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Christmas doesn't have to be synonymous with waste and impulsive shopping – it's possible to offer gifts to your friends and family without contradicting values regarding sustainability and environmental awareness. This is also a way of taking care of the planet and reverse the trend of using less environmentally friendly materials, while opting for supporting national businesses (perfect to reduce the ecological footprint of transport as well).

We know that the demand for eco-friendly gifts has been increasing, and we want to support this trend. And because “environmentally friendly” is not synonymous with “boring gift”, in this article, we've gathered 10 suggestions for Christmas presents that are not only environmentally friendly, but also original and stylish!

*Photo: Play Up

 

nae: SNEAKERS MADE OF PLASTIC REMOVED FROM THE OCEANS.

nae means “No Animal Exploitation” and it’s the name of the Portuguese brand of vegan footwear that we suggest firstly. We know that Portuguese footwear has a lot of quality, and nae combines this quality (from the talent and knowledge of national artisans) with natural materials (ecological!) and the philosophy of no animal exploitation.

It’s estimated that at least 8 million tonnes of plastic end up in the oceans each year, and nae tries to reverse this by offering sustainable footwear made from plastic collected from the oceans and other recycled materials. For this Christmas, we suggest the RE-MOVE sneakers, which have a cut made of 100 % recycled PET, made of post-consumer plastic, and plastic collected from the ocean. They are lined in 100 % recyclable microfiber, produced using a C02 emission-free system. Handmade in Portugal under fair working conditions, and available in four colors, RE-MOVE are the ideal gift for a friend or family member who favors a more casual style!

Contact: +351 21 493 2003 | [email protected] | https://www.nae-vegan.com/pt/re-move-project_500-499.html

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naeveganshoes/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naeveganshoes/

 

Play Up: CHILDREN'S CLOTHING IN ORGANIC COTTON.

We know that a lot of people choose to offer clothes to the little ones. It's always a good option, especially since the kids grow up at an extraordinary speed and the pieces easily stop fitting. However, we remind you that it's also possible to offer a beautiful, practical, and simultaneously environmentally friendly piece of clothing. This Is Where Play Up shines.

This is a brand with 100 % Portuguese design and manufacture, which invokes slow-making and distances itself from the frenetic pace of industrial production. Baby and child clothing are made of organic cotton and natural fibers, and the style of their collections is relaxed and neat. So that children can be what they are - children! - without the clothes getting in the way of their games. If you wish to buy a set for a special girl, we suggest this printed tunic, accompanied by the classic knit jacket and the matching tights. Can you imagine what your princess will look like? Lovely, indeed! However, there's much to explore – Play Up's collection of organic and sustainable products is increasing each season, and we applaud this initiative!

Contact: +351 253 879 009 | [email protected] | https://www.playupstore.com/en/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/playupstore

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_playup_

 

Insane in the Rain: THE COOL RAINCOAT FOR THIS WINTER!

Insane in the Rain is an environmentally conscious brand that keeps the plastic away from Dolphins by using material from disposable bottles to produce colored raincoats for ladies, men and children.

Full of patterns and tailored for everyone (from the first year of age), the raincoats are produced in Taiwan, where the waste is converted into textile material. However, Hannah Edwards, who lives in Lisbon and is not only responsible for “Insane in the Rain”, but is also passionate about our capital city, is already thinking about the possibility of producing the collections in Portugal. Don't be fooled by the brand's communication - the words are written in English, but it's in Lisbon that everything comes to life (and we're proud of that, right?). If you're looking for a stylish raincoat, one of these may be the ideal option (especially because, with this purchase, there will be 20 less plastic bottles floating around our oceans).

Contact: [email protected] | https://insaneintherain.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/INSANEINTHERAINWEAR/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insaneintherain/

 

NaturaPura: THE FIRST CLOTHES.

If there's a baby coming - or if someone's going to celebrate their first Christmas! - here's a Portuguese and sustainable suggestion: the cute clothes from NaturaPura. This is a Portuguese brand of ecological products for babies, created from totally organic cotton (with certification). Because they don't use dyes or chemicals, they're all presented in the natural cotton colors (crude, green and brown) and are indicated for the sensitive skins of the little ones.

The labels are placed on the outside of the pieces (no, you don't need to take them off!), newborn pants don't have elastics, all the pieces are easy to wear, and many of them don’t have seams. Anything to make the babies comfortable and warm! And how lovely is this new-born set?

