It's not so hard to buy a festive gift for your vegan friend. From plant-based cookbooks to cruelty-free perfume, Bodhi owner Heaven Leigh shares her favourite gift ideas for Christmas 2020.
It's that time of year again! Just a few weeks til Christmas, and you've done ZERO Christmas shopping. Cue panic!
Buying the perfect gift for a loved one can be challenging at the best of times. More so if you want to make sure the gift is vegan, ethical and well-made.
But rest assured, there are a tonne of fantastic eco-friendly, plant-based brands out there to choose from which will bring a smile to your friend, mum, partner or in-laws this festive season.
Here's a few of my favourite stocking fillers:
COOKING: Vegan Market Eats & Treats
Find all the vegan cooking inspo you need in the new Vegan Market Eats & Treats ebook, featuring more than 50+ recipes including our spicy Sichuan eggplant and vegan tropical pavlova! There's enough recipes in there to keep you cooking up delicious vegan delights for months, with submissions from market stallholders and restaurants associated with Sydney and Newcastle Vegan Markets. And it's available at a steal, just $30.
SKINCARE: Retreatment Botanics
Olivia Newton John’s beautiful Gaia Retreat & Spa near Byron has a range of natural skincare products, Retreatment Botanics, which I love. My favourite is the Restore Serum $95 made with organic ingredients including Amazonian Buriti Fruit, native Sandalwood seed, wild Rosella Flower and Kakadu Plum. This serum is rich in antioxidants and pro-vitamin A, C, E and Omega 3 & 9 essential fatty acids. It works on reducing fine lines and wrinkles for vibrant, luminous skin.
FASHION: Sans Beast
Designed in Melbourne, Sans Beast's collection of cruelty free, faux leather bags and wallets are must-have. The range is created by friend of Bodhi Cathryn Wills, former creative director of Mimco. One of my favourites is the Noir Croco Liaison Backpack $399 - the perfect statement piece that is both fashionable and utilitarian. Able to hold a 13” laptop along with multiple compartments and pockets to help keep you organised while looking on point.
WELLNESS: Humming Puppy Yoga Studio
The perfect gift for any yogi is an introductory pass at Humming Puppy. For $70, you'll get 7 classes for 30 days weeks at the beautiful Redfern studio, which promotes movement, awareness and meditation during the yoga practice. What makes this studio even more unique is that it is injected with a combination of frequencies to enhance and deepen your experience.
BODY: Butt Naked
Feed your skin and your soul with skincare products from Aussie born Butt Naked. Not only are their products great but they donate 5% of their profits to Save-A-Dog-Scheme which stops hundreds of dogs and cats being killed every year. One of my favourites is The Goddess Gift Pack $52.95, which includes a Himalayan and Lavender Body Scrub and Bath Soak, a Rose Clay Face Mask and a Chai Lip Scrub, all tied up in a cute cotton drawstring bag.
NAILS: Gloss and Co
Add a little cruelty-free sparkle to your pointers this Christmas with this Australian-made nail polish. Gloss and Co nail polish and products have no nasties in them and are vegan friendly. One of my faves is their Nail Polish Starter Pack $69 containing a ridge filler base coat, glossy hard topcoat, water-based nail polish remover and your choice of a colour. I like Universal Gold Glitter. Order online for free shipping.
FASHION: No Saints
A relatively new Australian brand paving the way in vegan fashion is No Saints, with a range of luxury animal-free vegan sneakers. For a bit of bling, you can't go past the shiny gold Pamela sneaker $250, made from Pinatex - a natural, sustainable material made with pineapple leaf fibres.
FRAGRANCE: Recreation Bondi Beach
Started by former Cleo and Cosmopolitan editor, Nedahl Stelio, Recreation is a clean beauty company specialising in chemical-free, ethically sourced vegan fragrances and oils, based in Sydney's Bondi Beach. My favourite scent for summer is Joyeux Eau De Parfum Peony $109.
HEALTH: WelleCo
Founded by Elle Macpherson and Andrea Horwood, WelleCo have an amazing range of plant-based whole food suppliants. Mt fave, the Super Elixir Greens $145 has a combination of 40+ naturally derived ingredients that helps support gut health immune support enhances energy and helps support healthy skin hair and nails.
DINING: Bodhi Restaurant Bar
After the year we've had, who wouldn't love a bit more time spent chilling under ancient Morton Bay Figs, enjoying a few cocktails and savouring a delicious meal with loved ones? A yum cha feast for lunch or a delightful Asian vegan a la carte dinner to treat vegans and non-vegans alike from the inside out. Grab your Bodhi Gift Certificate online now.
