Mom’s big day is coming up on May 9 and you want to be prepared with the perfect gift – especially if you have not seen much of her this past year, or need to ship your surprise purchase once again. Here are over 12 sustainable ideas from beachwear to beads and beauty in a range of prices for every Mom on your list – even you.
An Essential for Future Globetrotting
The silk or cotton caftan might have become the lockdown staple this past year, but it can be worn anywhere from the sofa to resort or beach to dinner. Marie France Van Damme is a female-led, family-owned, operated, sustainable and independent atelier with locations in Hong Kong, Dubai, Miami and Los Angeles, among others. Inspired by Van Damme’s many years of travel, each timeless piece had been created with the credo: Buy Less. Wear More.
Most of her pieces are made from silk which is a natural fiber that has minimal impact on the environment when treated properly. The dyeing mill they contract has invested in new technology such as waterless and chemical-free carbon dyeing. Each fabric is chosen directly from responsibly sourced suppliers from around the world.
MFVD has also launched Gift Giving with a Cause – Discover ‘Curated by MF’ designed to support small businesses, independent designers, and craftspeople. The new online lifestyle and e-commerce platform features a selection of beautiful curated products sourced from around the globe.
“I have been traveling the world for the past 40 years,” said Marie France Van Damme. “On my journey, I have developed relationships with craftspeople from the Souks of Marrakesh, with traders in the bustling streets of Hong Kong and Bangkok and with small business owners from around the globe. Let me introduce you to my very talented friends who share my passions. They work with the finest artisans, their creations are limited, beautiful, and are ethically sourced.”
Among the bounty is silk pajamas or Babouche Slippers ($180) handmade in the souks of Marrakesh, Morocco with leather soles and MVD signature silk fabrics from Lyon, France.
Parks Project Goods
Parks Project produces national park-inspired apparel and home goods, with an eye to protect, and preserve public lands. Through a mix of partnerships in both the private and public sectors – ranging from National Geographic to Girlfriend Collective – they offer practical and popular merchandise that support specific conservation efforts focused on protecting our national parks. If your Mom is a park or hiking fan, the new recycled bike shorts and leggings are inspired by the green giants of Sequoia, the pink glow of a Shenandoah sunrise, and the blue waters of Glacier—and each purchase gives back to the park it’s named for. Don’t miss the
candle line from Joshua Tree to Big Sure starting at $34.00.
Bathing Suits that Give Back
Female-founded, sustainable luxury swimwear brand MOMMA just launched with its first collection, Feminine Energy. Created during the pandemic, MOMMA swimwear is globetrotter turned designer Jackie Robinson’s passion project to redefine the relationship women have with their swimwear and empower those who wear it.
The collection features sporty yet sexy multifunctional styles are designed in six flattering silhouettes with 80% recycled nylon, the sustainable swim is engineered for a second-skin-like feel and tailored to hug curves in all the right places. Prices range between $70 for individual pieces and $150 for one-piece suits. For every order placed, the brand will plant one tree in a National Forest in partnership with the United States Forest Service.
If you want to add a few global-sourced, long-lasting, great value accessories for a sun-bathing journey, Beach’d in New Hampshire uses fair-trade factories and weavers for raffia totes and Cayman straw hats, plus nautical-themed rope bracelets from $28.00.
Protect Sun worshipping Mom’s
Evereden skincare is made by Moms in MedicineTM (Leading dermatologists at Stanford and Harvard) with high-performing, plant-based ingredients, is launching a Sheer Botanical Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30, a 100% mineral, non-nano Zinc Oxide facial sunscreen with invisible protection for $29.00. This formula features an innovative form of Zinc Oxide with a patented coated technology that allows for an unprecedented sheer and weightless formula. Not only does this SPF feel good on the skin while protecting but it also has zero trace of that typical sunscreen smell and instead is infused with soothing natural rose extract.
If your Mom prefers no sun but wants to have a healthy summer glow, Mystic Tan’s new Wake-Up Tan line is an overnight miracle product for your face and body (with a hyaluronic acid moisturizer), that goes on easy, is a clear liquid with no funky smell and is gluten-Free, paraben and cruelty-free plus non-comedogenic and comes is a travel size spray bottle as well.
Beauty on the Go
Waterless beauty is all the sustainable rage right now and Susteau (formerly OWA Haircare) hair has just partnered with Sephora, making them the first powder-to-liquid haircare brand to enter the retailer. Launched on 4/20 Susteau’s clean, conscious, concentrated hair care products are available for purchase nationwide and shipped. Moondust Hair Wash ($29) is now in stock and a perfect product to throw into your suitcase or on the bathroom shelf.
Calming CBD and Beauty Products
Once you do get on that plane (or maybe just retire to your bedroom), The Root of It All CBD formulas combine powerful blends of Ayurvedic herbs, spices and essential oils with hemp-derived CBD to help relax or put you to sleep. This company has an understanding that cannabis and hemp extracts achieve better results when they work with other plants and every product is vegan, gluten-free and allergy-friendly. TERRAVITA offers gift sets for every mood that are packed full of soothing natural remedies including CBC and mood-boosting adaptogens, relaxing essential oils and supportive herbs for personalized care packages that take care of your body and mind from Beauty Bundle ($137.67) with bath salts and body butter to a Sleep Better Bundle ($206.97) featuring sleep capsules and tincture.