Contact: +351 253 191 529 | [email protected] | https://www.naturapura.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naturapura.pt

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naturapura/

 

ISTO: THE MUST-HAVE IN ANY WARDROBE.

To be environmentally friendly is also to opt for quality pieces, with a timeless and classic cut. The wardrobe essentials are always good gifts, and ISTO will help you this Christmas. Created in Lisbon, the brand is 100 % Portuguese and creates its pieces using fully organic materials.

With a policy that favors transparency, it supports slow-fashion and invites men and women to simplify their clothing, arguing that a minimalist wardrobe doesn't necessarily have to be a boring or dull one. Fashion lovers will love the basic pieces of the brand. For a stylish man (who also cares about sustainability and the environment), how about the perfect shirt for everyday routines?

Contact: +351 917 578 186 | [email protected] | https://isto.pt/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/isto.pt

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isto.pt/

 

Josefinas Portugal: A PAIR OF VEGAN BALLET FLATS.

Josefinas Portugal has been known to be featured on the feet of some of the world's greatest celebrities and influencers. With the premise that no woman needs to wear high heels to look elegant or feel powerful, the Portuguese brand artistically produces flat shoes, among which we find a model of vegan ballet flats.

Josefinas Vegan are entirely created on faux-skin, with neolite soles, and are available in black and pink, without any animal materials in their production and keeping the values of slow-production, par to par. A big step in the Portuguese luxury footwear area, with the same dedication and care as always!

Contact: [email protected] | https://josefinas.com/pt/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JosefinasPT

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josefinasportugal/

 

Paparina: PIECES CREATED FROM FISHING NETS.

If you want to offer a more daring gift to the woman you love, then you really need to know Paparina, the Portuguese brand that uses the nets of fishermen found in the oceans and the fabric wasted in the factories to create lingerie pieces, beach clothes, robes, warm t-shirts and nightshirts. Designed and produced in Portugal, the pieces are not only environmentally friendly, but also elegant and diverse.

The pieces of the sets are sold separately (perfect for those who use different sizes or prefer to combine different styles and colors), the laces are a constant, and the options are immense. If you're looking for a less risky present, but still daring, we suggest the silk and velvet kimono, handmade and inspired by the 1920s (with the advantage that you don't have to guess the right size!).

Website: https://www.paparina-store.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paparina.swimlingerie/

 

Conscious Swimwear: THE PERFECT BEACH OUTFIT FOR THE NEXT TRIP.

Conscious Swimwear is concerned with both the environment and aesthetics, using raw materials that help reduce waste and minimize the impact of the production. The whole process is controlled by Joana, the founder, and she ensures that the wages are fair, that there's no mass production, and that everything is ethically made with plastic taken from the oceans.

It may be strange to offer beach clothes for Christmas, but if you have a friend or a family member who's planning a trip to a hot destination, perhaps it's the perfect gift! The Julian swimsuit will be a success, for sure!

Website: https://www.consciousswimwear.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conscious_swimwear/

 

Ekotoy: SUSTAINABLE TOYS.

Ecological, carefully selected toys (created with various natural materials, such as wood, cork, paper, biological cotton, bamboo, among others) are the proposals of Ekotoy, a Portuguese brand that will certainly succeed this Christmas. All toys comply with the strict requirements of the European toy safety directive, as well as other international toy safety standards, and they promote tradition and craft trade.

Wooden toys are our favorite, and they'll be great surprises for the little ones back home! How about you offer them the chance to be architects and figure out how it all fits into the creation of this cute church? It'll be a great surprise!

Contact: [email protected] | https://www.ekotoy.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myekotoy/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myekotoy/

 

JUST.O: ECO-FRIENDLY JEANS.

Presenting a comfortable, differentiating, quality and yet eco-friendly product is JUST.O's goal, the Portuguese brand that brought sustainability to the world of jeans (men and women). Using excellence raw materials, produced in Portugal, and basing its entire process on the creation of social value and responsibility, JUST.O guarantees fair working conditions and a conscious use of Natural Resources.

JUST.O's sustainable denim jeans are a must-have in any wardrobe, especially because they're one of the few with a BCI (Better Cotton Initiative) certificate and the skins are all from the food chain. Pieces with a story to tell that'll be part of next Christmas' stories too!

Contact: [email protected] | http://www.justfashion.pt/en/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justfashion.pt