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hands holding a wrapped present surrounded by lights and gifts
hands holding a wrapped present surrounded by lights and gifts
Photo by Joshua Lam from Unsplash
Pace | Life

Capitalism Killing The Holiday Vibes? Support Small Businesses Instead.

Cassidy Burry Student Contributor, Pace University
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Pace chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

Holidays continue to lead to overconsumption and corporate greed, which in turn leads to tremendous amounts of waste. From the carbon emissions, fast fashion purchases, and single-use plastic created, the harmful effects on our environment are everlasting. To combat these harmful practices, support, and shop from small businesses as opposed to large businesses. Here’s a list of five online small businesses where you’re sure to find holiday gifts to suit anyone’s interests. 

For your pop culture-obsessed friend: Buggirl200 

For all your unique and cool clothing needs, Buggirl200 creates shirts and accessories that feature all of our favorite pop culture icons. From Taylor Swift to Larry David, there’s a wide variety of collections, all with quirky phrases and/or pictures. Madison Sinclair, the owner and creator of Buggirl200, prints all of her designs made to order. From personal experience, I can say that the quality is remarkable and the T-shirts and tank tops are comfortable. 

For the friend who’s never caught without accessories: Light Years Jewelry

Since jewelry is such a popular gift, it’s important to make sure it’s sourced and created ethically. Light Years Jewelry does a fantastic job sourcing small-batch jewelry that anyone would love to receive. Everything is curated from their local area in North Carolina. They have a large section of birthstone jewelry, which can make giving jewelry more personal. All of their pieces are also fairly priced, allowing them to be more accessible to all. 

For the friend who loves to smell nice: The New Savant

After jewelry, candles are one of the best gifts to receive. The New Savant is a small-batch candle company that produces locally out of a studio in Brooklyn. Everything from their wicks to scents is ethically sourced and sustainable, making for a guilt-free gift. The containers are also adorable, mimicking the look of a paint tin. Once again, their candles are reasonably priced for all the time and care that goes into them. 

For the friend building her capsule wardrobe: Ratboi 

Ratboi is a woman-owned company that makes cotton basics, all of which are ethically made. Based in Ventura, California, all of their pieces are timeless and the quality reflects this; they’re made to last, not to be replaced with every trend cycle. Ratboi takes pride in pricing transparency, having customers only pay for what the article costs in terms of creation and materials. If I could, I would own one of everything on their website, as so many of my favorite items found in my own closet are theirs. 

For the friend whose apartment is a gallery: Libby Haines

Libby Haines is an Australian artist who creates remarkable oil paintings. On her website, she features a large collection of prints, which are more budget-friendly than original pieces. Libby Haines is the owner and operator of her business, and her husband builds and frames all of her pieces. They are based out of their home in Melbourne, Australia. All the paints and frames are ensured to be ethical and sustainable. Her paintings are full of vibrant and eccentric colors, matching the amazing tablescapes she paints. The only reason I haven’t purchased one for myself is because I can’t decide which one to get — I simply love them all. 

All of these brands will not only leave you feeling guilt-free but make your gifts feel more meaningful. Giving gifts is more fun when you aren’t left feeling like you’re adding to overconsumption and mass waste production. All of these brands pride themselves on the quality of their pieces, allowing them to last longer than their fast fashion counterparts. Recipients appreciate the specificity and intimacy that comes with a gift that’s more personalized rather than being mass-produced. When giving gifts this year, remember quality over quantity.

Cassidy Burry

Pace '27

Cassidy Burry is the treasurer of Her Campus and currently in her senior year at Pace University, where she is completing a double major in communications & media studies and peace & justice studies, along with a minor in digital storytelling and journalism. She has been an active member of Her Campus Pace for four years. Her passion for pursuing journalism stems from a lifelong fascination with magazines, with Vogue serving as a major source of inspiration.

Her past advocacy work included writing articles for SisterLove, an Atlanta-based nonprofit that is the first organization in the southeastern United States dedicated to women’s HIV, sexual, and reproductive justice. Cassidy feels privileged to have contributed to educating and advocating for reproductive and healthcare rights. Additionally, she completed an internship with Freedom Agenda, a nonprofit based within the Urban Justice Center. The organization spearheaded the campaign to close Rikers Island and continues to lead advocacy efforts for the rights of incarcerated individuals.

Outside of her academic and advocacy endeavors, Cassidy manages a local bakery in the heart of the Theatre District. She has an expansive appreciation for music across all genres and was named after the Grateful Dead song “Cassidy,” a namesake that has fostered meaningful connections throughout her life. She spends much of her free time listening and discovering new music. Having played competitive soccer for most of her childhood, she eagerly awaits the Women’s World Cup every four years. She is always hoping for greater recognition and equality for women in sports, and every year seems to bring more promise.