Feature Image by Ezekixl Akinnewu

During Black History Month and beyond it’s crucial we take a look at individuals, businesses and more who have paved the way for equality. Keep reading to see a curated list of young Black females who are rising up in the Canadian business industry with products that empower you.

Brown Sugar Skincare

Inspired by her brother with eczema, Jasmine wanted to find a natural alternative with ingredients you can understand, which is when BRWNSGR was born. She’s taking on the natural skincare world by storm and you’ll definitely watch Brown Sugar Skincare become a household name. From facial cleansers to body butter, they have a variety of products made for the face and body, filled with rich ingredients.

Image from Brown Sugar Skincare Instagram 

Révolutionnaire

Run by sister Nia and Justice Faith, this empowerment duo is speaking up with their education platform and teamed up with Roots to create a collection made to encourage individuality. What started off as a tight company by Nia, who was a dancer that couldn’t find any to match her skin tone, has now flourished into a worldwide movement.

Image from Révolutionnaire Instagram 

SAJIN

Sajin sells premium green tea grown in Japan and is based out of Winnipeg. The antioxidant-powered tea has incredible benefits and different flavours to help you re-focus and re-charge while taking a few minutes to yourself. Not to mention their entire Instagram is a vibe, so if you’re looking for a peaceful and motivational account to add to your timeline, give them a follow @sajingreentea.

Image from SAJIN Instagram 

Feature Image by Mălina Sîrbu

Oranges always make a beautiful touch to the holiday season. Whether you’re adding them to drinks, crafting or decorating, there are endless ways to get creative with them. We’ve put together a list of three easy DIY crafts with oranges for Christmas. You might have a couple at home or they’re easy enough to run out and grab with your last-minute holiday grabs. 

Orange Peel Ornaments from This Healthy Table

Image from This Healthy Table Instagram @thishealthytable

How to Make Simple Orange Peel Ornaments

1. Peel an orange, by cutting off both ends and running a knife from end to end. Carefully pull the peel off, trying to keep it as intact as possible. Cut it into two to three pieces.

2. Using a small (1 inch) cookie cutter, cut out shapes from the peel.

3. With a metal pin or end of a knife, create holes in the top of each orange peel cutout.

4. Cut twine or ribbon and thread it through the holes in the cutouts. Tie it to complete the ornament!

Ways to Use these Ornaments

• Hang them on the tree

• Add them to a wrapped package. Tie them onto the bow or ribbon around a package for a cute and delicious smelling gift wrap.

• Hang them on a garland. Hang an evergreen garland and hang the oranges along with it.

• Hang them on a door handle. String several orange peel ornaments on one piece of twine and hang it on a handle.

• Add them to a wreath. Orange peel ornaments look super cute in an evergreen or eucalyptus wreath.

Orange and Clove Pomander Balls from Almanac

Image from Almanac, view Instagram @theoldfarmersalmanac

How to Make Them:

• Take firm oranges and stud them with whole cloves. That’s it!

• You can also use a toothpick to make pre-made holes; this is helpful for children because the cloves can hurt their little hands (and ours).

• Be creative and arrange the cloves in diamonds, circles, or other patterns. As the orange dries, it will release a delicate, spicy fragrance.

• For a stronger aroma, cover the entire orange with cloves, and then roll it in a mixture of spices such as: 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground cloves, 1 tablespoon ground nutmeg, 1 tablespoon allspice, 1/4 cup powdered orris root. Leave the orange in the mix for a week, turning once a day.

• To hang your pomander, run a long wire through the orange; make a knot at the bottom and a loop at the top for hanging. Or, you can tie red ribbon around your pomander for a festive look!

How to Make It Last

If you want your pomanders to last, store in a paper bag for a few weeks. Use lots of cloves which are a natural preserving agent. The cloves will draw out the juices and they’ll shrink in size. Dusting with cinnamon helps, too, as cinnamon functions as an anti-fungal.

Ideas for Using Pomanders

• Arrange the cloves in special shapes and patterns. For Halloween, make a jack-o’-lantern; for Thanksgiving, try a turkey; for Christmas, a Christmas tree!

• Create a centerpiece for your next holiday meal.

• Give to friends, teachers, and neighbors in a plastic bag with a red ribbon!

• Try putting an orange pomander at the bottom of your Christmas stockings.

• Use small oranges (or another small citrus) to create a fragrant ornament for the Christmas tree.

• Once dried, hang pomanders in your closet or add to your drawers like a sachet.

