Welcome to the most wonderful gift guide of the year!
If you’re looking for an anti-racist, anti-overconsumption, anti-planet-destroying gift guide, then you’ve come to the right place!
It’s already happening isn’t it…we’re being pushed into full “Christmas consumption” mode…
Twinkling lights are up and shelves are stacked with single-use festive products, many of which are destined for land fill. A five minute scroll bombards us with influencers showing us their Amazon top picks, and fast-fashion Christmas shopping recommendations. We are being bombarded with discounts, Black Friday ‘deals’, gift ‘hauls’ and multi-million pound advertising campaigns designed to appeal not to our logical heads but to our emotions.
The Message:
The way to show that you truly love your relatives and friends is through buying MORE!
The way to soothe and distract from difficult feelings or numbness is to CLICK HERE for that quick dopamine rush.
But, whilst we click on impulse (because companies have spent millions trying to make it as frictionless and ‘thoughtless’ as possible), do we know who made the products and in what conditions?
Do we know that the materials the gifts are made from are safe?
Do we know if the manufacturing process harms the local communities where they’re made?
Do we know what the environmental harm is of getting that product from its origin to your Christmas stocking?
Being actively anti-racist applies to all parts of our lives. How we approach shopping and gifting is a key area where we can learn and act. Money talks and not handing over our hard-earned cash to billionaire-owned companies (some of which are richer than whole countries) can be a powerful act of resistance.
”“Life for the people making these gifts can be bleak. As demand for products skyrockets, pressure builds for factory workers worldwide. Many face poor pay, abuse, dangerous working conditions and in some cases are killed for fighting for their rights,”
writes journalist Isabel McRae in an investigation published in last year’s Big Issue called ‘The Dark Side of Christmas’
The answers to the above questions are deliberately concealed. The colourful, nostalgic, ‘joy to the world’ campaigns are designed to deflect from the realities behind the products we’re pushed to buy.
But don’t worry! We’re not cancelling Christmas!
There are lots of ways you can give the ones you love thoughtful Christmas gifts, support Black and Brown owned businesses, and sprinkle a bit of anti-racism over your Christmas celebration!
We’ve compiled a bumper list of ideas, many of which have been directly recommended by members of our ARC community. You won’t find any billion dollar, exploitative, climate destroying, tax-evading corporations here. We’ve curated ideas from Black-owned, small, independent businesses all in one place!
Let’s get into it…
1. Support Local Black and Brown Businesses!
Let’s start close to home here in Cumbria…
Carlidoscope is a supremely talented community of artists/creatives of the global majority, who live, work or play in Carlisle and surrounding areas in north-west England. You might recognise them from the amazing exhibition they created for our Anti Racist Summit back in October! Check them out on instagram and message some of their artisans who are selling gorgeous, unique gifts this season. If you’re based in Cumbria, you can also browse and purchase art in person at The Mush Room, Carlisle Market Hall CA3 8TX.
Amongst the art you’ll find original paintings by ARCtivist and Youth Worker Faniry, stickers, art prints, paintings, trinkets and more by our very own Anti Racist Education Lead Dani , vibrant, colourful, healing art from ARCtivist and youthworker Mina, and cute clay animals, greeting cards and stickers by Ouri which you can buy on Etsy!
Iluvmemost in Kendal is a shop with wellness and self-love at its heart. If your loved one is into clothing, jewellery or accessories you’ll find something gorgeous for them in here!
If you’re after beautiful and contemporary homeware, check out Alpha Gray Art handmade by Diana in Cumbria. Specialising in handmade pieces made from jesmonite and resin, you can find unique trays, incense holders, candle holders, spoon rests, and more, all thoughtfully designed to be both beautiful AND practical.
And of course, no holiday food shopping would be complete, in our opinion, without Yardie’s delectable Jamaican rum cakes You may recognise Yardie’s for their Jamaican food truck often spotted at festivals and events around the county (including some of ARC’s!) but they also make traditional rum soaked tastiness and hot pepper sauces too!
2. Support Black and Brown Authors!
Books are a CLASSIC Christmas gift and one we love to receive and gift to others!
