Small Business Winter Gift Guide

I’ve always loved supporting small brands, creators, and artisans and this year in particular I think it’s more important now than ever to shop small and support independent businesses where we can. There’s a time and place for the big box stores and I’m definitely all about balance and the process, however, I’d love to encourage you to shop small this season. I’ve curated a list of small businesses that I’ve been admiring from afar or have tried and or worked with in the past. I also tried to feature as many Canadian businesses as possible because I always love supporting local where I can. This is a seasonal guide for smaller, more “gift-able” items that I hope you can spoil yourself or your loved ones with this season.

Take a peek, stay a while and let me know your favourite small businesses and independent creators! I’d love to learn about them!

for a bit of sparkle

For yourself, a dear friend, or that special someone, here are some of my favourite jewellery brands to add a bit of sparkle.

Circle Hoop Jacket + Trois Huggie Studs by Jewels & Aces

Cadette Jewelry - Canadian brand, Woman-owned, $$$

Allison Asis is the creator behind Cadette Jewelry. The designs are very artistic, contemporary and unique, and I especially appreciate that the pieces are handmade locally in Toronto. Cadette Jewelry also partners with the non-profit organization One Tree Planted, and with every purchase a tree is planted to help support reforestation in Canada and the United States.

Soft and Sticky - Canadian brand, Woman-owned, $$

I had the pleasure of meeting designer Angie on set for one of my earliest brand partnerships about two years ago. She has since started her own little adventure, Soft and Sticky, creating fun, playful jewelry designed to be worn for everyday life. The pieces are also handmade with love in Toronto with precious metals.

Jewels & Aces - Canadian brand, Woman-owned, $$$

If you’ve followed along for a while, you’ll most likely have heard me talk about Jewels & Aces. Jewels & Aces is very dear to me because they were my first ever brand collaboration. The founder and designed, Grace is such a lovely soul and I’ve had the pleasure of chatting with her a few times over the past few years. Jewels & Aces introduces the unique concept of an earring capsule, similar to the clothing capsule wardrobe. If you’re a minimalist or looking to invest in a few solid pieces, I highly recommend Jewels & Aces. The fun capsules allow you to mix and match pieces and also pair new pieces with old ones you already own. See this video for some of my favourite earring combinations.

GLDN - Woman-owned, $-$$$

GLDN is a newer brand to me but is one that I’ve been admiring from afar for a while. They are all about adding the personal touch to delicate jewelry pieces are passionate about giving back. They have participated in tons of partnerships in the past and donated to many great causes. You can read more about their initiatives here.

the gift of warm cozies

Knitwear is one of my favourite gifts to give during the winter season because it is practical and I love the often handmade feel to a lovely knit sweater. I mean, who doesn’t love snuggling up on the couch with a cozy warm sweater and a hot drink?

Bare Knitwear - Canadian Brand, Woman-owned, $$$

First up we have Bare Knitwear, a small Canadian brand I worked with this past Spring. The designs are thought up with a less is more philosophy in mind and all the pieces are hand knit in slow batches by artisans in Peru. Bare Knitwear works in collaboration with local Peruvian farmers and artisans as a way to give back to the community.

James Street Co - Woman-owned, $$$

What first caught my eye about James Street Co were their fun little beanies and extremely oversized chunky knits. Chunky knits are all I want to live in during the winter and I think James Street Co does them so well. Their styles are casual and effortless, perfect for everyday wear. So, if you love a good chunky knit, you definitely should check out their knitwear collection. They also have a small menswear section if that’s something you’re interested in.

Tradlands - Woman-owned, $$

Although Tradlands is not strictly a knitwear brand, they have some really lovely sweaters and they carry my favourite cardigan from my closet — the Shelter Cardigan. Their sweaters are all very classic styles and if you’re a fan of colour, they’ve got some neutrals but also tons of fun pops of colours to add to your wardrobe.

L’envers - Woman-owned, $$$

L’envers is a European brand owned by Julie. I’ve had the pleasure of chatting with Julie via Instagram and email and love her heart behind her slow fashion brand, L’envers, which translates as “opposite”. They are passionate about being the opposite of fast fashion and create slow batch, delicate hand knit sweaters in Spain.

Kotn - Canadian Brand, $-$$

I had to shoutout another Canadian brand, especially because Kotn just recently launched a knitwear collection and the pieces are so good! The styles have a very classic feel featuring warm, muted tones perfect for the Fall and Winter months. I have to mention that if you have sensitive skin, cotton knitwear might be just the answer for you. Cotton is much gentler and less itchy compared to wool, so if you’re on the hunt for a nice knit this season, I’d take a peek at Kotn! They also are passionate about giving back to the community that their cotton is grown from with various social projects like building schools to provide education to those who don’t have access to it. You can learn more about their amazing social and environmental initiatives here.

for those who love trinkets & home design

JT and I have recently moved into a new home and have been doing tons of online furniture browsing. If you’re anything like me and LOVE interior design and browsing home goods stores, this is going to be a fun section for you!

Common Goods Studio - Canadian Brand, $$

Common Goods Studio makes the cutest ceramic cups and flower vases which are all locally made here in Toronto. Their pieces are minimal and functional often featuring neutral colour tones. Fun fact is that they supply the cups for our good friends’ coffee shop in Toronto - Lion Coffee. Another great local business to support!

Pinto Projects - Woman-owned, Canadian Brand, $$

A more recent find has been Pinto Projects. All the ceramics are handmade by Emmalee over on the beautiful West Coast of Canada. Her pieces have a minimal, modern aesthetic and often feature a fun handle (my favourite part of her pieces)! A personal pick of mine are the cute little espresso cups with a fun speckled detail.

