Adelaide’s Purpose-driven Christmas Gift Guide
This holiday season, dive into the festive spirit by discovering the heart-warming stories and unique offerings from Adelaide's for-purpose businesses. Beyond the tinsel and twinkling lights, these local gems are not just boutiques; they're beacons of positive change. As you check off your gift list this year, consider the impact of your choices. Each purchase becomes a gift twice-fold: once for your loved ones and again for the community. In this guide, we'll take you on a sleigh ride through the city's most compassionate businesses, revealing the hidden magic of social and environmental responsibility woven into every carefully crafted product. Let's make this Christmas not just festive, but full of heart!
For the ones that love to savour and taste.
Forage Supply Co. is a sustainability-driven business offering fabulous wines. With a mission that extends beyond flavour, they aim to support South Australians facing homelessness through employment opportunities and innovative housing solutions. Dive into their online wine store, showcasing a playful array of varietals emphasising minimal intervention winemaking and organic practices.
Something Wild, an Indigenous-owned gem, delivers the essence of Indigenous produce across Australia. Guided by ethical cultural and environmental practices, they ensure your choices support Traditional Land Owners and Indigenous businesses. Whether you explore their Adelaide Central Market outlet or visit the online store, Something Wild offers unique gifts filled with native flavours. We can highly recommend their native herb starter packs or their Seven Seasons Spirits 3-packs.
Warndu, meaning 'good' in Adnyamathanha, shares the richness of Australia's native food legacy. A 60,000-year-old commitment to cultural and environmental respect defines this Indigenous-owned gem. Delve into their essential gift guide, revealing mystery boxes packed with premium Australian native goodies and homewares. With every purchase, you're not just unwrapping flavours; you're supporting a mission to regenerate culture, community, tradition, health, and soils.
For the ones that crave meaningful moments.
My Grandma Ben is more than an eatery; it's a haven for sustainability enthusiasts. This eco-conscious café actively minimises food and plastic waste, creating a delicious ripple effect. Their community focus shines through unique produce trading systems, inviting local home gardeners to exchange excess bounty for pickles or coffee. This Christmas, gift someone Grandma Ben's Christmas Day catering, a seasonal pickling workshop, or vouchers for a meaningful, eco-friendly brunch.
At the Living Kaurna Cultural Centre, Southern Cultural Immersion invites you to explore the rich tapestry of Kaurna heritage. This Indigenous-owned gem at Warriparinga is a celebration of reconciliation and cultural respect. Open to visitors, the centre offers an art gallery and a gift store (perfect for some Christmas shopping!) but also a wide selection of guided tours, cultural experiences, and captivating workshops: think Aboriginal art classes, weaving, ochre play… and so much more! Invite your loved ones to explore, learn, and meaningfully engage with the Kaurna Land we’re on.
For the ones that cherish tangible treasures.
Step into The Adelaide Remakery, a profit-with-purpose upcycling resource centre. Here, sustainability meets creativity, offering a plethora of craft and art supplies, sustainably made products, and remade gifts. You’ll have plenty to choose from, and do make the most of this special place this Christmas, as the Remakery will sadly be closing its doors in January. Show it some Christmas love, and choose gifts that echo the beauty of repurposing and more positive environmental impact.
Bearded Dragon Gallery is both an art space and a testament to inclusivity and support. This social enterprise art gallery showcases exceptional works by artists with disabilities, providing employment, education, and a welcoming space. Managed and co-designed by individuals living with disabilities, the gallery promotes unique and vibrant artwork and merchandise. Their cards and gift packs are an ideal impactful Christmas gift option!
OmMade Meet the Maker is not just a store; it's a haven for local artisans and makers. This not-for-profit gift store champions community collaboration, providing affordable retail spaces for South Australian creators. Head to their stores in Rundle Place, Tea Tree Plaza, West Lakes or Marion stock up on homeware, jewellery, art, skincare, candles and so much more… while supporting a vibrant, creative community of local Adelaidean entrepreneurs.
For the ones that walk the green carpet.
Sustainable Clothing Co is a pretty great Christmas gift option for the fashionistas in your circles. Dive into a curated collection featuring vintage, pre-loved streetwear, locally made pieces, upcycled treasures, and eco-friendly fabrics. Every piece is a statement against disposable fashion and a step toward a greener, more conscious wardrobe.
Dulcie's Real Shop of Opportunity, a renowned Adelaide vintage store, is also a social enterprise dedicated to sustainable fashion and vulnerable communities. Every purchase supports individuals experiencing homelessness, transforming your fashion-focused gift choices into meaningful contributions. This Christmas, wrap up the joy of vintage chic and sustainable style and head to their stores in the Adelaide Arcade or on Grange Road.
For the ones that seek the quirky and unique.
Is it really just as children that we were excited about that first bike? For many, a bike is more than a present; it's a newfound joy and a sustainable mode of transport. Adelaide Community Bicycle Workshop, a not-for-profit charity, turns donated bikes into great gifts, rolling joy to those in need and aiding refugees. By refurbishing and selling bikes, they fund charitable activities, promoting sustainability and providing crucial support to those facing hardships. Explore their Saturday line-up of bikes – you might just find a Christmas gem on two wheels!
Gift a cycle of change with Taboo! Their certified organic and ethically sourced cotton pads and tampons, wrapped in eco-friendly packaging, make for a unique and meaningful Christmas present. Maybe through a subscription, individual products or by supporting their pad-it-forward program, choose Taboo for a quirky and original gift that fights period poverty.
Unwrap joy this Christmas with Little Droppings – the perfect gift for overwhelmed parents diving into the world of reusable nappies. Fight household waste with a prepaid subscription or a jolly gift card. Little Droppings delivers clean, reusable nappies straight to their doorstep, making parenting stress-free and eco-friendly.
And to end on a jolly note…
Come along on our Adelaide Christmas walking tour: Gifting with Purpose on the 9th December! We’ll be embarking on a festive adventure through the heart of Tarndanya (Adelaide), connecting with like-minded individuals, experiencing the joy of the season, and shopping for meaningful gifts that support local businesses, environmental initiatives, social causes, and Indigenous enterprises.