Holiday Gift Guide: Shop Small, Shop Sustainable, and Support Our Veterans!
With the holidays right around the corner, and sustainability always top of mind here, we've rounded up some of our favorite veteran-owned, sustainable small businesses in celebration of Veteran Small Business Week. These eco-friendly holiday gift ideas epitomize that adage about buying from small businesses - except this time, when you support these businesses, it's a veteran or a military spouse that does a happy dance.
Brb, going to make our wish list now...
Meet Our Favorite Veteran-Owned, Sustainable Small Businesses
Learn about our veteran and military spouse founders as they share how their companies support a vision for a more sustainable world.
Vie Verte (pronounced Vee Ver)
Functional Handbags & Backpack
Branch: Marine Corps veteran
At Vie Verte, each and every one of our bags embraces the concept of slow timeless fashion, and is crafted to effortlessly integrate into your wardrobe. We aim to reduce waste in the accessories industry, so we stock our collections in limited editions, based on only the quantities we need. With a “fewer but better” philosophy, each piece is made with integrity and kindness from the highest-quality materials, and created by skilled craftsmen.
Striving towards sustainability we aim to source only the most innovative, cruelty-free materials we can find. Each of our bags are lined with recycled plastic bottles. We are exploring more environmental friendly alternatives and will be launching a new collection next year.
Follow the journey + order products here:
Facebook: Vie Verte
ArtsyFartsy
Upcycled Whimsical Island Art
Branch: Navy veteran (ret.) and military spouse
Aloha! We are “Momma” and “Padre” to two surfer boys. We make things we love, and we make them tough to survive teenagers and military moves! All of our art is upcycled: we use discarded pallets for our wood art, upcycled clothing and plastic bags for our soft sculptures. Just trying to do our part to minimize Hawaii’s landfill waste.
I am an interior designer, and whenever I needed a certain piece for a client that I couldn’t find, I would make it. But with each military move (and there were tons), I would have to reinvent myself, get my name out, build clients and their trust. It was very slow and frustrating. So, with the help of my hubby we started Artsyfartsy 8 years ago. It was a job I could take with me, and shelve when needed. After our move to Hawaii, we started back up and it has exceeded our expectations! We feel incredibly blessed from all the support and Artsyfartsy love! Plus, I get to work with my best friend -- double bonus!
Follow the journey + order products here:
Facebook: @artsyfartsy Hawai’i
KrayonShop
Home of Handmade Rainbow Crayons
Branch: military spouse of retired Army veteran
Meet Liz, craft enthusiast and the creator behind Krayonshop. Since 2002, Liz has been creating color combined crayons and candles in heart shapes using recycled crayons from her own kitchen.
Born and raised in the Philippines, Liz drew inspiration for her newly found creation from her resourceful mother, Philippine culture, artistry and her background in business. Liz started selling her rainbow shaped crayons locally during holidays while keeping her primary focus on her family and her career. After her husband retired from the Army (and over 600 shapes of crayons later), Liz made a decision to turn her crayon gig into a full-time business.
Krayonshop opened in Spring of 2019. Putting “hand” in "handmade," the crayons are peeled, broken into pieces and reshaped with heat to make a new, uniquely designed crayon. In addition to recycling crayons, Krayonshop uses recycled paper and reusable packaging materials and adds lettered names on reusable gift boxes for personalization. Buyers keep coming back because of the quality and its handmade touch. "When you receive the crayons from Krayonshop®, it is more than just an item from a store, it’s a personal gift created just for you!"
Follow their journey + order products here:
Pinterest - Krayonshop
Instagram - @krayonshop
Pit Polish Natural Deodorant
Natural, Organic Deodorant
Branch: Military spouse (to a former Navy guy turned full time Air National Guard Member)
At Pit Polish, I wanted to make sure I was selling a product that was totally safe, natural and organic. I decided to try and make my own deodorant after failing to find a brand I liked. Fate was in the air when my first recipe knocked it out of the park! I tinkered with it for about a year, testing in the hot Texas summers, and finally perfected it.
Having had two aunts with cancer, one who didn’t make it, using safe products became paramount. The possible links to cancer and Alzheimer’s from the dangerous chemicals in conventional deodorant has made switching to a natural brand so important. And, choosing a packaging that doesn’t hurt the earth was a definite must for me. My tins are great because they’re recyclable and reusable! They are great for things like crafts and other things that need organizing once the deodorant is all used up! I’ve had customers like them so much they’ve even offered to buy some empty!
I’m so happy to be contributing something good in the world, no matter how small.
Follow their journey + order products here:
Facebook: PitPolish
Private Pit Polish group https://www.facebook.com/groups/538769496925625
MicroMahalo
Repurposed microplastics from Oahu’s beaches
Branch: military spouse of active duty Marine (hoorah!)
I hand collect microplastics off our local beaches and repurpose them into letters, magnets, coasters, bookmarks and so much more. Because I know just how much work and how many volunteer hours go into cleaning the beaches and educating others, I also give back 15% annually to local beach and ocean conservation groups. I’m so grateful to have such a fun and unique product that not only gives back, but educates people around the world on plastic pollution. Since starting about one year ago, I have helped friends, family, and even those I’ve never met to make positive changes towards reducing plastic waste and making more sustainable choices with their day to day items.
Micro meaning “tiny” and Mahalo meaning “thank you”
Follow the journey + order products here:
IG @micromahalo
Facebook: Facebook.com/MicroMahalo
Cranky Veteran Candle Company
Hand Poured Soy Candles & Room + Linen Sprays
Branch: Retired Army and military spouse co-founders
The spark that ignited this business originated in 2014, when Ryan medically retired from the US Army. The transition from soldier that serves our country to civilian is hard for many, and that was true for Ryan. For the past handful of years, he's struggled to find a profession where he "fits" and that led us here. Because of his struggle with PTSD, it was important that we found a solution that also allowed him to work with his hands as an outlet for his symptoms. Our products are made with 100% soy wax, phthalate and paraben free fragrances, and reusable containers.
Follow their journey + order products here:
Facebook: Cranky Veteran Candles
BONUS: Spouse SERVE
Day Planners Designed to Help Calm the Chaos of Military Life
Branch: Co-founder, Brittany: active duty Army officer and married to an active duty Army officer. Co-founder, Julia: military spouse (married to an active duty Army officer)
We are Julia and Brittany, two planner obsessed friends who wanted to make the planner world a better place. After years of dreaming of creating a day planner for military spouses, we decided in late 2018 to make the leap and Spouse SERVE was born. The planner provides resources specific to military life and life in general ranging from duty station bucket lists and deployment resources to a habit tracker and meal planning guide. The sleek and simple design benefits military families in all seasons - newlyweds, families with young children, working moms, stay at home dads, empty nesters, and any other combination you can imagine. Military life is full of chaos, let us help you calm it with a Spouse SERVE Planner. This life is anything but average. Why should your planner be average?
Julia and Brittany will be incorporating recycled paper into their future planner products!
Follow their journey + order products here:
IG: @spouseserve
Facebook: @SpouseServe