Sadly, whilst books are a popular gift, bigger businesses such as Waterstones or Amazon tend to take most of the profit.
If you’re planning on buying books, use it as an opportunity to support Black-owned anti-racist bookshops! If we don’t support them, we will lose them.
Have a look at this article by the Black Curriculum to find some, and make sure you check our personal faves Afrori Books (dubbed ‘the home of Black authors’), Mirror Me Write, Our World My Roots, and This Is Book Love.
Many independent bookshops do their own ‘curating’ and will have book lists on their sites where you can get ideas, or you can get inspo from the books we’ve read this year at ARC book club!
You can also support independent creators and self-published authors by buying directly from them. Or if you can order from bookshop.org and choose which book shop you would like to direct your payment towards.
If you’re looking for books for a younger audience, Serena Holly’s The Other Father Christmas with illustrations by Shahab Shamshirsaz is a gorgeous festive read for adults and kids alike. It’s described as; “a joyful reinvention of the Santa myth – perfect for families seeking inclusive Christmas storytelling that reflects modern Britain.” And Afrori mentioned above, has some brilliant books for young readers in stock including The Boy to Beat the Gods by Ashley Thorpe
3. Support Black and Brown Chefs!
Who doesn’t love being gifted a year’s worth of delicious recipes to nourish the body and soul! As each one of these books lovingly show, food means more than just its calorie count..it’s home, it’s love, it’s family and it’s culture which transcends borders.
Celebrate Palestinian food and recipes with Sami Tammi’s book Boustany: A Celebration of Vegetables from My Palestine. It’s about more than ‘just food’:
”“Our dishes are being claimed by some Israeli chefs and so many native ingredients – lentils and sesame and greens – that I remember foraging for with my family are starting to disappear as access to our land shrinks. But this is our food, this is our history, our culture. You can’t take my memories away from me. You can’t tell me that this is not my land".
Tammi quoted in the Guardian.
Pre-order The Sudanese Kitchen, which has been painstakingly compiled by British-Sudanese chef and food archivist Omer Al Tijani following the success of his website which aims to share Sudanese recipes, facts, and stories. This is particularly important when the world is turning its eyes away from the pain and suffering many in Sudan are facing under the genocidal violence of the RSF.
Other recipe books topping our wish list include… Monsoon by Asma Khan, Afro Vegan by Zoe Alakija, Tekebash and Saba: Recipes from the Horn of Africa by Saba Alemayoh, Lima the Cookbook by Virgilio Martinez, Sama Sama by Julie Lin, Ghana to the World: Recipes and Stories That Look Forward While Honoring the Past by Eric Adjepong and Korsha Wilson, and of course Rooza by Nadiya Hussain.
Rooza might just be our favourite on this list, every recipe just looks DELICIOUS and the book takes you on a journey through celebratory Islamic cuisine inspired by Ramadan and Eid.
4. Support Black and Brown Makers and Creators!
From beautiful stationery to cards there are so many Black and Brown makers and creators across the UK for you to support whilst you spend.
To discover new brands and creatives you haven’t come across yet head over to Love Jamii. This is a beautifully curated catalogue of exclusively Black and Brown makers and creators! If you’re not sure where to start with gifts this year, head there first!
Afrotouch Design is where you can find beautiful African-inspired designs on cards, stationary and more. Kitsch Noir is the award winning, card and stationery brand with a focus on representing the love, joy and humour within the Black British experience. Doodlelove is run by graphic designer Lela Cribbin who is based in Kendal! Lela creates fun, quirky, modern cards, prints, and stationery!
Finally, we have to mention Tihara. Here you can find fun stationery designs AND pin badges, art prints, embroidery kits and clothes! Tihara is passionate about design, the Caribbean and sharing the Windrush story which really comes through her joyful designs!
Looking for something luxurious to help your loved one feel relaxed and pampered? Present Your Joy should be your first port of call if you know a candle or scent lover! We’re eyeing up the Violet Musk & Iris soy candle…and we can totally get behind their core belief:
”“Joy isn’t a luxury, but something we deserve to feel every single day”.
