Libby Duncan saves our skins with her list of feminist-friendly presents.

With the holiday season upon us and all those last-minute presents to buy, here at TWSS we’ve got you covered with our thoroughly feminist gift list. We’ve collated a dreamy selection of goodies that will not only satisfy your own stockings, but those of your loved ones too! With the internet awash with pseudo-feminist merch making millions for less-than-feminist enterprises, we wanted to make sure that where possible, you’re not only wearing feminism on your sleeve, but that your money’s talking too!

‘Floral Persephone Print Scrunchie’ – Birdsong

This Floral Persephone Print Scrunchie from Birdsong is not only beautiful but affordable too! The perfect stocking filler or Secret Santa gift at only £7.50. Looking for something extra special? Check out their website for some gorgeous pieces at higher price points: https://birdsong.london/shop/

Birdsong ethos: ‘We want to revolutionise the way you dress. All our clothes are made by women’s groups with rare skills. We pair their expertise with our designs, creating wearable pieces with a mind to the future. From migrant seamstresses to knitting grannies, we connect women from worker to wearer.’

‘All Good Pups’ Organic Sleepsuit – Back to Beyond

Buying for a mini feminist in the making? Back to Beyond have got your back with these adorable baby and toddler clothes with an emphasis on gender neutral styling! This All Good Pups Organic Sleepsuit is £24 at the higher end of their price range, but you can head over to their website to view the rest of their charming wears starting from as little as £6:https://www.backtobeyond.com/shop

Back to Beyond ethos: ‘Back to Beyond specialises in handmade organic clothing and accessories for babies and toddlers. Frustrated by the void between affordable mass produced children’s clothing with questionable ethics and sources, and prohibitively expensive and frankly unexciting ethical alternatives, we decided it was time for another option that ticked all the boxes: responsibly sourced, lovingly made, and yet still affordable, without compromising on quality or style. Back to Beyond was born.’

‘Vamp’ Lipstick – MDMFlow

At the age of just 22, Florence of MDMFlow has already built a beauty empire. These colour popping lipsticks and their signature gold packaging are simply perfection. Whether buying for yourself or as a gift, the only downside will be trying to decide on which colour(s) to choose! Check out the full makeup range at: https://mdmflow.com

MDMFlow story: ‘MDMflow is an accumulation of all of Florence’s obsessions; the colours black and gold, hip hop, beauty, fashion and science. The brand sits in the post 90s era, with a heavy influence of the mid 90s-00s glamour that comes from the hip hop culture. MDMflow started with handmade lipsticks using the latest colour technology, going on to create the decade’s great mascara according to the beauty experts. Critically acclaimed and loved worldwide the story is far from over, in fact, it’s only just begun…’

‘Becoming Shades’ Theatre Tickets – The Vaults

If you fancy gifting something a little different, why not grab some theatre tickets for this women-led production running from January to March at The Vaults in London. A feminist retelling of the myth of Persephone is sure to be the perfect post-Christmas entertainment to share with your fellow feminist pals. Click here to purchase tickets at just £22.50 each: https://vaultfestival.com/whats-on/becoming-shades/

The Show: ‘Becoming Shades is a dark immersive circus which combines live music, aerial acrobatics, fire, dance and mime, bringing you a story of empowerment, love and choices’

‘Curlfriends Art Print’ – DorcasCreates

DorcasCreates sells an array of beautiful handcrafted pieces ranging from art prints to jewellery, all inspiring black girl magic. It was hard to pick just one item to feature, so do head over to https://www.dorcascreates.comto make sure you don’t miss out on the rest! Below is ‘Curlfriends Art Print’ priced at the very reasonable £12.

Dorcas’ Story: ‘I’m Dorcas, the owner – illustrator – artist – product designer – marketing director – order packer – customer service agent – etc. etc. behind DorcasCreates. I am largely self-taught and passionate about representing and uplifting black women through illustration. Here you’ll find a lot of bold colours, pattern-work and references to my Nigerian heritage. All my illustrations start from a pencil drawing which I then edit digitally. Outside of illustration I also love lino-printing and sewing.’

‘It’s Not That Deep’ Tee – Bare Clothes Club

Although London-based and inspired, Bare Clothes Club ship nationally and are making waves all around the UK with their simple but stylish tees. So, chuck a couple in the trolley and head on over to https://www.bareclothesclub.com where T-shirts are priced at a respectable £20.

Bare Clothes Club Ethos: ‘Bare Clothes Club was founded with the intent to create t-shirt designs that reminded us of the slang we used and heard growing up around London. Using phrases and imagery with young Londoners in mind, our aim is to challenge streetwear by supporting and including intersectionality through our designs. All our tees are independently designed and made in the UK.’

‘Celtic Fire’ Candle – M&J

These candles not only smell divine but couldn’t be any kinder to the planet if they tried! This woman-owned business has made every effort to ensure that their candles are a truly ethical luxury. Whilst £23 isn’t particularly cheap for a candle, perhaps quality over quantity is the motto here. We’ve selected ‘Celtic Fire’ with scents of Pine Peat and Cedar to transport you to winter woodlands. Check out the full range at: http://www.mj-london.com

M&J’s story: ‘M&J was founded of a desire to create products of style and beauty, while building a business that holds true to ideals of integrity and fairness to other people and to the environment as a whole. Each of our products is designed and developed with the aim to tread as lightly on the planet as possible and do business in an ethical manner.’

2018 Calendar – AZ Magazine

The perfect gift to get your life in order for 2018. This stunning calendar by AZ Mag celebrates and showcases the beauty and diversity within the LGBT+ BME community. Get your copy for £10 at: http://azmaguk.bigcartel.com/product/az-mag-2018-calendar

AZ Magazine’s mission: ‘At AZ Magazine, we believe that every BME LGBT+ narrative and experience is important. Our vision is to create an online space where people feel comfortable to express themselves, find support and learn about what’s going on in our community. We want to bridge the gap between the LGBT+ community and BME culture and unite those who identify as both BME and LGBT+. We embrace mainstream culture by viewing it from an LGBT+ perspective.’

Issue 14 of That’s What She Said Magazine

The list wouldn’t be complete without the latest print edition of TWSS Magazine. We guarantee it will put a smile on the face of any feminist lucky enough to receive one, and any (frugal) gift giver lucky enough to grab a copy at just £4 including P&P! With limited numbers available, it’s the perfect rare treasure. Find us on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/566893240/thats-what-she-said-issue-14?ref=shop_home_active_1.

And finally, if practical gift giving is your game, an unfortunate essential for every feminist…

Happy holidays!