A GIFT GUIDE FOR CONSCIOUS CITIZENS

Have you ever bought someone a secondhand gift? If not, ask yourself why? This Christmas I challenge you to rethink where you usually shop and normalize buying your gifts secondhand.

At Christmas time the UK imports 4,000 tonnes of mass produced goods from China. The U.K alone creates approximately 125,000 tonnes of plastic packaging waste from Christmas gifts. Canada is estimated to use 540,000 tonnes of wrapping paper each festive season and sends about 2.6 billion cards. Australians do Christmas big style too. Apparently they spent $400 million Australian dollars on 10 million unwanted gifts in 2018. These staggering numbers must pale against what the combined CO2 emissions are for global Christmas cheer.

One would expect with the pandemic and economic crisis, this year’s consumption will be a little less conspicuous. Yet a study by McKinsey this November predicts not so much. Evidently 73% of U.S shoppers say they will spend the same or more as last year on holiday blockbuster deal events. A stunning number considering that 8 million Americans have sadly joined the 38.1 million already living in poverty. Perhaps the usual mega shopping won’t eventuate and we’ll see an enlightened anti-consumer emerge? This certainly isn’t a normal Christmas so anything is possible.

That’s not to put a dampener on festivities or even stop buying gifts altogether. It’s important to remember the true villain here is capitalism and those who drive it. After all, BP is the architect of the personal “carbon footprint”. As Emily Sanders, writer of EXXONKNEWS states-

“The personal carbon footprint is an idea that may have done more to deflect responsibility away from the oil industry and disarm the public than any other single pr move.”

So how can we enjoy giving at Christmas without hurting our future on the home planet?

SECONDHAND DOESN’T MEAN SECOND RATE

I’ve always bought secondhand gifts, especially for my children but I don’t know many other people who do it. I think it could be a simple matter of habit and convenience or perhaps it genuinely hasn’t occurred to them. In any case, I’m here to show you how easy it is to find that perfect gift for your friends and loved ones – secondhand.

Accessories like, hats, gloves, scarves, bags and jewellery are super-easy to find and inexpensive. However, if youre looking for something more fashion orientated there are some sensational pieces just waiting for love and a new home. For a small budget try ThredUp, Ebay, Etsy and Facebook Marketplace. For higher budget, although there are still great bargains so don’t be put off, try Vestiaire Collective and The Real Real. Smaller sites with a more curated collection are great if you dont know exactly what youre looking for. Browsing shops like Margot and Lux, Swap.com and Beyond Retro is less overwhelming in my opinion. An honourable mention goes to ROKIT the first vintage I bought when I moved to London in 1987. Back then ROKIT was a wicked stall at Camden Market. In those days street markets were where we bought vintage and secondhand and Camden was one of the best along with Notting Hill. Its a testament to ROKITs ethos that it continues to thrive to this day.

SECONDHAND GIFT IDEAS FOR CHILDREN

Ebay is saturated with unwanted children’s toys particularly, retro or dated items. The untold beauty of buying secondhand for children is immense. Here is why, plus some of the secondhand items Ive bought for my children –

1. Little kids don’t notice if a gift is used or not in the original packaging.

2. You’re saving something from landfill or the ocean that’s probably plastic.

3. You save a tonne of C02 and money.

4. If you don’t need to save money, give your savings to charity.

5. Most kid’s clothing and shoes are still in excellent condition.

6. Outgrown dress up costumes such as fairies and pirates are in abundance.

7. Bikes and scooters. These can also be upcycled with a new seat, deck, hand grips, bell and basket.

8. Lego, Polly Pocket, Brio, Hot Wheels, Slot cars, trains, cars, and extra tracks to fit every brand are cheap and never break.

9. BOOKS, PUZZLES, BOARD GAMES!

10. Soft toys tend to wash and dry like new…

As my children got older electronics started to enter the scene. Here again it was incredibly easy to buy secondhand. Products like the Nintendo 3DS available in any colour, often with the box I might add. Of course the games are all available secondhand too. After several years of play but still in perfect condition, I passed them onto my younger nieces so they’re still in the loop. Honestly, I could go on about the various secondhand presents I’ve bought for my three children over the years but suffice to say, there isn’t much you won’t find on Ebay.

In terms of secondhand gifts for adults, think in one of two ways. Either look for something very specific or otherwise entirely unique. How about a fun Christmas themed jumper, wool beret, Burberry scarf, retro ipod, macrame pot plant holder, earrings or brass candle stick? Literally anything you think of can be found for resale. Here are some more suggestions from the low waste Christmas post I wrote last year.

WHEN YOU BUY NEW, SUPPORT SMALL BRANDS

Speaking of old, I’ve been thinking a lot about the old fashioned ways. Instead of following trends that are fed to us by big corporations, let’s shop small and local wherever we happen to live. There’s a lovely ripple effect in supporting small ethical brands. Your custom extends to suppliers, artisans and makers of the item. Whats more, by supporting your local businesses you’re helping to keep them open during this difficult time. Also in the spirit of Christmas, wouldn’t it be wonderful to help Jeffrey reduce the carbon footprint of Amazon? I’ve seen his slick greenwashing ads on TV but I think we can genuinely help him out with this. Care to join me in not shopping at Amazon?

In addition to shopping in your area, you might need further inspiration so here are some small online businesses with unique items that caught my eye recently.

Classic and timeless label Lora Gene has collaborated with Aja Barber to create an ethereal linen dress that also happens to be on sale at the moment. A loose linen dress is one of those wardrobe staples that transcends seasons. I have a beautiful wrap linen dress that I can wear on its own with sandals or layered with a turtle neck and boots. It also looks fabulous over pants or with a jumper/cardi depending on the weather. It’s literally my go-to of dresses so if you don’t already have a versatile linen dress, consider this as a gift to yourself.

Sources: The Sydney Morning Herald | McKinsey | Narcity | Stanford University