There’s never been a more important time to shop small so I’ve put together this list of British-based independent stores to support in the run up to Christmas. I hope to make this directory as comprehensive as possible (in order to support as many businesses as possible) so please do drop me a line if you know of a missing brand that would be worth including.

I have italicised the brands that I have personally shopped with or been gifted products from over the years. As I didn’t want my own personal experience to limit this list it is an amalgamation of brands I know and love as well as brands I have discovered through research and recommendations from you!

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Accessories

Been – bags made from materials destined for landfills such as pineapple leaves and plastic bottles

Lisou – a black-owned, London based brand selling gorgeous silk scarves (and other accessories)

Elvis & Kresse – luxury accessories made from rescued materials such as decommissioned fire hoses

AAKS – a black-owned collection of handwoven bags made in Ghana

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Baby & Children

A to Zee Boutique – an independent boutique for baby clothing and gifts

Seen and Known – the cutest soft sculpture animals handmade in Cumbria

Thimble & Doll – handmade dolls with 10 skin tones to choose from

Turtle & Badger – a lovely selection of sustainable gifts and toys for children

The Simple Folk – timeless, organic children’s clothing

Our Kids Trove – a collection of culturally diverse children’s toys

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Books

Bookshop – every purchase supports local, independent book shops

And Other Stories – a subscription service that delivers books to you 2 months ahead of publication

Imagine Me Stories – children’s story books that reflect black and African realities

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Drinks – Alcoholic

Warner’s Gin – a family-run, sustainable gin distillery in Northamptonshire

Discarded – spirits infused with fruits that are typically discarded

Nc’nean – organic whiskey distilled in Scotland

Fishers Gin – Suffolk gin made with foraged coastal herbs

FAIR – fairtrade spirits including vodka, liquer, gin and rum

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Drinks – Non Alcoholic

Alpaca Coffee – 100% plastic free coffee

Percol – fairtrade and plastic free coffee

L.A Brewery – a female-founded micro brewery in Suffolk selling delicious kombucha

Hampstead Tea – sustainably packaged organic and biodynamic teas

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Fashion

Know the Origin – fairtrade and organic ethical fashion for men and women

Birdsong – sustainable wardrobe staples made by women who face barriers to employment in the UK

Gather & See – a beautiful collection of transparent and sustainable fashion brands

Jollie Socks – organic cotton socks with one pair donated to shelters for every every one bought

Sancho’s – black-owned, ethical fashion store based in Exeter

Luna & Noon – sustainable luxury sleepwear & loungewear in hand-painted prints 

Insane in the Rain – environmentally conscious rainwear made from recycled plastic

Lowie – a sustainable womenswear label based in south London

69b Boutique – a selection of brands from socially and environmentally responsible designers

Henri London – contemporary women’s clothing responsibly made in London and Bangalore

Saywood Studio – modern and timeless wardrobe essentials made with longevity in mind

Priest London – a curated selection of brands promoting slow fashion

Monika the label – sustainable clothing inspired by the best parts of the 70s

Flock by nature – luxury merino wool knitwear designed with sustainability in mind

Asella – a newly launched sustainable fashion outlet and market place

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Food

Slate Cheese – specialist artisan cheeses from Britain and Europe

Pump Street – fine British chocolate bars made in small batches by hand in Suffolk

Dark Sugars – black-owned chocolate shop using Ghanaian cocoa beans

Meringue Girls – innovative, colourful and delicious meringues made in east London

Eat Organic – organic olive oil made using the finest olives from Puglia

Tony’s Chocolonley – on a mission to make 100% slave free chocolate the norm

Local Honey Man – pure British honey from London and across the UK

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Garden

Kabloom – the business behind wildflower packed seed mixes called Seedboms

Beebombs – native wildflower seed balls handmade in Dorset

Seedlings Cards & Gifts – British seeds, greetings cards and gifts inspired by nature

Prick – black-owned cacti and succulents store in London

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General

Wearth – an online marketplace for eco-friendly and ethical UK brands

Arthouse Unlimited – a collective of artists with learning disabilities who create beautiful artworks

Radical Giving – a wellbeing a lifestyle store stocking zero waste and ethical gifts

Yard + Parish – eco-luxe Black-owned fashion, beauty, and homeware brands

Maitree – a marketplace for sustainable and eco-friendly gifts and treats

Tabita Eve – eco-friendly alternatives to single use kitchen, bathroom and beauty products

