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7 best vegan gifts

From scented candles to cosy coats, we round up the crowd-pleasing cruelty-free presents

Chloe Hubbard
Tuesday 05 December 2017 18:12 GMT

Buying gifts for a vegan can be a tricky business. Easy staples such as socks and jumpers can be problematic because many high street brands’ offerings will contain animal products.

And beware those products that are accidentally vegan, because some vegans will be particularly against supporting brands that test on animals, or harm animals or the environment in the sourcing of materials.

But buying gifts that haven’t contributed to the suffering or death of another creature need not sentence vegans to a lifetime of pretending to be delighted with yet another vegan dessert cookbook, or a hacky sack from the Amnesty International catalogue.

To help navigate this tricky path, IndyBest has compiled a list of stylish, vegan-friendly, affordable gifts. All of the items on the list come from companies either approved by the Vegan Society, or by those with thorough ethical credentials, who go to the greatest care throughout a product’s lifecycle.

Finisterre Nimbus Jacket: £180, Finisterre

Down is a hot topic with vegans and vegetarians, as well as those who simply don’t want to buy products made with feathers. The way down is sourced for many high street insulated jackets is highly controversial and something that has become a flashpoint for many vegans. One British brand with a conscience is Finisterre. The Cornish company has a whole range of insulated jackets that are suitable for vegans. IndyBest trialled the Nimbus jacket, which is a warm and stylish insulated coat and is available in a men’s and women’s cut. We loved the warm, fleecy pockets and the casual, yet smart tailoring, as well as the convenience of it being able to roll up into the inside zip pocket. Not only is the fill completely synthetic, but the outer shell is also made of 100 per cent recycled polyester.

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Rishi Veda Face Oil: £50, Rishiveda

Do your vegan a favour and invest in a face oil which won’t smell like a Glastonbury healing tent. We tried a bespoke oil for day or night from London-based Rishi Veda. All of the products are concocted by hand after a consultation about your skin type and preferred scent. We think this makes for an for ideal gender-neutral gift with a personal touch. It also lasts for ages as such a small amount is needed to moisturise. It’s a fraction of the cost of many high street brands and all of the oils are 100 per cent vegan and the ingredients are ethically sourced.

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Matt & Nat Scarlett Handbag: £110, Matt & Nat

Put the hessian sack down and treat your vegan to a truly stylish bag from completely vegan brand Matt & Nat. The Canadian company, whose name is derived from “material and nature”, has been making vegan products since 1995, operating under the motto “live beautifully”. Our pick from its huge collection is the simple but stylish Scarlett handbag, which is both comfortable to wear with an adjustable shoulder strap, as well as super-durable. It also has several handy compartments and a good, firm structure. There are a range of neutral colours to choose from that will go with most things in your wardrobe. If the handbag isn’t right, Matt & Nat also has a great range of fashion backpacks and messenger bags. We particularly liked the design of the Martel messenger bag, which in the olive colour, dresses up or down.

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Vextile Cushion: £36 for cushion and cover or £29 for case, Vextile

Another completely vegan brand is Scandi-inspired, UK-based Vextile. Its handmade cushions make for a chic and affordable present. The pieces are made from recycled materials and factory off-cuts and organic cotton thread. The cushions themselves are also ideal for people with allergies because they use a cluster fibre filling.

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Dolma Cruelty-free Lavender Scented Candle: £12, Dolma

Like the rest of the country, we love a scented candle at IndyBest. But many of those out there contain beeswax or animal-derived stearic acid, so to stay on-trend without harming anything, why not buy your vegan a cruelty-free candle? There are a few alternatives on the market, but our favourites were from Dolma. All of its British-made products are paraben- and palm oil-free, as well as being completely vegan, and make the ideal gift. You get around 30 hours of burn time and there are six scents to choose from, including our pick, soothing lavender.

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Neal’s Yard Frankincense Intense Age Defying Collection: £120, Neal’s Yard Remedies

Certified by Cruelty Free International, none of Neal’s Yard’s products or ingredients are tested on animals. Most of the company’s products are also suitable for vegans - but do check the product info. The frankincense collection contains some of those. It left our tester’s skin soft and ready for winter. The pack comes with an organic muslin facecloth, a cleanser, a serum and a heavy-duty capable, but light-feeling face cream. The three potions are designed to be used in what is described as an “age-defying ritual”. Whether it takes years off the tester is yet to be determined, but what it did feel like is a lovely treat, perfect for feeling pampered on cold evenings to wash away the day’s impurities. There are also collections aimed at men, including the simple and effective Men’s Everyday Collection. We love this for a gift idea, not just for the fresh grapefruit and sage hues, but for the handy wash bag the collections comes with.

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Veja SDU Trainers: £90, Rubbersole

Thanks to brands like Veja, vegan shoes are no longer devoid of fashion and designed using the colour palette favoured by the Clarks children’s range. If anything, they are cooler than their mainstream counterparts because they are less populous and the wearer effectively flicks the vegan V at those in the know via their feet, making ethical and fashion statements simultaneously. The shoes are made following fair trade principles and the brand eschews advertising in order to spend more on a sustainable production process. Our vegan tester was so taken by the company’s ethos, she’d fallen in love with the shoes before even putting them on. When she did, she reported back that they were “easily as comfortable as mainstream fashion brands, but without the fear anything or anyone had suffered in the making of them”. There are loads of styles to choose from but our favourite is this wear-with-everything navy and grey design.

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The Verdict: Vegan gifts

For a fashionable yet functional present we think Finisterre’s Nimbus jacket is a great buy for anyone. It’s not too pricey and it’s a gift for life, because the company repair all its goods, no matter the age of it. For a chic stocking-filler that doesn’t break the bank, we love the Vextile cushions for their look, comfort and “waste not” recycling ethos.

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