The Ethical Clothing Australia Gift Guide is Packed with Purposeful Pressie Ideas!
- Words by Peppermint
All we want for Christmas is… ethical goodies under the tree! This year we’ve found plenty of fabulous ideas to wrap up for loved ones in the Ethical Clothing Australia Gift Guide, which is brimming with big-hearted businesses (plus some special discounts!) many of which are small, locally owned and run companies committed to Australian manufacturing.
The Peppermint team had a hunt through the ECA Gift Guide and picked out some pretty, practical and purposeful pressies for others (and themselves!). From colourful cushions and custom-made tees to pattern-making classes and the classic ‘undies and socks’ combo, here are some gorgeous and guilt-free gifting ideas that are sure to be well-received this festive season.
THE SOCIAL OUTFIT / SAM, EDITOR
As a longtime fan of The Social Outfit, I was excited to hear they’ve recently celebrated a decade of incredible work by launching two new community prints – ‘Amplify’ and ‘Storyteller’ – across a range of cute accessories (and clothing) that are pressie perfection. Think velvet clutches, silk scrunchies and carry-all bumbags made with donated and deadstock fabric that has been saved from landfill.
RB PATTERNS / LAURA, SEWING COORDINATOR
I am all for the gift of experiences, and I cannot think of a better way to make memories (and enhance my dress-making skills) than to spend a glorious day with the talented team at RB Patterns. A Pattern Making Class gift voucher will see me all stitched up for Christmas!
TREEKID / MANDY, ADVERTISING MANAGER
When shopping for my little ones for Christmas, I try to follow that lovely idea of “something they want, need, wear and read” so my pick for wear is always something a little unique, fun, durable and kind to the planet! I’m also a sucker for overalls so I have my eye on the gorgeous designs from Treekid, a Melbourne-based kids clothing label focused on sustainability, style and substance.
BUSHY / KELLEY, PUBLISHER
Is it even Christmas if someone doesn’t get socks and undies? And what better to put under the tree than something made from trees… sustainably harvested, FSC© certified new-growth trees, in fact. I love that the Australian-made Bushy range covers men’s, women’s and gender-neutral bums (and other bits), in softer-than-silk Tencel. They also make merino wool socks aka “the one sock to rule them all”, perfect for that hard-to-buy-for family member, and comfy Tencel crop tops, perfect for… um, me (hi Glen!).
CITIZEN WOLF / EM, DEPUTY EDITOR
Don’t tell my husband but I’m toying with the idea of gifting him a few Citizen Wolf T-shirts. Good tees are hard to find! And what says, ‘I love you!’ and ‘I see you!’ better than a shirt that fits just so? I’m very interested in the brand’s Magic Fit technology – a kind of wizardry that creates a custom shape based on the wearer’s height, weight and age. Bonus? Citizen Wolf will take care of any repairs required down the line (because I love the guy, but I’m not in the business of mending his shirts!).
NEXT STATE / KELLY, COMMUNITY MANAGER
Next State are the elves in my ‘Santa’s workshop’! This Melbourne-based business will carefully and expertly print my artwork onto gorgeous products, from cushions and wall hangings to tea towels and totes. I am so satisfied knowing I’m able to gift thoughtful and personal presents to my favourite people.
CREATED WITH OUR FRIENDS AT ETHICAL CLOTHING AUSTRALIA. CHECK OUT THEIR 2024 GIFT GUIDE TO BRING SOME CHRISTMAS CHEER TO YOUR TREE!
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TOGETHER WE STITCH RETURNS! 🪡✨
Ditch the dishes. Clear your cutting table. Pop the kettle on. Because Together We Stitch is back from 15 to 22 March for seven joy-filled days of sewing, learning and reveling in the joy of shared community, no matter where you are in the world!
Hosted by Megan from @SewAndTell.Co, this global online sewing event brings thousands of makers together for a week of practical know-how, confidence boosts and those “why didn’t I know this sooner?!” moments.
This year’s line-up is packed with masterclasses and practical inspiration, like:
🪡 Simple knit finishing tricks to make your garments look store-bought by @SewAndTell.Co’s Megan Linley
🪡 Troubleshooting your sewing machine by Jenni Miller from @LetsGetSewingNow
🪡 Hands-on pattern adjustments for sway back from @GinaReneeDesigns
🪡 An interview with Brandon Hayden from @HappilyDressed about building a garment around the fabric you love
🪡 Iron Care 101 by @MicheleMuska
🪡 Kate Boyle from @MindMovementHealth shares posture tips and exercises to help prevent sewing aches and pains
🪡 An easy jeans-to-skirt upcycle project from @LaCreativeMama’s Victoria Martinez Azaro
🪡 DIY custom fabrics and creative craft-room upgrades by Stephanie Young from @So_Stephanie_Says
🪡 Plus choosing prints with intention, making your dream wardrobe a reality, and meeting the creator of Project & Cut, Clinton Blackmore to talk all things PDF pattern future
Together We Stitch is all about expert-led sessions, creative demos, practical tips you can take straight to your sewing table, and a community that celebrates every win along the way. Join live or catch the replays when it suits you.
