I hope you enjoy this Ethical Gift Guide I have just finished. Unlike the previous gift guide, I had no professional help (Stephanie R. I missed your talent) nor did I have my partner-in-crime, Emma H. to help. However, after a week of 5-6am shifts, I finally managed to put together something I am proud to share with you.

The Conscious Gifts Guide is merely a small representation of the many brands that are offering aesthetically pleasing products with ethically pleasing impacts. I cannot express how many more pages I wanted to create, with how many more brands, but I knew I had to stop at some point, so this is what I created. It did highlight one thing, that we are spoilt for choice when it comes to brands that offer us products The Collective can be proud to feature.

This year, The Gift Guide also comes with special promotions from some of the most beautiful brands, which will make your shopping experience (and mine) all the more pleasing to the heart and to the pocket. Particularly, I would like to thank BLUMA PROJECT, FAIR HARBOR CLOTHING, FOSTERIE, P.i.C. STYLE, STARFISH PROJECT and TIKLARI for setting up special Conscience Collective discounts for readers.

As we did in our last Christmas Guide, this year FAIRE COLLECTION will be giving away a few goodies in our second Christmas Giveaway, so please enter tomorrow, when the giveaway officially starts.

Please feel free to comment below on other brands you would like to see in the future, or for any critiques, advice or well-wishes you may have. Also, keep an eye out for more Gift Guides and posts on Brands on the blog starting from tomorrow.

Season's Greetings!
Stacy H

It was Yohji Yamamoto who said "Black is modest and arrogant at the same time. Black is lazy and easy--but mysterious. But above all black says this: 'I don't bother you, so don't bother me.'" It is hard to disagree with most of what he says, but surely I don't want to come across as arrogant or unapproachable (although, it wouldn't hurt sometimes). Wearing black represents a plethora of other traits and virtues. Some that come to mind are freedom, powerful, passion, fortitude, prudence, elegant, and the list goes on. 

As you might have gathered--either from my extended periods of absence or just from my posts--I travel a lot, mostly for work, and with such a lifestyle comes a rather systematised set up when it comes to my luggage. The majority is made up of....you guessed it...black. Black shoes, black tops, and black bottoms. Usually, at least two of each, then two items that offer a pop of colour and at least two white tops (a shirt is a must).  Most importantly, my suitcase is never complete without a ton of accessories. Usually, I throw in this old ASOS Africa top, but almost always I have a pair of leggings I bought from the Ethical Superstore. The necklace is actually a gift from my sister, which, initially, I wasn't too keen on, as it reminded me of something an anthropological academic would wear--oh, right, I AAAAMMM an Anthropologist. However, I grew to love it in all it's organic it with, and was so glad to have an outfit to pair  it with. 

Below, are photos of this little number along with some of my shots of a stroll throughout Cusco on the same day.