THIS IS YOUR HIT-LIST FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE CHRISTMAS
As Black Friday approaches, the chaos of unnecessary consumer-driven shopping comes with it. Once a year we are fooled into making frantic purchases, to buy as much as possible for as little as possible as all the big retail giants look to ‘lowering’ their prices, convincing people to buy buy buy!
Unfortunately, as always with this time of year, this level of buying and selling brings with it an even bigger impact on the environment – packaging waste, and impulse buys destined for landfill.
GREEN FRIDAY TO SAVE THE DAY!
There is however a growing movement, the anti-black Friday; Green Friday- and it is here to help you make more sustainable shopping choices this Christmas season. Participating in Green Friday gives you the opportunity to reduce your carbon footprint, by buying from smaller, more ethically-minded businesses.
Ultimately the goal behind Green Friday is to bring awareness to the harmful effects overconsumption has on the environment. It allows us to really take a step back and think about our next purchase – ‘Do I need it?’, ‘Will I use it?’, ‘Could it be bought secondhand / preowned?’, ‘Is there a smaller local business selling similar?’. These are all valid questions to ask ourselves when shopping during the Christmas gift season.
SHOP LOCAL, GO GREEN
I have put together a small list of Irish businesses which I love and recommend having a look to see what you can find! Whether you are on the hunt for a pre-owned luxury bag, vintage clothes, stocking fillers, jewellery, or art… I guarantee you will find something more unique when shopping from a smaller Irish brand than if you went to Amazon or Zara.
Here are my most loved recommendations, but I know there are many more out there also, so get tagging and sharing those other amazing small superhero businesses that you know and love.
Stocking fillers / Secret Santa
Art & Prints
- Jennie O’Connell Art @Jennieoconnell.art
- Erin Darcy @edarcydesign
- Ciara O’neill @ciaraoneillart
Vintage & Preloved sellers
- Agite Closet @agitecloset
- Peach Vintage Clothing @peach_vintage_clothing
- Paula Loves Vintage @paulalovesvintage
- The Sustainable Studio @the_sustainablestudio
Clothes designers & accessories
- Emerald & Wax Designs @emeraldandwaxbyvirtueshine
- Aoife McNamara @aoife_ireland
- Handmade by Rasa @handmade_by_rasa
Funky jewellery designers
- Rudies & Co @rudiesandco
- Margaret O’Connor @MargaretOconnor
- Oh Sea jewellery @ohseajewellery
Kids Clothes & Toys
- Rainbow kids boutique @rainbowkidsboutique
- Jiminy Eco toys @jiminy.ie
Experiences & vouchers
- Marie Stylist – Styling workshops @mariestylestudio
- The Style Coach consultant @thestylecoach.ie
- Rise Floatation experience @risefloats
- Éan Restaurant (Galway) @ean_galway
- Kai Restaurant (Galway) @kai_galway