Head to togetherwestitch.com or hit the link in bio to save your seat. 🪡
#TogetherWeStitch #SewingExpo #SewingInspo #MeMade #SewingCommunity #SewistsOfInstagram
Coffee begins long before your morning cuppa! ☕️
2026 has been declared the International Year of the Woman Farmer, led by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the @UnitedNations. It’s a global spotlight with a practical purpose: to recognise women’s indispensable roles across agrifood systems, and to push for the changes that still haven’t arrived evenly, like equal access to land, finance, training, technology and decision-making.
Into that bigger picture steps Elizabeth Duna, a coffee farmer from Papua New Guinea and the chairwoman of the Keto-Tapasi Progress Association. Elizabeth is also the only female chairperson across the @FairtradeANZ cooperative network in the Pacific, overseeing farmers across the association and helping ensure Fairtrade standards are met.
We had the privilege of chatting to Elizabeth (just in time for International Woman’s Day this Sunday, too!) about what’s been growing and changing within her cooperative, what ‘fair trade’ means to her, and the hopes that manifest in a ‘simple’ bag of coffee beans.
Link in bio ☕️
#FairTrade #FairTradeCoffee #InternationalWomensDay
DIFFICULT ✊🏻✊🏽✊🏿
The collab we needed for International Women`s Day… and every day!
From @DangerousFemales:
"Hands up if you’ve ever been called difficult behind your back, to your face, or by an Australian Prime Minister during a Q&A?
DIFFICULT by Grace Tame, in her own handwriting is… one word: ICONIC!
100% of profits from our tees are donated, 100% of the time. Funds from this @TamePunk tee will go to @BerylWomen_inc, a First Nations led women’s refuge in the ACT.
Kinda ironic, don’t ya think?
Supporting an org in the parliament state with words from a politician for Australia’s longest running and underfunded women’s refuge.
Thank you @TamePunk for being difficult." 🫶🙌
Link in bio to get behind this tee!
#InternationalWomensDay #DangerousFemales #GraceTame #Difficult
NEW PATTERN ALERT 🎉
She’s giving comfort, she’s giving style, she’s giving palate-cleansing sewing. There’s nothing quite like an easy breezy dress that’s not only a dream to wear but a delight to sew, and the NEW Peppermint Myrtle Shift Dress delivers!
Cute, classic and cool with a touch of retro: the Myrtle Shift Dress is a beginner-friendly make with sleek lines and elegant curves. Bust darts are in play for shaping and spacious pockets to hold all your treasures. Top-stitching detail around the neck and armholes invites creative contrast threads and the keyhole loop closure at the back neck begs for a feature button (or a tie closure!).
Myrtle cuts above the knee with options to customise the length. Don’t think she’s reserved for hot weather either: try a heavier-weight fabric to turn your Myrtle into a pinafore-style garment for layering.
For our fabrics we chose two from @Karmme_Apparel – the bold Rottnest Stripes in a lightweight, soft-drape cotton, and the quality linen in the handpainted Mexico Collection. Karmme also stocks darling tassels so we popped a hot pink one on as a closure!
The love child of Imby Langenbach, Karmme Apparel (fittingly pronounced ‘calm’), is a haven of boho apparel sewing patterns alongside complementary fabrics steeped in tradition with modern iterations from Jaipur, India. Hand block-printed and digitally printed soft cottons produced by Indian artisans showcase rich colours and designs from Imby’s travels, perfect for showing off me-made masterpieces.
Our dresses were superbly stitched by our sewing manager @Laura_The_Maker, and modelled magnificently by Shannon @Pins_And_Tonic and Serah @SerahSews. And that perfect pink wall was courtesy of the good folk at @ShareTheDignityAustralia, an organisation that aims to bring dignity to women, girls and those who menstruate who are experiencing homelessness, domestic violence and period poverty.
Get making the Myrtle – the only question is, can you stop at just one?
Link in bio 🪡
Photos: @KelleySheenan
Sewist: @Laura_The_Maker
Patternmaker: @GarmentaApparel
Models: @SerahSews and @Pins_And_Tonic
Fabric: @Karmme_Apparel
#PeppermintMyrtleShiftDress #PeppermintPatterns
Connection 🫶🏻
Such great ideas from @GrowWithColby:
“A common theme I noticed in 2025:
Everyone is craving more connection.
Use these friend nights to make it happen in 2026.
Send this to the people you want to do these with.”
#Connection #Friends #Community
No bull - these pants are the cat`s (or cow`s) pyjamas...
Jenny from @RhubarbSundays:
And they are done! My @PeppermintMagazine #PeppermintFernPleatedPants made using a gorgeous fabric from @IndyBindyFabrics! I absolutely love this fabric! It’s soft and drapes beautifully. And the best thing about it is that, from a distance, it looks like an abstract print and then you look closer and theres a curious bull looking right at you. 🤣🤣 🐄 🐮
Really happy with the end product. They are very comfy! I didn’t make many changes to the pattern. Just a touch more room in the rise and a little bit off the waist. I’ll post some closeups of the details tomorrow when I actually take them off. 🤣 "
Grab the pattern from the link in bio!
#PeppermintPatterns #IMakeMyOwnClothes #ClothesThatFeelLikePyjamas #SewersGonnaSew
