The Ethical Clothing Australia Gift Guide is Packed with Purposeful Pressie Ideas!
- Words by Peppermint
All we want for Christmas is… ethical goodies under the tree! This year we’ve found plenty of fabulous ideas to wrap up for loved ones in the Ethical Clothing Australia Gift Guide, which is brimming with big-hearted businesses (plus some special discounts!) many of which are small, locally owned and run companies committed to Australian manufacturing.
The Peppermint team had a hunt through the ECA Gift Guide and picked out some pretty, practical and purposeful pressies for others (and themselves!). From colourful cushions and custom-made tees to pattern-making classes and the classic ‘undies and socks’ combo, here are some gorgeous and guilt-free gifting ideas that are sure to be well-received this festive season.
THE SOCIAL OUTFIT / SAM, EDITOR
As a longtime fan of The Social Outfit, I was excited to hear they’ve recently celebrated a decade of incredible work by launching two new community prints – ‘Amplify’ and ‘Storyteller’ – across a range of cute accessories (and clothing) that are pressie perfection. Think velvet clutches, silk scrunchies and carry-all bumbags made with donated and deadstock fabric that has been saved from landfill.
RB PATTERNS / LAURA, SEWING COORDINATOR
I am all for the gift of experiences, and I cannot think of a better way to make memories (and enhance my dress-making skills) than to spend a glorious day with the talented team at RB Patterns. A Pattern Making Class gift voucher will see me all stitched up for Christmas!
TREEKID / MANDY, ADVERTISING MANAGER
When shopping for my little ones for Christmas, I try to follow that lovely idea of “something they want, need, wear and read” so my pick for wear is always something a little unique, fun, durable and kind to the planet! I’m also a sucker for overalls so I have my eye on the gorgeous designs from Treekid, a Melbourne-based kids clothing label focused on sustainability, style and substance.
BUSHY / KELLEY, PUBLISHER
Is it even Christmas if someone doesn’t get socks and undies? And what better to put under the tree than something made from trees… sustainably harvested, FSC© certified new-growth trees, in fact. I love that the Australian-made Bushy range covers men’s, women’s and gender-neutral bums (and other bits), in softer-than-silk Tencel. They also make merino wool socks aka “the one sock to rule them all”, perfect for that hard-to-buy-for family member, and comfy Tencel crop tops, perfect for… um, me (hi Glen!).
CITIZEN WOLF / EM, DEPUTY EDITOR
Don’t tell my husband but I’m toying with the idea of gifting him a few Citizen Wolf T-shirts. Good tees are hard to find! And what says, ‘I love you!’ and ‘I see you!’ better than a shirt that fits just so? I’m very interested in the brand’s Magic Fit technology – a kind of wizardry that creates a custom shape based on the wearer’s height, weight and age. Bonus? Citizen Wolf will take care of any repairs required down the line (because I love the guy, but I’m not in the business of mending his shirts!).
NEXT STATE / KELLY, COMMUNITY MANAGER
Next State are the elves in my ‘Santa’s workshop’! This Melbourne-based business will carefully and expertly print my artwork onto gorgeous products, from cushions and wall hangings to tea towels and totes. I am so satisfied knowing I’m able to gift thoughtful and personal presents to my favourite people.
CREATED WITH OUR FRIENDS AT ETHICAL CLOTHING AUSTRALIA. CHECK OUT THEIR 2024 GIFT GUIDE TO BRING SOME CHRISTMAS CHEER TO YOUR TREE!
JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
Brighten up your inbox with our not-too-frequent emails featuring Peppermint-related news, events, competitions and more!
explore
More articles
Look, I don’t want to make anyone panic but IT’S DECEMBER!!! If you’re planning to give homemade gifts, you’re going to have to act fast. …
Hang out with us on Instagram
🌻 The Paddington 🌻
This is a much-loved staple, created for Issue 50 in 2021. We love seeing the #PeppermintPaddingtonTop continually popping up in our feeds!
How stunning is our model Elon MelaninGoddessEfon – she told us it was one of the first times she had been asked to come to a shoot with her natural hair. 🌻
We worked with South African patternmaker Sarah Steenkamp of @FrenchNavyNow_ to create this wardrobe essential – the perfect puff-sleeve blouse. Raglan sleeves make it the ultimate beginner sew, plus the gorgeous back buttons let you add your own personal twist.
Pattern via the link in bio! 🪡
Photos: @KelleySheenan
Fabric: @Spoonflower
Model: MelaninGoddessEfon
“In the 1940’s, Norwegians made and wore red pointed hats with a tassel as a form of visual protest against Nazi occupation of their country. Within two years, the Nazis made these protest hats illegal and punishable by law to wear, make, or distribute. As purveyors of traditional craft, we felt it appropriate to revisit this design.”
