To indulge a bit, I've gone through a few of these brands to curate a list of gifts that I would love to give (and most I'd love to get) to the special outdoorsy men in my life. These are all ethical brands from some of my absolute favourite brands, such as Arbor, Best Made Company and Patagonia who specialise particularly in ethical and sustainable outdoor activity products .  Hopefully, this list inspires you as much as it has inspired me...(my bank account and my accountant are going to cut me off soon)

Check out our Giveaway in our Christmas Magazine. Competition Closes 15th December

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Oh, and whilst you're at it, check out some of the other toys, games and gift sets available from the links provided above.

We're starting the holidays off with our ETHICAL CHRISTMAS GIFTLISTS FOR HER. As Emma and I have so much we wish to share, we decided to do this a bit differently. We've both made our own lists, with what we're hoping to find under the Christmas Tree this year and what we would gift to our female friends and family. Here are my lists for the season. Deciding the gifts to give is half the fun, and with so many unbelievable ethical options there's no excuse not to give responsibly this Christmas.

To Shop for these items select the correlating numbers for more information

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Photos edited by Graphic Designer - Alicia Hope