Eye Masks for Long Flights Ahead
Mulberry Silk Eye masks by Brooklinen feature a luxurious charmeuse weave and gentle elastic band to help reduce friction to minimize hair breakage and skin creases all while staying cool to the touch for a comfortable plane ride or night’s sleep. And, since silk repels moisture better than cotton, it helps your valuable skincare routine stay put on your face – and not on your pillowcase. New to the Mulberry Silk line is the Cerulean colorway – a bright yet soothing shade perfect for summer. ($29.00)
Luggage or accessories from Away
Celebrity favorite Away has a new line of travel accessories that are designed to provide comfort for travelers as they plan future trips. With both physical and mental comfort top of mind, these new offerings feature products that are thoughtfully designed to create a comfortable state of mind whether at home or in transit, including neck pillows, travel blankets, water bottles and compression socks. (Prices start at $34.)
Everything Away makes is designed and built to last, leaving minimal impact on the environment. The polycarbonate and aluminum suitcases are high-performing, durable, and guaranteed for life—which means that they won’t end up in a landfill.
Sentimental Scents from Afar
Home fragrance company Pura has partnered with Homesick to offer two of their signature fragrances, Hawaii and New York. Utilizing Homesick’s iconic state scents that help to transform spaces, Pura allows users to create the perfect ambiance by customizing the at-home fragrance experience using their tech-enabled diffuser device, controlled by your smartphone. Pura x Homesick will retail for $16 and will be available on TryPura.com. They have also joined forces with Floral Street to offer two of their signature fragrances, Sunshine Bloom and Wonderland Bloom, powered by flowers and inspired by London.
Give Ubuntu Life from Kenya
Known for their signature beaded ‘love’ bracelets, handmade in Ngong Hills, Kenya, their genius new beaded sunglass holder will also double as a mask holder ($25.00.) Each product is made with colorful glass beads, metal lobster claws, clear adjustable rubber loops with a shiny brass coil, strung on clear flexible fishing line. Every product supports meaningful, full-time employment in Kenya with over 350 Maasai ‘maker mums.’
Cooking Classes with Top Chefs
For the foodie Mom, Goldbelly is a national gourmet food service that will box up and ship your favorite meals or desserts to your door. Think mushroom lasagna from Gramercy Tavern in New York, Commander’s Palace turtle soup from New Orleans, Hattie B’s fried chicken in Nashville or a layer cake from Food Network’s Ace of Cakes Duff Goldman. This is a comforting gift idea when we can’t get to our favorite destinations right now. You can also gift Mom with one of their live Zoom cooking class with top award-winning chef partners from Marcus Samuelsson to Michael Solomonov. Prices start at $45.
Flowers and Tea Come Together
This May, Art of Tea and Kaylyn Hewitt of The Bouqs have partnered up for a great Mother’s Day gift. Both brands share a similar ethos about direct and transparent sourcing through trusted farmer relationships, so their “Garden Confetti” tea blend captures the experience of receiving a fresh bouquet of flowers. The tea will be available on the Art of Tea site and in an “Afternoon Tea” bundle with a floral bouquet on The Bouqs (with a limited release) so pin your Google alerts for May 3rd. ($109.)
If you are hellbent on flowers this year, instead of just gifting a one-shot arrangement this year, invest in a monthly subscription for the year from the Bouqs in Venice which start at under $50. for a variety of peonies, roses, lilies, orchids, and sunflowers. Or, a flower arranging class from Alice’s Table where farm-fresh flowers are delivered nationwide to your door before a virtual class ensues. Tickets start at $65.
Olive Oils from Europe
There is a good chance Mom will not be flying off to Europe this year, but you can help by gifting Laudemio Frescobaldi Extra Virgin Olive Oil= ($39.99) from Tuscany is made from unique emerald-green olives with freshly-mown grass and artichoke aromas. This Mother’s Day, have mom drizzle this exquisite oil on her favorite meals (or do it for her) while enjoying her day with the family. Laudemio Frescobaldi can be easily purchased on Amazon and delivered right to your door so you can give your mom the true taste of Italy without having to leave your home.
If Spain is more her jam, Casas de Hualdo ($21.99) is an award-winning Spanish olive oil company and sustainable farm located in a rich area on the shores of the Tagus River, 30 km away from the historical town of Toledo. The advanced cultivation and irrigation systems allow Casas de Hualdo to craft unique oils while preserving its natural Spanish heritage. The olives are 100% sourced from the Casas de Hualdo estate in central Spain, and the oil is extracted within less than six hours of harvest. To ensure freshness, the estate bottles the oils only on demand. Their selection of products is available to purchase on multiple selling channels, including Amazon.
Soho Home Designs
If your Mom is into design and travel, send her a piece of Soho House private club’s interiors collection, Soho Home. The retail line, previously only available in the U.K., features a selection of furniture, tableware, textiles and Cowshed spa line of beauty products. Every piece is inspired by or used in the bedrooms, restaurants and lounges in the Soho Houses around the world.