Made on a Hill – unique handcrafted gifts, cards and lanterns

Effortlessly Eco – 100% vegan online shop with effortless swaps to help reduce waste

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Giftboxes

Ethical Gift Box – ethical gift boxes that you can buy pre-made or personalised

Bookblock – unique and beautifully packaged gift boxes

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Homewares

Abigail’s – a family run lifestyle shop with lots of lovely interior accessories

Collective Stories – ethical homeware products that support local cultures and traditional crafts

The Printed Peanut – gifts and homewares illustrated with brilliantly fun designs

Lume – long lasting preserved flowers and beautiful ceramic vases

Qäsa Qäsa – ethical homewares that empower artisans in East Africa

The Tartan Blanket Co – a family run business selling tartan blanket and scarves

Nook – a design and lifestyle store based in Stoke Newington

The Small Home – a beautiful collection of interior, lifestyle and clothing pieces

Pelicans & Parrots – a black-owned lifestyle store selling contemporary furniture and homewares

Momosan Shop – a curation of homewares and objects made by skilled independent craftspeople

Haygen – beautiful home furnishings, gifts and fashion brands

Yonder – a curated collection of rugs, blankets, cushions, bags and baskets

A New Tribe – interiors and home accessories store specialising in rugs and decorative objects

Norfolk Natural Living – a slow luxury home care and wellbeing brand

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Jewellery

Parrot London – semi-precious charm hoop earrings designed in London and made fairly in Jaipur

Ziorva – ethical jewellery crafted locally in the UK with recycled silver and gold

YALA – a black-owned, award-winning African jewellery brand

Wild Fawn – ethically handmade jewellery using recycled silver and fairtrade gold

Sidai Designs – black-owned beaded jewellery handmade by Maasai women in Tanzania

Kind Jewellery – simple, ethical jewellery that is handmade in London

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Kitchen

Fresh Thinking Co – a range of plastic free and eco-friendly products for the kitchen and home

Bumble Wrap – reusable beeswax wraps to replace cling film in your kitchen

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Reusable Bottles & Cups

HuskeeCup – a coffee cup made using waste husk from coffee farms

Ocean Bottle – the reusable bottle that helps fund the collection of ocean bound plastic

Global WAKEcup – reusable bamboo water bottles and coffee cups

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Skincare

Green People – natural and organic skincare and beauty products

Evolve Beauty – artisanal natural and organic skincare, hair and beauty products

Soap Folk – beautifully designed organic soaps, handmade in Stroud

UpCircle – vegan skincare brand made using leftover ingredients such as coffee grounds

Therapi Honey Skincare – certified organic products that combine honey with active botanical extracts

Natalie Bond – handcrafted skincare made with sustainably sourced organic and natural ingredients 

Flamingo Soap Co – natural, handmade and artisan soaps handmade in small batches

FRUU – organic vegan lip balm made with by-products of processed fruit waste

Pai Skincare – certified organic skincare for people with sensitive skin

Bloomtown – vegan, cruelty free and palm oil free body and skincare brand

Meraki M – nourishing skincare products using ingredients derived from the Moringa tree

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Pets

Barkers of Suffolk – canine bakery and patisserie with decorated treats for dogs

Mongrel – eco-friendly dog bones stuffed with recycled plastic bottles

Project Blu – dog beds and collars made from sustainable materials including apple leather

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Wellbeing

Content Beauty & Wellbeing – a collation of natural beauty and wellbeing brands in Marylebone

My Pure Life Style – cruelty free candles that come in a tin and glass tumbler designed for repurposing

Earl of East – home fragrance products including candles, incense and home mists

Lagōm – black-owned home fragrance brand from East Sussex

Boostology – candles, diffusers and essential oils to give you a little boost

Wax + Wick Workshop – hand poured soy wax candles in 100% recycled glass jars

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And if you’re going to buy gifts from any of the above brands then why not go the extra mile by wrapping them in reusable, eco-friendly fabric from The Fabric Wrapping Co or Folds!

The brands included in this list have been chosen because they are small, independently owned British businesses. I have not purposely selected sustainable brands although the majority of them are.

Please note that I make a small commission on purchases generated by some of the links in this blog post