Originally published at https://www.mytus.co.
Valentines gift list — the remote love edition
OK, so it’s February 2021 and we’re not really able to travel to visit loved ones too much right now. And that’s a bummer, but there’s no reason you can’t show your love this year AND support small, independent brands with great stories to tell.
Sure you could go onto a massive online shopping platform and buy something and have it shipped overnight. But if you try just a smidge harder, you’ll make a small business owner jump for joy and give a gift with a story, meaning, and heart.
Have a look at the brands below and see if you don’t find something that would tickle your — and your Valentine’s — fancy from a small, independent brand you’ll both love to support.
BrandNewNoise — Player One ($76)
Record a love message on this nifty audio looping device before you gift it to your loved one. They can play it looping on repeat for a lower-tech way to enjoy a voice memo. Your loved ones will love these handmade lo-fi instruments and audio recording gadgets that encourage creativity and STEAM learning. Handmade by a musician who made the first prototype for his nephew, the brand makes “playful designs that spark joy.”
Brand story: Career Change, Hand/Artisan Made, Unique Design, Made in USA
Hudson Made — The Barber Box ($74.50)
For him — some self-care items to take care of his facial hair during the long, cold winter coming straight from New York’s chilly Hudson Valley, including 1 Beard & Shave Oil 1 Beard & Shave Soap 1 Body Balm Hudson Made is a brand of “farm to body” natural skincare, based in New York’s Hudson Valley. They source all their ingredients from local farms and manufacture the products locally.
Brand story: Locally Sourced, Sustainable Materials, Sustainable Packaging
Charitable, Sense of Place, Made in USA
PROCLAIM — Everyday bralette ($59) & mid-rise brief ($29)
PROCLAIM’s tencel collection will be her most wearable Valentine’s gift to date. PROCLAIM is a brand of women’s intimates that seeks to “revolutionize nude” with a more inclusive nude color palette in sizes S-3X. Made ethically in Los Angeles with sustainable materials, the brand offers women’s bras, bodysuits and underwear.
Brand story: Bootstrapped, Sustainable Materials, Sustainable Packaging, Small Batch Production, Better Factories, Female Founder, Made in USA
Knickerbocker — CORE LOGO T-SHIRT ($45)
If your guy is anything like mine, a super-high quality tshirt will make his day. So go for a logo tee from Knickerbocker and share with him the fun story of this NYC brand. Knickerbocker is a menswear brand launched by a former professional snowboarder who bought an old factory and all its machines in Brooklyn after being mentored by the retiring owner. The brand makes men’s apparel including accessories, shirts, pants, and outerwear.
Brand story: Crowdfunded, Better Factories, Transparent, Career Change
Rooted Woman — Cloaked in Peace ($$15)
Feeling beautiful and engaging in self-care is a big part of Valentine’s day for me. And a fresh manicure with Rooted Women’s seasonal polish will be a great way to start. Chicago-based Rooted Woman is a line of ethical nail polish made and poured by hand in small batches. Founded by a lawyer who found herself in desperate need of self-care, her brand is focused on encouraging women to care for and love themselves.
Brand story: Made in USA, Female Founder, Side Hustle, BIPOC Founder, Cruelty Free/Vegan
Oak Street Bootmakers — 5504 Chelsea Boot ($482)
Splurge on a new pair of kicks for your guy this Valentines day with Oak Street’s 5504 Chelsea Boot. Crafted of a single piece of leather, these will make his winter warmer. Oak Street Bootmakers is a Chicago brand of men’s boots and shoes offering a modern take on classic styles, handcrafted in the USA with a 100% guarantee. The founder is the son of a cobbler, who wishes to revitalize the shoemaking industry in the USA.
Brand story: Guarantee, Recycling Program, Better Factories, Hand/Artisan Made, In House Production, Family Business, Side Hustle, Made in USA
Bradley Mountain — Wool Gloves — Olive & Natural Deerskin ($49)
Have a socially distant hike this Valentine’s Day and surprise your loved ones with some cozy, durable and long-lasting gloves from Bradley Mountain. Bradley Mountain is an outdoor goods brand that specializes in durable canvas/leather bags. Made by hand in the USA, with a lifetime guarantee, the brand was founded by outdoor enthusiasts who wish for their community to “live adventurously.”
