A few companies still seem to be suffering under the misguided notion that if they slap the label “luxury” on a product, holiday shoppers won’t realize that animals were harmed to make it. Au contraire.
Because most consumers now know that cruelty isn’t cool, PETA has rounded up some of the actual most beautiful (meaning, of course, animal-friendly, too) gifts of the season. So if your loved ones could use an extra-special present after this doozy of a year, check out our gift guide for the most luxurious cruelty-free picks.
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Instead of a Canada Goose jacket …
opt to stay warm and warmhearted in a Save the Duck coat.
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Wear tortured geese and trapped coyotes? Never! Shoppers in the know always go for faux with snug jackets, coats, and parkas from “it” brands like PETA’s 2019 Company of the Year Save the Duck or other animal-friendly companies like NOIZE, Apparis, Harper Coats, MATT & NAT, and Wuxly Movement.
Instead of kopi luwak (civet cat coffee) …
opt for a coffee subscription.
Want to put poo under your tree? We didn’t think so. Kopi luwak is made from the berries of coffee beans that have been eaten and excreted by imprisoned, abused civet cats. Give your recipient a coffee subscription (such as those from RISE Brewing Co. at the PETA Mall) and they’ll enjoy weeks’ worth of animal-free joe for the price of one cup of cruelty.
Instead of silk …
opt for this year’s “it” gift, a satin pillowcase.
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No one wants boiled-alive worms for Christmas. (Yep, that’s how they make silk.) Fortunately, the celeb-favorite satin pillowcases from KITSCH are cruelty-free, frizz-fighting, hydrating, anti-aging, and said to deliver a fabulous night of beauty sleep.
Instead of foie gras …
opt for faux gras.
Six geese a-laying don’t want to be plucked (still lookin’ at you, Canada Goose), and they don’t want to be force-fed until their livers swell to up to 10 times their normal size, either. So if you enjoy giving thoughtful homemade gifts, whip up some faux gras with this sumptuous recipe from our friends at BOSH! that will go great with a nice, big, juicy Tofurky.
Instead of a fur blanket …
opt for a show of faux.
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If you have a friend who’s still clinging desperately to fur, 2020 is the year to break them of the habit, especially since COVID-19 keeps popping up on fur farms. Almost every brand is designing with luxurious faux fur now, including PETA Business Friends FURious Fur, Marei1998, and N’onat.
Instead of chocolates made from calves’ stolen milk …
opt for binge-worthy boxes from Divine Treasures or Harbor Candy Shop.
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Stealing the milk that a mother made to feed her baby isn’t very Christmassy. (It’s also just weird.) But when you give one of the yummy chocolate treasure chests from Divine Treasures or Harbor Candy Shop, your lucky loved one probably won’t be coming up for air for a while.
Instead of exotic animals’ skins …
opt for look-alike crocodile, alligator, or ostrich accessories.
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Since the release of PETA and our international affiliates’ exposés into the crocodile, alligator, and ostrich-skin industries, designers—including Chanel, Ann Taylor, Jil Sander, Brooks Brothers, Victoria Beckham, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, and bebe—have been dropping exotic skins like the bad habit they were. Your lucky gift recipients can get with the times and still get that reptilian look with styles from Urban Expressions, Sans Beast, Kinds of Grace, Cult of Coquette, GUNAS New York, and Beyond Skin. Here are some of our favorite happy ostrich essentials.
Instead of cashmere, mohair, wool, or alpaca …
Opt for oh-so-soft (on everyone) knitwear.
There’s nothing “soft” about tearing off the protective cover of goats, sheep, and alpacas. There are so many cuddly, soft vegan knits to bundle your favorite people up in this winter. Here are just some of the ones we love.
Instead of caviar …
opt for Cavi-art.
Cutting open female fish and grabbing out fistfuls of their eggs? Blech. True swankiness is healthy, sustainable Cavi-art made from great-for-you seaweed that looks terrific sitting on top of your fave vegan dishes—or just as a dainty dollop on a spoon.
Instead of leather made from cows, kangaroos, dogs, cats, or any other animal …
opt for leather made from pineapples, cacti, plastic bottles, apples, tea, etc.
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No matter what “luxury” label companies slap on their leather, many of the skins come from China (yes, even “Italian leather”) and are deliberately mislabeled. If you wear leather, you could be wearing a dog, a cat, or anyone else. The great news is that innovative designers are now making leather out of fruit waste, recycled plastic bottles, and many other eco-friendly and animal-free materials that are durable and extremely chic. There are almost too many “OMG” vegan leather styles to choose from, but we’ve rounded up some of our favorites here.
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To see more of this year’s hottest animal-friendly gifts for everyone on your list, take a stroll through the online PETA Mall. If you receive a not-so-kind-to-animals gift this year, we can help you figure out what to do with it. Happy holidays!