Crafters have often been at the heart of many protest movements, often serving as a powerful means of political expression. @NeedleAndSkein, a yarn store in Minnesota, are helping to mobilise the craftivists of the world with a ‘Melt The Ice’ knitting pattern created by @Yarn_Cult (with a crochet pattern too), as a way of peaceful protest.
The proceeds from the $5 pattern will go to local immigrant aid organisations – or you can donate without buying the pattern.
Raise those needles, folks – art and craft can change the world. 🧶
Link in bio for the pattern.
Images: @Gather_Fiber @NeedleAndSkein @a2ina2 @KyraGiggles Sandi.204 @WhatTracyMakes AllieKnitsAway Auntabwi2
#MeltTheIce #Craftivism #Knitting #CraftForChange
TWO WEEKS TO GO! 🤩
"The most important shift is moving from volume-led buying to value-led curation – choosing fewer, better products with strong ethics, considered production and meaningful stories. Retailers have real influence here: what you buy signals what you stand for. At Life Instyle, this means using the event to discover and invest in small-scale, planet-considerate brands that align with your values and your customer’s conscience. Consumers don’t need more things; they need better things, and retailers play a key role in selecting, contextualising, and championing why those products matter."
Only two more weeks until @Life_Instyle – Australia`s leading boutique retail trade show. If you own a store, don`t miss this event! Connect with designers, source exquisite – and mindful – products, and see firsthand why this is Australia’s go-to trade show for creatives and retailers alike. And it`s free! ✨️
Life Instyle – Sydney/Eora Country
14-17 February 2026
ICC, Darling Harbour
Photos: @Samsette
#LifeInstyle #SustainableShopping #SustainableShop #RetailTradeEvent
Calling all sewists! 📞
Have you made the Peppermint Waratah Wrap Dress yet? Call *1800 I NEED THIS NOW to get making!
This gorgeous green number was modelled (and made) by the fabulous Lisa of @Tricky.Pockets 🙌🏼
If you need a nudge, @ePrintOnline are offering Peppermint sewists a huge 🌟 30% off ALL A0 printing 🌟 when you purchase the Special Release Waratah Wrap Dress pattern – how generous is that?!
Head to the link in bio now 📞
*Not a real number in case that wasn`t clear 😂
#PeppermintWaratahWrapDress #PeppermintPatterns #SewingPattern #WrapDress #WrapDressPattern
8 Things to Know About January 26 - from @ClothingTheGaps:
Before you celebrate, take the time to learn the truth. January 26 is not a day of unity it’s a Day of Mourning and Survival for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
It marks the beginning of invasion, dispossession, and ongoing colonial violence. It’s time for truth-telling, not whitewashed history.
Stand in solidarity. Learn. Reflect. Act.
✊🏽 Blog written by Yorta Yorta woman Taneshia Atkinson.
🔗 Link in bio of @ClothingTheGaps to read the full blog
#ChangeTheDate #InvasionDay #SurvivalDay #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe #ClothingTheGaps
As the world careens towards AI seeping into our feeds, finds and even friend-zones, it`s becoming increasingly hard to ignore.
We just wanted to say that here at Peppermint, we are choosing to not print or publish AI-generated art, photos, words, videos or content.
Merriam-Webster’s human editors chose `slop` as the 2025 Word of the Year – they define it as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence.” The problem is, as AI increases in quality, it`s becoming more and more difficult to ascertain what`s real and what`s not.
Let`s be clear here, AI absolutely has its place in science, in climate modelling, in medical breakthroughs, in many places... but not in replacing the work of artists, writers and creatives.
Can we guarantee that everything we publish is AI-free? Honestly, not really. We know we are not using it to create content, but we are also relying on the artists, makers and contributors we work with, as well as our advertisers, to supply imagery, artwork or words created by humans. AI features are also creeping into programs and apps too, making it difficult to navigate. But we will do our best to avoid it and make a stand for the artists and creatives who have had their work stolen and used to train AI machines, and those who are now losing work as they are replaced by this energy-sapping, environment-destroying magic wand.
Could using it help our productivity and bottom line? Sure. And as a small business in a difficult landscape, that`s a hard one to turn down. We know other publishers who use AI to write stories, create recipes, produce photo shoots... but this one is important to us.
`Touch grass` was also a Merriam-Webster Word of the Year. We`ll happily stick with that as a theme, thanks very much. 🌿