Brand story: In House Production, Made in USA, Friend Founders, Hand/Artisan Made, Guarantee, Bootstrapped
Wolven — Men’s Kona Jogger ($98) & Women’s Kona Crossover Pocket Legging ($104)
A Valentine’s Day yoga session in matching activewear from Wolven is just the thing to get your day started right. Wolven is a brand of sustainable women’s and men’s activewear with the mission to “make sustainability sexy.” It’s artist-founders are the creative minds behind the brand’s unique patterns and designs.
Brand story: Bootstrapped, Carbon Offsetting, Sustainable Materials, Sustainable Packaging, Charitable, Female Founder, Couple Founders
Knickey — Starter Set in Limited Assorted ($60)
Under the banner of — make it practical — comes a refresh for her undies drawer courtesy of DTC brand Knickey. A starter set contains 5 pairs of Knickeys in various cuts so she can choose her favorite. Knickey is a direct-to-consumer women’s basics / underwear brand made using sustainable materials, and offering a recycling program.
Brand story: Bootstrapped, Subscription, Sustainable Materials, Sustainable Packaging, Recycling Program, Better Factories, Female Founder
ARAKS — Ally Pajama Pant Mulberry ($285) and Winn Tee Mulberry ($295)
Ohh some of my favorite gifts in life have been beautiful pajamas. This set is made of silk charmeuse, mother of pearl buttons and cotton twill tape drawstring. Araks is a luxury women’s lingerie, sleepwear, swimwear, and resort wear brand, recognized for its minimalist design, bold colors and commitment to sustainability.
Brand story: Female Founder, Sustainable Materials, Sustainable Packaging, Made in USA, Better Factories
Pretty Frank — Lavender Kit ($54)
OK, so deodorant might not be the most romantic gift ever, but I am a fan of practical gifts when introducing others to new brands, and this set from Pretty Frank could turn your loved ones onto a new brand of self care. This set contains: — Lavender Baking Soda Free Deodorant Stick — Lavender Deodorant Spray — Lavender Body Powder — Vanilla Lavender Lotion Bar Pretty Frank is best known for their all natural, aluminum free deodorant that actually works, founded by a crossfit trainer and mom who obsessively researched the ingredients before launching her brand. It’s fully bootstrapped and the founder maintains 100% ownership.
Brand story: Bootstrapped, Made in USA, Sustainable Materials, Sustainable Packaging, Cruelty Free/Vegan, Female Founder, Career Change, Mompreneur
Thoughtful Human — Really Love You ($5.25)
Cards! Real handwritten ones that you put in the mail, stick a stamp on, make sure you’ve still got the right address, and all that jazz. They’re SO lovely to receive in these socially distant days. Think of all the ones you love, romantically or not, and tell them so in a thoughtful, human way with this card. Thoughtful Human is a sustainable, zero-waste plantable greeting card company that tackles some of the toughest issues we as humans can face in an honest way. The founder launched her brand after struggling to communicate about cancer and addiction struggles in her own family and friend circle.
Brand story: Bootstrapped, Sustainable Materials, Sustainable Packaging, Zero Waste, Charitable, Female Founder
Lagusta’s Luscious — Intense Anatomical Hearts ($18)
OK Valentine’s Day is not complete without chocolate. But let’s go for something a bit special and different from a small, independent brand, shall we? These “Intense Anatomical Hearts” blend just the right amount of humor with crazy delicious ingredients like dark chocolate, cocoa butter, and organic dried cherries. Lagusta’s Luscious is an artisanal chocolate maker producing sustainably, locally & ethically sourced, vegan chocolates and other confections. Founded in 2003 by a vegan chef turned chocolatier, the brand gives back to social justice and environmental causes.
Brand story: Female Founder, Side Hustle, Charitable, Cruelty Free/Vegan, Locally Sourced, Sustainable Materials, Sustainable Packaging, Hand/Artisan Made, In House Production, Made in USA
Originally published at https://www.mytus.co.
