The 5 Best Gift Trends for 2021
In a time of social distancing, health consciousness, and all aspects of life having shifted to online, more and more shoppers are looking for a more meaningful way to connect. Many are seeking gifts that are both thoughtful and practical—from organic self-care items to ethically-sourced loungewear. This trend that grew out of the chaos of 2020 looks like it’s here to stay, and will continue to grow in 2021.
Here is a selection of eco-friendly and sustainable items that will make thoughtful gifts for every type of person.
WATER BOTTLES & THERMOSES
Global awareness around the need to reduce environmental waste is driving the trend of buying and gifting reusable drinkware. Thermoses and bottles are essential items for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, as well as for popular outdoor activities such as hiking and camping.
(Image source: @wellybottle)
Bkr: This San Francisco-based, women-owned brand offers glass water bottles that come in a colorful array of chic, silicone casings. Made of 100% recyclable glass, these Instagram-ready bottles are a perfect gift for fashion-forward, eco-conscious millennials.
LARQ: LARQ bottles are unique for their built-in portable digital water purification system, which claims to eradicate 99.9999% of germs and bacteria. In addition to being a great gift for the health- and tech-obsessed, a portion of the bottles’ proceeds are dedicated to funding environmental nonprofits around the world.
Welly: Welly offers an attractive lineup of sustainable bottles that each have a sleek, stainless-steel body—which comes in various color options—and a natural-bamboo base. Welly also donates 1% of all sales to charities that bring wells and clean-water solutions to communities in need.
BLANKETS
Since the onset of the pandemic, blankets have become a much sought-after gift, whether for WFH comfort or for extra luxury while watching Netflix on the couch. No longer just a basic essential for furnishing the bed, eco-friendly and sustainable blankets that are modern, stylish, and comfortable are gaining popularity.
(Image source: @gorumpl)
Rumpl: Rumpl took everything that’s great about sleeping bags—coziness, insulation, portability—and turned it into blankets. Available in various fun patterns and colors, Rumpl blankets are made with 100% post-consumer recycled materials, and 1% of all revenue is donated to environmental nonprofits.
Coyuchi: Based in Northern California, Coyuchi makes stylish blankets with a modern aesthetic, using ethically sourced, 100% organic cotton and wool. A portion of their annual sales go toward funding nonprofits dedicated to carbon-neutral farming and soil health.
Faherty: This family-owned casualwear brand offers boho-chic blankets made from eco-friendly materials, such as organic cotton, ethically sourced cashmere and alpaca, recycled polyester, and hemp.
YOGA ACCESSORIES
Yoga mats are in vogue, due to the current boom of yoga-at-home exercises, and its physical and mental health benefits during lockdown. Awareness for eco-friendly and non-toxic yoga mats is still new, but is expected to grow in the next few years.
(Image source: @mandukayoga)
Manduka: Manduka’s eKo Mats are made from biodegradable tree rubber, with zero-waste manufacturing. When you purchase Manduka’s mats, you can also opt in to their Live On program, which will take in your used yoga mat (of any brand!) to be recycled on your behalf.
Yoloha: The family-owned Yoloha is known for creating the world’s first yoga mats made with sustainable cork. Their 100% vegan mats are soft, antimicrobial, easy to clean, and can also be personalized with laser-engraved letters.
Yogi Bare: Yogi Bare is a women-owned yoga brand whose mats are created from natural rubber sourced from sustainable forests. In addition to all of their products being vegan, their packaging is 100% recyclable and items are shipped by sea to minimize carbon footprint.
OUTDOOR APPAREL
Quality outdoor apparel is worth the investment for its comfort, style, and durability. With the apparel industry being one of the largest producers of global pollution, more people are favoring outdoor brands that also practice social responsibility, such as the use of sustainable materials, eco-friendly packaging, and ethical labor standards.
(Image source: Cotopaxi)
Cotopaxi: The vibrancy of Cotopaxi’s whimsically colorful apparel—made from various recycled materials—is matched by their strong dedication toward social responsibility. One of few outdoor brands to have B Corp status, Cotopaxi donates 1% of their revenue to nonprofits that work to alleviate global poverty.
Patagonia: Originally started by a small group of climbers and surfers, Patagonia has since become a leading force in outdoor apparel, both in terms of popularity and in the current global trend for companies to “go green.” Their innovative Worn Wear program, for example, will trade used Patagonia garments for store credit, where submitted items are then repurposed into new products.
Helly Hansen: This 143-year-old Norwegian brand is known for their outdoor wear that has been meticulously designed for durability. With 70% of their fleece products made with recycled content, they have also pledged to increase the volume of recycled materials every season.
JIGSAW PUZZLES
Jigsaw puzzles were the unexpected comeback of 2020, with Google Trends showing a huge spike in interest after government-mandated lockdowns were first issued across the country. This analog pastime has re-emerged as a much needed source for mental relaxation and entertainment away from the ubiquitous digital screen.
(Image source: Piecework Puzzles)
Piecework Puzzles: Based in LA, the women-owned Piecework Puzzles offers a unique selection of puzzles packaged in colorful, fashionable box sets. Featuring quirky, pop-art-inspired photography, their puzzles are made from 100% recycled material.
Jiggy Puzzles: The female-founded Jiggy Puzzles focuses on making puzzles that spotlight the work of female artists. Each puzzle comes in a reusable glass jar and includes a tube of puzzle glue and a glue application tool, for turning the completed puzzle into a frameable display.
Lemonade Pursuits: Lemonade Pursuits is a woman-owned company whose art-based puzzles are aimed at encouraging mindfulness and mental release. All of their puzzles feature the work of female artists, and are manufactured in the United States using recycled or biodegradable material.