For more pampering check out 9EtherTouch’s natural products. Handmade consciously to ensure that you are boosted from the essential oils, body, face and feet are left feeling nourished! The brand was created by Lisa in Leeds as she began preparing for her menopause journey and you can find everything from solid perfumes, to face masks, beard oil and soap!
For bodyscrubs, organic sugar wax and perfume, look at Sudan Sooma on Etsy, a shop specialising in “bringing you a piece of Sudan’ and traditional Sudanese self care products.
If you’re after great skincare, look no further than Naturally Tiwa. Shalom Lloyd began looking to her African heritage when her baby son was struggling with eczema. After experimenting with high quality Shea Butter she developed an amazing skin-care recipe too good not to share! Get some gorgeous skin products, knowing that you are supporting a Black woman-led business and that all the high-grade Shea Butter, Kola Nut and Millet are sourced from their facilities in Nigeria where women empowerment is centred in their work.
Naturally Tiwa products are made from natural ingredients and best sellers include Body Food, facial serums and beard and shave oil.
ARC SHOUT OUT INCOMING 📣
A guided journal could make a lovely and useful gift too. Created by Cumbria-based podcaster and dedicated ARC-er, Sukanya, The Self Care Edition is a companion for personal wellbeing. This journal provides a gentle space to pause, breathe, and reconnect. Each page invites you to tune into your thoughts, emotions, and energy.
And…
Our very own Embodiment Coach and Racial Trauma practitioner Rowan Carr has put together several very special gift experience options for ARC readers, including A Couples Surround Sound Healing Session, 121 Radiant Love Energy Healing session and121 BodyHeartMind Somatics Coaching Session, Contact him directly here to learn more inquiries@lotusdragonyoga.com
Do you know a fashionista???
You can’t go wrong checking out Grass-fields who are on a mission to redefine what African fashion means on the world stage. Founded in 2013, they aim to empower communities by creating elegant, African-made clothing that fuses cultural heritage with contemporary design. You can find beautiful cosy scarves, sweat shirts and gorgeous dresses made from African print fabric, all in one place.
Aarabhi London is an independent womenswear brand founded in London by the father-daughter duo Aarabhi and Siva. Blending the bold, expressive spirit of British fashion with the intricate artistry of Indian craftsmanship, the brand celebrates a truly global aesthetic. Their luxurious printed silk scarves and embellished headbands could be the ideal gift for someone on your list.
It’s not Christmas without chocolate, and our top recommendation has to be Abundance Foods for delicious chocolate truffles made from real, yummy ingredients! If you want to gift a hamper or you’re looking for luxurious store cupboard gifts which will bring joy well past the festive season, head over to Lulius. Here you’ll find delicious, 100% vegan sauces, pancake mixes, hampers, olive oils, spice mixes and much more!
If you know someone who loves Korean and Japanese snacks, drinks, and might appreciate a food kit (restaurant quality sushi at home anyone?!) then Kelly Loves has your back!
And for those with a sweet tooth, check out The Shortbread Company! From luxe hampers to smaller boxes, this is the stuff of butter and sugar dreams!
It might feel ‘vintage’ for some, but gifting physical music in the form of CDs and vinyl can be a thoughtful gift which makes a big difference to musicians! It’s very difficult to make money from streaming services like Spotify which many people are now looking to boycott after constant reports of low pay for musicians, the CEO investing in a defense start up and recruitment ads on the platform for ICE in the US.
So, give the gift of music and support your favourite Black and Brown artists while you’re at it!
One of our most musical ARCtivists recommends Silver by Say She She for “fabulous contemporary disco…they’re politically active, singing about gun control, Roe v Wade, all sorts of stuff. And you can dance to it!”.
ARC SHOUT OUT INCOMING 📣
Ella Jarman Pinto, our ARChoir lead, has a gorgeous new album out which you can purchase in her shop. You’ll also find a host of other wonderful gift ideas here, from gift vouchers for music lessons to personal song writing sessions.
