Eight Responsibly Made (And Highly Desirable) Gifts To Give This Year

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Eight Responsibly Made (And Highly Desirable) Gifts To Give This Year

Words by Jack Stanley

10 December 2022

From wrapping paper and presents to overeating and general waste, Christmas can feel like a difficult time if you’re trying to live more sustainably. Thankfully, though, the options for more conscious gift-giving are better than they’ve ever been. This year, we’re encouraging our readers to give something back with a charitable donation via MR PORTER Health In Mind. And for guilt-free gift giving, any of the products that sit within our Craftsmanship Code have passed our guidelines for more responsible production. And to make it even easier, we’ve highlighted eight of our favourites below.

01.

The Slowdown Studio recycled blanket

Los Angeles-based Slowdown Studio creates items with a focus on sustainable materials and championing upcoming artists. For this cotton throw, the label has used a mix of conventional and recycled cotton to showcase the artwork of Uruguayan designer Ms Maite García, whose brightly coloured Kimbie design makes the item perfect for use as either a cosy blanket or a statement wall-hanging.

02.

The NN07 quilted jacket

Just because you’re being more conscious of your environmental impact doesn’t mean you need to compromise on functionality. Danish label NN07 has put technical details front and centre with its Golfie 8181 jacket, which is both wind- and water-resistant, as well as being packed with down for extra warmth on cold winter days.

03.

The Alec Doherty bling ring

Mr Alec Doherty infuses his jewellery designs with playfulness and a good dose of 1990s nostalgia, making them the perfect gift for the holidays. This ring features the jeweller’s signature face-style motif, a nod to the characters he remembers as a teenager. Alongside the playful approach, Doherty also uses luxurious materials, including nine-karat gold for the ring plus tourmaline and amethyst stones on the face.

04.

The Obida pop-art print

Art can be a tricky thing to gift, but Mr Abba Makama is a pretty surefire choice. The Nigerian artist has worked with the Obida Shop and O’DA Art Gallery in Lagos to release the “Lonely Hearts Club”, a series of portraits of Makama’s cultural heroes. What better gift to give this year than his portrait of the iconic Ms Grace Jones?

05.

The Blackhorse Lane Ateliers selvedge denim

Everyone needs good jeans, right? London’s Blackhorse Lane Ateliers is one of the best small denim makers in the world due to the way it celebrates values such as craft and community with each pair of jeans it produces. It’s NW1 straight-leg fit features selvedge denim from Japan’s famed Kurabo mill. The jeans have been traditionally indigo-dyed and are yet to be washed or broken in, so they’ll take on a completely individual patina as they’re worn, meaning that, over time, they’ll turn into a unique gift.

06.

The Japan Best lucky cat figurines

The perfect gift for the new homeowner, these ceramic ornaments are based on the Japanese maneki-neko figurine and are believed to bring good luck. This take on the lucky cat is a slight rework of the traditional design, instead opting for a more minimalist and contemporary approach. The set includes two black and white ornaments, each of which has been created in line with our Heritage Craft certification.

07.

The Karu Research embroidered jacket

Karu Research designs its clothing to be more than just clothing. All of the Indian label’s pieces are also intended to celebrate traditional crafts and help pass these techniques down across generations. This upcycled jacket is a perfect example. To produce it, the label has upcycled vintage embroidered cotton quilts designed by craftspeople across India. The jacket has then been printed using the traditional kantha technique and each one is completely unique. As we said, it’s not just a jacket.

08.

The Adish artisanal sweatpants

All pieces by Tel Aviv-based brand Adish are created in partnership with local artisans and adhering to traditional craftsmanship and these sweatpants are no different. As well as being made from cosy and comfortable cotton-jersey, they are adorned with intricate purple embroidery, known as tatreez, down each leg. Finishing off each pair – and reaffirming the brand’s locally made credentials – is stitching of the location and name of the artisanal group who worked on them.