CATALYST Gear Guide
Ethical holiday shopping—from fair trade to independent brands.
At CATALYST, we’re big fans of all things inspiring, ethical and stylish on a fair, happy and healthy Earth, so check out the beautiful, practical and body- and mind-loving gifts we’re most excited to give this season.
KANTONG POUCH - Ethnotek $39
Image courtesy of Ethnotek
This over-the-shoulder pouch was made by a Vietnamese craftsman and is a must-have for every traveler in your life. Lined with RFID Blocker to protect your info, it fits an A5 notebook, pens, passport, wallet, sunglasses and other daily travel essentials. Each bag is created in different cities around the globe and celebrates culture using ethically sourced materials with a commitment to sustainability and tradition.
FUEGO HOODED JACKET - Cotopaxi $206
Image courtesy of Cotopaxi
Where outdoor adventure meets positive global change, shopping with Cotopaxi is a chance to put your money where your mouth is. Their “Gear for Good” promise is to make durable gear as ethically and sustainably as possible, and to use their company as a way to support communities in need. We just love their Fuego hooded jackets.
OUR OF THE BOX RING MADE IN CAMBODIA - Ten Thousand Villages $39.99
Image courtesy of Ten Thousand Villages
A ring that says: I can't be boxed in. This Ten Thousand Villages ring was handcrafted by artisans in Cambodia with the Rajana Association, a nonprofit providing business skills to artisans who transform symbols of war into beautiful jewelry using demined brass bomb casings.
GROWTH IS A PROCESS LONGSLEEVE SHIRT - CHNGE $25.
Image courtesy of CHNGE
A net zero, sustainable clothing brand advocating for mental wellbeing, social justice and peace and love for people and the planet? CHNGE is speaking our language. When you buy this long sleeved shirt, 5% of the sales will be directly donated to Mental Health America.
LIBERTY QUILTED CRUSHER - NOAH $88
Image courtesy of NOAH
Taking a stand against many of the appalling practices of the fashion industry, NOAH clothing is made in countries, mills and factories where tradition, expertise and human dignity take precedence over the bottom line, making them the perfect brand to shop this winter. Plus, who doesn’t need to open a gift and find a crusher with a tropical vibe to brighten up the bleak winter days?
CLASSIC HIGH TOP - Nothing New $90
Image courtesy of Nothing New
The name says it all. These hi-tops were made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic. All Nothing New products tick every box your gift-giving heart desires: made from 100% sustainable materials—check. Arrives in recycled packaging—check. Carbon neutral shipment & delivery—check. We also hear their socks make the perfect stocking stuffer.
INDIGO PULLOVER HOODIE - Industry Of All Nations $195
Image courtesy of IOAN
Rethinking the methods used to produce consumer goods, Industry of All Nations is bringing production back to the original makers through the implementation of Indigenous or new responsible manufacturing techniques, local to each area around the world. Like this cozy, classic hooded sweatshirt dyed with fermented natural indigo through a process that is clean for the skin and sustainable for the environment.
MORE OR LESS MAGAZINE - $22
Image courtesy of More or Less
More or Less Magazine makes the big bold claim that excess is no longer in fashion; creativity is the new luxury, and we couldn’t agree more. Their monthly mags offer a glimpse of how real people actually dress without sacrificing the transportive magic and fantasy of fashion— all while factoring in the realities of cost and consumption.
THE CATCH ME IF YOU CAN: ONE WOMAN’S JOURNEY TO EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD $32.55
Image courtesy of Bookshop
Next up, world travel and author Jessica Nabongo is serving with her newest book “The Catch Me If You Can.” Jessica is the first Black woman to travel to every country in the world. And if that isn’t enough, her fascinating stories of adventure, culture, travel-musts and human connections are bolstered by her commitment to sustainability.
Grab a copy below.
Image courtesy of CATALYST
We’d be remiss not to take this opportunity to proudly tell you about the CATALYST Academy course, Travel Writing As A Force For Good, with author and travel writer, Nina Karnikowski. Her 90-minute course is the perfect gift for anyone interested in learning how to write in a more embodied way and deepen their relationship to the places they visit.
WOVEN SARI JOURNAL - Ten Thousand Villages $19.99
Image courtesy of Ten Thousand Villages
We couldn't resist one other Ten Thousand Villages gem, a perfect pair to the CATALYST Travel Writing Course. These beauties were handcrafted by artisans with Prokritee, an organization that provides jobs and skills training for women in under‒resourced communities in Bangladesh.
GIVE A SHIT TOTE - Package Free $10
Image courtesy of The Package Free Shop
Help those you love make the shift into a plastic free lifestyle. The Package Free Shop has the most sustainable versions of those products we use day in and day out. Plus their products use zero or minimal packaging, and they ship 100% plastic free! Keep the message clear— grab this canvas #GIVEASHIT tote (and fill it with sustainable goodies!)
ADRIATIC MUSCATEL SAGE SOY WAX CANDLE - Flamingo Estate $40
Image courtesy of The Flamingo Estate
Clear negative energies and bring in the good stuff. The Flamingo Estate Sage candle is made 100% veggie wax, held in fully recyclable glass and hand poured in L.A.. They’re cultivating Mother Nature’s wildest, most precious gifts, using regenerative farming practices at a time when we need them most— with green thumbs and middle fingers.
BUY ONE GIVE ONE LION - Live As Lions $68
Image courtesy of Live As Lions
This season, let’s not forget the young ones in our lives. This Live As Lions doll is more than just a stuffed animal, it’s a companion to help the littles face their fears, and it’s part of a Buy One Give One program. For every Lion purchased, another is sent to an orphaned child (recently, they were able to give an entire orphanage in China this precious gift). Plus, LAL partners with Plant With A Purpose, The Lion Recovery Fund and the Nehemiah Project to support the environment, animals and people all in a single purchase. So be sure to snag one of these hand stitched, heirloom quality Lions, word on the street is they're selling fast.
HEALING SPIRIT BATH SOAK- Wilder Botanic $36
Image courtesy of Wilder Botanics
The stuff of dreams! Vegan, cruelty free, bio organic and 100% sustainable, this Wilder Botanics blend has pink Himalayan salts, calendula infused oil and fine kaolin clay to heal and nurture—perfect for a soak during a stressful holiday season.
SWEET GRASS SKIN REFRESH - Done Good $25.99
Image courtesy of Done Good
For every product purchased at Done Good, they donate one bar of soap and clean water to a child in need. Bonus points for being fair trade, vegan, and palm oil-free. So far, they've donated 1.6 million bars of soap. We say Sweetgrass is the perfect scent to give; it has the naturally sweet scent of lemon zest and vetiver with hints of lily and cedar. ::chefs kiss::
ELEPHANT FRIENDLY CLASSIC BLACK TEA - House of Waris $15
Image courtesy of House of Waris
Have a hard time finding quality tea that isn’t full of filler or microplastics, and is ethically sourced and fairly traded? Meet the UK’s first certified Elephant Friendly Tea by House of Waris. Be part of a movement that protects India’s wild elephants, the Indigenous communities living alongside them and the workers that grow the tea. Win. Win. Win. Not to mention this classic black tea blend is utterly delicious.
Raeann is the Content and Community Manager at CATALYST, an avid traveler, digital storyteller and guide writer. She studied Mass Communication & Media at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism where she found her passion for a/effective journalism and cultural exchange. An advocate of international solidarity and people's liberation, Raeann works to reshape the culture of travel and hospitality to be ethically sound and sustainable.