And here’s the best of Black & Brown British music talent that the ARC team said they can’t stop listening to:
Miss Dynamite especially her album ‘A Little Deeper’; The Selecter from back in the day, but still going strong with Pauline Black at its helm; what’s (Back to) Life without a bit of Soul II Soul!
Sault are a firm fave band with their mixture of R&B, urban contemporary gospel, house and disco; you can’t beat a bit of Yazmin Lacey for some soul, jazz, R&B and electronic or some punk rock like ‘Germ Free Adolescence’ by X-Ray Spex!
Fancying a gig? There’s still just about time to buy early gifts with tickets from Elmiene and their album ‘Heat the Streets’ at the Brixton Academy, described (by us) as ‘giving silky smooth 00’s slow jams vibes’.
If nothing has taken your fancy yet, don’t panic! There’s so many things you can gift that don’t involve buying a physical ‘thing’ or worrying about wrapping!
For local restaurants, we highly recommend:
Anatolia in Carlisle for delicious Turkish food, Hanabi Sushi, or Ruen Chao Phraya Thai Restaurant. In Keswick, Piri Fresco is a great, delicious alternative to a very well known chicken restaurant and their menu is halal. And did you know that the best curry house in the North is right here in Cumbria? Check out the multi-award winning Indian and Bengali restaurant Tandoori Maryport.
Further afield, if you’re looking for a present for someone who loves exhibitions, you could get tickets to Kerry James Marshall: The Histories at Burlington House, Royal Academy. It runs until 18 January and is a chance to experience “the epic style of America’s most important artist, Kerry James Marshall, whose powerful paintings place the lives of Black Americans front and centre”.
Or, you could nab some of the last remaining tickets for one of our ARC summit comedy headliners, Desiree Burch. She’s performing her hilarious show The Golden Wrath at the Lowry in Salford on 28 February 2026, along with other dates across the UK!
And if you want to pass on the gifting love in a different way, how about donating to your favourite anti-racist charity!! You could:
🖤 Donate to ARC…To feel that winter joy spark
🖤 Donate for your mate…As a pay it forward rate
🖤 Or buy our merchandise here, to bring good cheer!
There are so many other places and organisations you can donate to too; from relief organisations for Caribbean countries hit hard by hurricane Melissa to super typhoon Fung-wong in the Philippines (which barely received international coverage) and so many more in between. Take some time to find out where and what you can support.
Other actions you can take this holiday season include:
- Boycott companies which are causing harm to people and the planet. See the list here
- Talk to loved ones and let them know why you’re approaching giving differently this year. It’s a good way to get the conversation going and help others learn too.
- Write to your MP and representatives urging them to put pressure on corporations to commit to fair pay, workers’ rights, stop harming the planet and pay their taxes.
How about switching to ‘Secret Santa’?
One mindful way to reduce over buying, is instead of scrabbling and panic buying multiple gifts for your family or friendship group, why not try something a bit different? Let’s say there are six of you in your group. Between you all, you’re buying 36 gifts. And, let’s face it, how many of those end up being unwanted or not very thoughtful? Now imagine that happening across the whole country! How many items have been manufactured, sold and then bought just to be gathering dust, donated or even chucked away.
ARCtivist, Janelle, highly recommends it; “It’s so much better in many ways. We draw names and just buy one thoughtful present. Not only does it make it more affordable, but we don’t end up buying unnecessary things and we don’t each go home with a bag of items that we don’t need. You can spend more time and effort researching and thinking about that one person and it’s much more sustainable too. I’ve often been able to find pre-loved gifts as well in second hand shops or on Vinted. I’ve had some lovely things from Secret Santas that I continue to enjoy and use throughout the year.”
And this time of year often provides a great opportunity to up or recycle items
Our CEO said she and her friends stopped buying gifts for each other a long time ago now, but one thing they did for a while after making that decision, was to gift items they no longer used to each other. Often this would include clothes like a jacket long admired by one friend, no longer used and given to another, knowing it would continue to be loved. She said “it’s makes the gift more thoughtful in some ways and joins up the task of shopping and decluttering into one. Result!!”
And that’s a (festive) wrap!!
Did we miss anything? Please let us know if there are any ideas you’d add, too!
