Our guide for conscious holiday gifting
We couldn’t be more happy that the holidays are just around the corner: who doesn’t love
the coziness, the delicious food, the quality time with family and friends and the beautiful
lights that brighten up every corner of every city? Not to mention the joy of sharing gifts with
loved ones to show them just how special they are to us… Unfortunately, sustainability and
holiday season don’t always go hand in hand. However, there are lots of ways we can be
mindful when shopping for holiday gifts.In this blog we share our tips for gifting consciously.
![Conscious sustainable ethical raw pearl golden hoops earrings](https://www.juliaotilia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/90521CD2-FF4E-42A1-98CB-F94D1A16F5FE-600x400.jpeg)
![Conscious sustainable ethical Serene Seashore ring in gold](https://www.juliaotilia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/38693103-EEC5-40BF-A75C-D6D63028917D-600x400.jpeg)
Choose sustainable brands
If you’re planning to buy gifts for your loved ones, it’s a good idea to buy from sustainable
brands and small businesses that you’d like to support during this time of the year. What’s
more beautiful than an ethically crafted gift with a story behind it? At Julia Otilia, we love
helping you pick out the perfect present and wrapping it with extra care for that personal
touch. Surprise that someone special with a gorgeous piece of sustainable jewellery and
they’re guaranteed to be happy!
![Work in our ethical sustainable jewellery design studio](https://www.juliaotilia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Julia-Otilia-55-600x900.jpg)
Shop your gifts locally
Another thing we can be mindful of is where we shop. Nowadays, almost any product can be
shipped to us from a faraway country, causing unnecessary carbon emissions. Why not take
some time to explore local stores and brands for this year’s holiday gifts? If you live in the
Netherlands, we would love for you to check out our pop-up store STILL in Utrecht where
we, alongside other amazing local brands, sell the most precious gifts for your loved ones. At
the pop-up store, you can find sustainable presents from close-to-home brands like:
–Handmade jewellery by
Julia Otilia
–Scented candles by
Brandt Kaarsen
–Ceramics by
HUSK Ceramics
–Perfumes by
Lingua Planta
– Children’s and women’s fashion by
Hedwig en Hasse
and by MIRK Fair Fashion
– Photography by
Akihiro Boujoh
– Furniture by Bram Heynen
– Art prints Studio Cyaan
– Accessories by
Renske Versluijs
We would love for you to stop by!
Conscious Pop Up Store STILL | Steenweg 25, Utrecht | from 26/11 until
21/01
Thursdays-Saturdays 10:00-17:00
Sundays 12:00-17:00
![](https://www.juliaotilia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Screen-Shot-2021-12-12-at-10.57.13-PM.png)
Zero-waste gift ideas
If you don’t wish to buy anything new, you can choose to give a zerowaste gift, which is even
more sustainable. Gift your special ones a beautiful plant from the local garden center or
florist, or gift an experience rather than a product: tickets to a concert, for example, or a
voucher for a delicious lunch. You could also opt for a vintage or second-hand present, or
make something yourself. The more personal, the better!
![](https://www.juliaotilia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Julia-Otilia-37-600x900.jpg)
Eco-friendly wrapping for your conscious gifts
Are you wondering how to wrap your sustainable gifts in an eco-friendly way? We have some
lovely ideas for you. For example, you could wrap your gifts in cloth bags, fabrics with a cute
print, colorful pages from magazines or newspapers, jars or glass containers. And of course, a
gift basket is always a sweet idea!
some conscious gift inspiration? Don’t forget to
check out our collection.
![](https://www.juliaotilia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/image00004-600x840.jpeg)
Written by Mijnke Sara