Newly - $-$$

Newly is the perfect place to look for sustainably made home goods. They are a certified B-corp company and all of their products are made with 100% recycled or repurposed materials.

Kroft Studio - Canadian Brand, $$-$$$

Kroft Studio carries the most beautiful, handcrafted pieces all made locally in Toronto! The designs are minimal, yet functional and add a unique touch to any space. I love the subtlety of the designs and the way they light up simple spaces.

June Home Supply - Canadian Brand, $-$$$

I’ve been a long time admirer of this stunningly curated home goods store located in Winnipeg, Canada. All the pieces they carry look like they came straight out of a Kinfolk magazine. They carry a wide range of items from small trinkets, every day kitchen/bath products, to seasonal items. Basically a one stop shop for aesthetic home pieces.

Goodee - $$$

Another curated store, Goodee focuses on empowering makers and creators from across the globe. They carry a wide range of homewares and lifestyle products from small items to larger furniture pieces. I love that they are passionate about caring for people and the earth and it’s evident in the carefully curated marketplace of items.

low waste kick starters

Of course I had to include a few of my favourite zero waste swaps. These small items are perfect for gifting and are great for anyone interested in making some simple swaps!

Abeego, Woman-owned Canadian Brand, $

Say “bye bye” to plastic wrap which Abeego wraps! I’m a huge fan of beeswax wraps and have not had plastic wrap in my house for over two years. There are so many wonderful alternatives to storing leftover food items, but I think beeswax wraps are my favourite. Abeego is my favourite brand because they carry a wide variety of sizes for different foods and I also find them a little more durable than some other brands I’ve tried.

Ten and Co - Woman-owned, Canadian Brand, $

I wanted to shoutout this wonderful brand and in particular spotlight their sponge cloths. I’m a huge advocate for sponge cloths because they are SUPER absorbent, pretty to look at, and they are biodegradable at the end of its life. I’ve tested out a variety of sponge cloths and I’ve found that Ten and Co have the strongest, most long-lasting cloths.

Stasher Bag, Woman-owned, $

Stashers were one of the first zero waste swaps that I purchased back when I began researching low waste living. I loved the idea of replacing single use sandwich bags with reusable ones. I still have the ones I bought a few years back and have since also purchased larger ones for freezing and marinating food! They come in a wide range of fun colours and sizes, so have a browse and maybe you’ll find something to fit your lifestyle!

Nixit, Woman-owned, Canadian Brand, $$

I was gifted a Nixit cup a while back and have been testing it out for a couple of cycles now. I wanted to feature it because it has been such a handy menstrual cup and is very comfortable and also, no more leaks! If you’re interested in trying out a period cup or haven’t found one that best fits your body, I highly recommend trying out the Nixit cup. And if you’re not sure what I’m talking about, you can check out this blog post all about how I transitioned to a zero waste period.

Baggu, $-$$

This is probably the simplest swap you can start with. A reusable bag! I personally love Baggu’s reusable bags because they are super handy when I’m out and about at the grocery store or just out at a shop. They fold really flat and fit into pretty much all of my purses. There are tons of patterns and colours so I’m sure you’ll find one to suit your style.

for some r&r

For those who need some R&R. This section features some wonderful self-care brands and of course candles to set up the cozy mood.

Well Kept - Woman-owned, Canadian Brand, $$

Make bath time relaxing and sustainable with Well Kept. I recently switched over to their safety razor and although it was intimidating at first, I haven’t looked back. No more disposable razors! They also carry a small line of sustainable shower and bath accessories like shave oil/soap, agave exfoliating cloths, and soaking salts. The perfect gifts for a relaxing night in.

Eluo - Woman-owned, Canadian Brand, $$

Eluo has a simple collection of face masks created to elevate the daily skincare routine. The masking ritual is so relaxing and is definitely a nice treat at the end of a long day. Another plus is that all the ingredients are plant-based and very gentle on the skin (even on my sensitive skin!). They recently launched a nourishing face oil which has been so helpful for my skin as the weather has gotten colder.

Nautana Co - Canadian brand, $

These candles are hand poured with love locally in Toronto! I’m always on the hunt for a good candle, especially during the Fall and Winter months. They just make my space so much more cozy! Nautana Co is a more recent find and they have the perfect candles for a night of self-care at home.

Milk Jar Candle Co - Canadian brand, $

To finish off this R&R section is Milk Jar Candle Co! What caught my eye about them was the cute little milk carton illustration on their candles. I love that they have a fun milk jar return program. When you’ve finished a candle, you can return the jar and they repurpose it! It’s such a great way to reduce waste and lower their environmental footprint as a company.

I hope you enjoyed this small business gift guide and maybe it’s given you some ideas for this upcoming holiday season. I know there will be tons of sales going on, and who doesn’t love a good sale, but I also wanted to highlight some really awesome creators and brands. Let me know if you discovered any new brands or gift ideas through this guide and I hope I’ve inspired you to shop small and local!

Maybe I’ll make another guide? If you liked this, let me know if there are any other categories you’d like to learn more about.

For now, happy Friday and have a great weekend!

This post is not sponsored but may contain some gifted items and affiliate links. If you decide to shop through the links above, I may make a small commission that helps support this blog and other social platforms. I only share products and brands I love and support. All opinions are my own.

Thank you for supporting Candice Tay!

Live Simply, Live Slowly