Gifting can be the ultimate head-scratcher. For some, it’s the bane of the festive season. With countless gift guides, inspirations and promotions circulating around on our phones, laptops, billboards and our local shopping centre, can we truly ever get someone the perfect gift? Brainstorming aside, it’s important to consider the social and environmental impact of our purchases, no matter how big or small. The Modern Muse Magazine chatted to Irina, founder of The Conscious Stylist, for a deep dive into conscious gifting.
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself and what inspired you to start The Conscious Stylist?
A: My conscious journey started in my suitcase! When I moved from Germany to Australia [Sydney], I wanted to create a capsule wardrobe with my favourite clothes I had brought to this side of the world. I started seeing my wardrobe as a muscle of sorts, that I used to look my best but with minimal items. However, attending a Fashion Revolution event in Sydney was the biggest eye-opener, which brought to light the challenges of wholly manufacturing products in Australia, compared to the arguably simpler yet questionable practice of off-shoring production. After completing a course at Melbourne’s Australian Style Institute, I started The Conscious Stylist to encourage responsible wardrobe curation, as I had witnessed many people simply buying mindlessly and accumulating pieces that would be used once, then forgotten or discarded.
Irina- The Conscious Stylist and Conscious Gifting Expert
Q: As this element ties into the broad spectrum of sustainability, can you expand on the significance of conscious gifting?
A: With Black Friday sales popping up everywhere, I encourage clients and my followers to approach it mindfully. When it comes to gifting, of course we want to spoil our loved ones! But reflect on which businesses to support, either a local artist or a little boutique on your street compared to multinational giants with rapid production scales. Step into the shoes of your receiver, too. Will they truly appreciate this gift and will it be of productive use to them, or is it just a shiny object? When we gift consciously, gifts come with a story to share that goes beyond tangibility. Let’s not forget the lifecycle of a product from an environmental perspective, too.
Q: What is your advice on shopping ethically this festive season while on a budget?
A: We’ve all heard this before, but it is the thought that counts. Choose simpler gifts with sentimental value. If you’ve got certain skills, get your creative juices flowing and craft a gift from the comfort of your own home! If you’ve got a culinary flair, some homemade gingerbread cookies are always welcome at this time of year. Take a collaborative approach too; chat with your family and close friends about your shifting thought process; 2023 can be the year of your family’s first Secret Santa. Instead of accumulating over 20 presents under the tree, each person can only buy for whom they’re assigned to.
Q: Instantly changing your purchasing approach can be a big step; how do you suggest taking a first step into the conscious sphere?
A: Changing a behavioural pattern can be difficult, so I recommend starting with a budget. We’re all different, but money was the most efficient driver to regulate all my spending. Discipline is key. At the same time, it’s important to acknowledge we can’t transform our lives overnight with a swish of the sustainability wand. Pick one area of your life to focus on; in this case, conscious gifting. Next year, you could work on reducing food waste over the numerous dinner parties over Christmas. It takes practice, but stopping and questioning yourself before swiping your card has its long-term benefits.
Q: How did you incorporate and maintain conscious gifting into your lifestyle?
A: As much as I miss them, being away from family helped! In a few instances, I put a small package together of items to send to Germany that, as odd as it sounds, can disappear, whether that’s a chocolate bar, their favourite tea or experiences, such as tickets to a musical. These gifts don’t stay in the world for long and have minimal environmental impacts, so I always consider the product lifecycle. A gift doesn’t always have to be tangible. A magazine subscription from my partner gave me value for many months to come, instead of temporary joy during the festive season. If you choose to gift a physical product, evaluate whether it can be recycled, reused or if its fate lies in landfill. My partner and I also keep a little box of reusable wrapping paper and gifting paraphernalia; it saves money and reduces waste.
Q: How do you plan to take The Conscious Stylist further in simplifying conscious wardrobe curation for your clients?
A: The word sustainability is quite overused and ironically, greenwashed. Creating further awareness around reducing fashion waste will always be my goal, in terms of which fabrics to invest in, as I’ve always been an advocate for using natural fibres. We should understand all information on a price tag, regardless of who we’re buying for. Helping develop a mixing and matching skill is another aim, as we shouldn’t underestimate the potential of a capsule wardrobe! I encourage my clients to put their wardrobes to full use; you can have fun with it without wearing your ‘safe outfits’ every day. Clothing is a tricky sphere to navigate with gifting, so only buy those linen pants for your best friend if you know she’ll use them often, if they’re her favourite shade of blue or if they’ve been on her wishlist for a while.
Q: How do you see conscious gifting evolving with time?
A: There’s definitely more awareness and discussion around it now. However, there’s still a long way to go! We get caught up in the rush of sales during the festive season, which calls for a lot of self-control. With time, unsubscribe from the unnecessary slew of emails to remove yourself from this spiral. I hope consumers evaluate the impacts of their purchases and start questioning where products are coming from. Spreading awareness within your small circle of family and friends is a strong start.
The festive season doesn’t have to be stressful; simply take it slow and start asking questions before ticking off your gifting list. Whether you champion local artists, sew a crochet cross-body bag or book your friends a skydiving experience, the most conscious and thoughtful gifts are usually right at the doorstep of your creative mind.
To read our gift guide head here.
Find out more about Irina and The Conscious Stylist below.
