The holiday season is an excellent opportunity to give gifts extra meaning. A friend of mine has been working on some things that prompted her to share some options for how we all can spend our money this holiday season in ways that resonate more with values of social impact, ethicality, and sustainability. At times, we’re probably all guilty of opting for convenience over consciousness, but a reminder and some guidance on how to find less common and more intentional options is key for conscious consumption.
In that vein, here are some deliberate approaches to conscious shopping you can do in and around Central Park that aim to make our presents and events more meaningful this holiday season.
Local Finds, Global Impact
Explore the richness of our local community by choosing gifts and services from nearby businesses and artisans. This not only supports the local economy but can also reduce the carbon footprint associated with transportation. Some great options include:
CLOTHING AND JEWELRY
…such as handmade jewelry from Sheena Marshall (a Park Hill resident whose kids go to school in Central Park), quality women’s clothing from The Momma Hive (a former Central Park mom who saw a gap in her age group in the fashion world and decided to create a solution), various products made by local women-owned artisans at Three Arrows Gallery in the 29th Ave Town Center (including upcycled and snarky Lux + Luca jewelry)
TOYS
…from shops such as Timbuk Toys in Lowry, Talulah Jones in Uptown, Little Bird in Park Hill, or others featured in ColoradoParent.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE
…such as coffee subscriptions from Glissade near Stanley Marketplace, small-batch local honey from Bjorn Honey (based in Boulder but with retail stores throughout Denver and easy online ordering), Mr. B’s Wine & Spirits in the Stanley Marketplace (who is especially focused on environmental preservation and operates 100% plastic bottle and bag free), St. Kilian’s Cheese Shop and Market in the Highlands (so you can fill your charcuterie boards or pick up a unique gift set), Mercado Azteca at 2031 Dayton St in Aurora (where we’ve picked up taco party platters many times and created quite a following), or artisan pickles and bloody mary mix from The Real Dill
LOCAL CATERING
…with diverse food options for your holiday parties through partners supported by Rocky Mountain Microfinance (who invests in local entrepreneurs to build both individual and community prosperity), ShopBIPOC, or the Center for Community Wealth Building
FLORISTS
…as a gift and/or to spruce up your holiday party with arrangements from Babylon Floral (run by one of the first seven people in Colorado to become a Certified Professional Florist and offering delivery to Central Park), Poppy and Pine (in the Stanley Marketplace as a really convenient option for Central Park residents), Datura who specializes in houseplants (but also offers other products such as home accessories, jewelry and unique gifts), and Beet and Yarrow (nestled in The Source Hotel and also offering unique gifts such as handmade ceramics, stationary, and make-your-own bouquets)
OTHER
…such as bikes from the independent bike shop Hardt Family Cyclery near Stanley Marketplace, pet toys and gifts from Paws ‘n’ Play on the North End, hostess gifts from Aspen Lane in Beeler Park (who sells a variety of gifts sometimes making them a one-stop shop for all your gifting needs and also now has a coffee bar open daily)
Shop BIPOC
Buying from BIPOC-owned businesses (owned by black, indigenous, and people of color) is a direct and tangible way to align our everyday actions as consumers with our commitments to racial equity and to reducing the racial wealth gap.
BIPOC-OWNED FOOD AND BEVERAGE
…such as artisan chocolate from Bibamba (including many gluten-free, dairy free options), allergy-conscious baked goods from PlayHouse Bakery (around the corner from Central Park and taking holiday preorders now), tea and coffee from Whittier Café just west of City Park (my favorite cup of coffee in all of Denver), or others featured in the ShopBIPOC directory
HOME SERVICES
… from BIPOC, women-owned, and immigrant and refugee-owned businesses such as HVAC, snow removal, plumbing, maintenance and repair, and many more promoted by the Center for Community Wealth Building, the ShopBIPOC directory, or those available from our new Venezuelan migrant community (more here)
Empowerment through Purchase
Make a difference with your spending by supporting brands that actively contribute to social causes. Many businesses allocate a portion of their profits to charitable endeavors. Others focus on creating meaningful income opportunities for their workers and a supply chain that ethically traces each product from concept to completion to protect the environment and their workers.
APPAREL AND ACCESSORIES
…such as luxury handmade leather products from Tiny Dog Leather Studio (who donates 20% of their proceeds to children’s tumor foundation as the owner has a son born with neurofibromatosis), a curated collection of apparel and jewelry (plus home goods and skincare) from Obakki (who not only is committed to transparency and traceability throughout their production process but also has a sister non-profit organization to invest in community development), the well-known TOMS Shoes who invests 1/3 of their profits for ‘grassroots good’, including cash grants and partnerships with community organizations to drive sustainable change (and who has come a long way offering many shoes beyond their commonly known alpargatas with great men’s and women’s boots and kids shoes), and many fantastic businesses listed in the Sustainably Chic Brand Directory including shoes, handbags, jewelry, bath and beauty, swimwear, activewear, kitchenware, home goods, and more
FOOD
…from restaurants who support meaningful causes such as SAME Café which operates on East Colfax with a “participation model” (where guests volunteer time, donate money, or give produce in exchange for a healthy, locally sourced, made from scratch meal), Snooze AM Eatery and Chook Chicken who donate 1% of sales back to community causes, Root Down and Linger who are 100% employee-owned and emphasize local sourcing from more than 50 local producers and purveyors, and more as listed in a Visit Denver article earlier this year
I hope you find that these options and resources provide a unique opportunity for you to infuse purpose into your holiday traditions. This is not even close to a comprehensive list, so please drop in the comments any other recommendations you have!!
