Merry and Mindful: Your Sustainable Gift Guide for Timeless Treasures and Thoughtful Finds

As we welcome the joy of the holidays and the reflection that comes with the end of another year, we feel overwhelming gratitude and appreciation for what truly matters. While it’s easy (and fun) to get carried away with gifting, it’s the memories with our loved ones that mean the most.

With this gift guide, we hope to inspire you to curate unforgettable experiences and timeless treasures that you and your loved ones can share forever. These intentional gifts aim to empower mindful consumption, uplift local communities, spotlight sustainable brands, honor the planet, and remind us all that the holiday season is about more than gifts—it’s about celebrating our connections to each other and the beautiful world around us.

Gift with intention.

Intentional gifting is all about seeking items, experiences, and acts of kindness that express your love for the people in your life—and the planet. This involves finding gifts that stand the test of time, create lasting memories, and don’t leave a lingering footprint. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

• Curate an unforgettable experience. This is a beautiful way to create lasting memories while treading lightly on the planet. Whether it’s a trip to one of our sustainable sanctuaries, a spa day, or an outdoor hike, these thoughtful gifts offer your loved one the adventure or restoration they’ve been craving, often far more meaningful than a material item.
• Gift culinary delights. Whether it’s a cooking class, a mixology kit, an assortment of teas, homemade treats, or a gourmet food basket, these tasty treats can create a joyful and enriching experience while avoiding clutter (and the need to re-gift an unwanted item).
• Seek timeless treasures. If you know your loved one has a material item on their list, try to fulfill their wish with a high-quality, sustainable product. Extra props if it’s from a small, local, and eco-conscious brand that uses responsible, natural materials!

Let’s dive into some specific brands we recommend for high-quality gifts from small, sustainable businesses.

Shop small, local, and sustainable.

We believe in gifting with intention and supporting brands that tread lightly, craft with care, and uplift the places they come from. Shopping small isn’t just about where you buy, it's about who you’re supporting. It’s the neighbor who hand-pours candles, the designer upcycling denim, the wellness brand rooted in botanical integrity. These businesses shape our communities and lighten our impact, one thoughtful choice at a time.

Below, we’ve gathered a few we love offering everything from mindful movement to made-to-last staples. You can find their items at our pop-ups, gatherings, Goodthings stores, and online.

• Rothy’s: Crafted from recycled plastic bottles, Rothy’s pieces marry form and function, perfect for travelers and trendsetters alike. Their latest collection brings elevated ease to everyday essentials, including our exclusive 1 Hotels x Rothy’s collaboration bag.
• Bamford: A sensory experience grounded in nature. Bamford’s wellness and skincare offerings—also found in our spas—invite moments of restoration, inspired by the English countryside and crafted with botanical integrity.
• Alo Wellness: Gift the ritual of movement. This digital platform offers on-demand yoga, mindfulness, and fitness classes—supporting mind-body connection anywhere, anytime.
• Credo Beauty: This clean beauty marketplace curates safe, sustainable, and high-performance skincare and makeup—supporting your skin and the planet with every swipe.
• Levi’s: A pioneer in circular fashion, Levi’s continues to innovate with responsible denim made to last. From their iconic jeans to their Repair & Reuse program, this is a gift that only gets better with time.
• Jenni Kayne & Oak Essentials: Elevated California simplicity meets essential skincare. From signature sweaters to minimalist rituals, these brands invite warmth and calm into every moment.
• Cuyana: “Fewer, better” is more than a motto, it’s a movement. These timeless pieces are made with exceptional craftsmanship and sustainable materials, offering luxury that lingers.
• Little Words Project: Personalized, positive, and purposeful. These beaded bracelets make thoughtful stocking stuffers that also support anti-bullying and mental health initiatives.
• FaceGym: The workout your skin deserves. With tools, serums, and signature facial training techniques, FaceGym helps boost circulation, tone, and glow—no gym required.
• 1 Hotels Retail Collection: The most thoughtful gifts give twice. This season, we invite you to celebrate the art of giving consciously with our bundles, thoughtfully designed for every kind of moment, just in time for holiday gifting. We’ve curated sustainable Festive Bundles to make gifting feel both effortless and personalized. With options tailored to relaxation, athleisure, soothing scents, and furry friends, there’s a package for everyone on your gift list. 

Wrap sustainably.

It’s estimated that the US alone uses over 4 million pounds of wrapping paper annually, and most of it isn’t recyclable. To avoid contributing to unnecessary paper waste, our friends at Wrappr have created gorgeous fabric wraps with designs from independent artists. Each wrap works to uplift the creative community, reduce waste, and honor the 1,200-year-old Japanese tradition of furoshiki (fabric wrapping). 

You can get creative by wrapping your gifts with materials you already have at home, like old shirts, scarves, tablecloths, newspapers, magazine pages, and so much more. Add a little touch of nature with some seasonal greenery and florals.

Watch your waste in other ways.

Sustainable gifting is a great start, but the new year is also an incredible opportunity to hone in on earth-conscious habits in other areas of your life. Here are a few simple tips to reduce personal waste in your daily routine.

• Switch to digital receipts when shopping in-store.
• Don’t leave your house without a full reusable water bottle.
• Ask for no utensils or promotional items when ordering in.
• Choose clothing made from natural fibers that break down more easily over time.
• Use reusable rags instead of paper towels.
• Donate gently used items to support second-hand markets.
• Consider second-hand options before buying something new.
• Save glass jars to use for pantry storage, leftovers, or homemade gifts.
• Discover more tips for 2026 here.

From the 1 Hotels family to yours, we wish you the happiest holidays surrounded by your loved ones—and nature’s warm embrace.