Dried Orange Garland from The Ginger Home

Image from The Ginger Home, view Instagram @thegingerhome

You will need:

• 4-5 large oranges
• Sharp knife
• Cutting board
• Cookie sheets
• Parchment paper
• Paper towel
• Fishing wire or twine

Step 1 – Turn on the Oven: Preheat the oven to 225º F. I like to use the convection setting on my oven as it moves the air around more and I find I don’t necessarily need to flip the orange slices, but this is optional!

Step 2 – Prep Cookie Sheets: Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. I set out three cookies sheets as I wanted to make enough orange slices to create a long garland as well as hang extra slices on Christmas trees around the house.

Step 3 – Slice Oranges: Slice oranges 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick and place them in a single layer on the cookie sheets. Blot with a paper towel to remove excess moisture and speed up the drying process.

Step 4 – Bake Oranges: Place in the oven and bake for approximately 3 hours at 225ºF or until the oranges start to turn slightly brown and dry. You can flip the oranges about halfway through the baking process to help them brown evenly and dry on both sides.

Note: Not all ovens are the same and lots of readers have said that they’ve needed to set their oven to a lower setting to avoid burning the orange slices. You could start as low as 170ºF and see how it goes if your oven is on the hotter side!

Step 5 – Let Orange Slices Cool: Let the orange slices cool! They smell so good! I just let mine cool for a few hours right on the tray and then made my garlands. I figured they would just dry more hanging up. But if you wanted to, you could place them on a cooling rack and leave them out for a few days to make sure they were extra dry!

Step 6 – String Oranges & Decorate: String the oranges onto a clear fishing line. Poke the line through the flesh of the orange, not the rind! You can string them close together, or leave 1-2 inch gaps as I did for a more minimal look. The fishing line is invisible and makes the oranges look like they are floating! Use a string of oranges to trim a cedar or fir garland as I did above our kitchen sink!

Tag us @ageoflapin on any social platform to show us your crafts!

Let’s be honest, it can be exhausting scrolling through endless pages of products. Clothes, beauty supplies or furniture, we all get a little excited seeing items go in our cart but never end up entering in our card info. Adding a sale to that can be dangerous. This Black Friday, keep a close eye on what are wants and what are needs, and save yourself the buyers regret or need to return (causing extra pollution returning by mail or gas driving somewhere). This allows for a more mindful shopping experience rather than rushing through to grab what you think you need. We’ve curated a list of some awesome Canadian brands proudly representing Green Friday. Thoughtful shopping!

Londre Bodywear: They are super advocates for shopping mindfully over Green Friday. Also, for every purchase of $150+, Londre will plant a baby coral.

The Ordinary: instead of just one day, they keep their sale going throughout the month of Slowvember. Their motto is Taking Black Back Friday and we love to hear it.

IKEA Canada: they’ve introduced their Green Friday event which allows customers to bring back their second-hand for a store credit and these gently used or discontinued items at an affordable price for November.

Feature Image from @arturoriveraphotography

We’re all guilty of the bathing suit bulk-order during summer, which usually only lasts that season. That’s why we’ve curated a list of eco-friendly swimwear brands that keep the environment and style top of mind. These Canadian-based brands have put their efforts into supporting our ecosystem by choosing fabrics, processes and packaging that contribute to benefiting our climate rather than taking from it. Keep reading for five amazing companies changing the game of sustainable swimwear.

Jordyn Leah Swim | @jordynleahswim

Image from Jordyn Leah Swim’s Website

After lovingly wearing a pricey bikini for a few weeks and having it fade and lose shape, Jordyn became determined to create something longer-lasting to lower the impact on the environment. Today, her modern suits are made out of a new, super-soft, fabric that can be thrown right into your recycling bin when you’re looking to switch up your fit. These super chic swimsuits will have you feeling your best and give you the chance to shop for new items without adding damage to the fashion industry. 

Ūnika Swim | @unikaswim

Image from Ūnika Swim’s Website

These super-sexy swimsuits are your go-to for any fashion-forward beach day with sizes XS-4XL available and are super adjustable. In addition to their pre-made items, they make custom pieces to fit your body type at their storefront in Yorkville, Toronto, with hundreds of designs, fabrics and colours to choose from. Each bathing suit is made out of 100% regenerated nylon yard taken from pre and post-industrial waste from materials like discarded fishnets. 

SELFISH Swimwear | @selfishswimwear 

Image from SELFISH Swimwear’s Website

Handmade with love in Montreal, their brand encourages individuals to be themselves, bringing in a boatload of confidence. The one-of-a-kind swimsuits are crafted with 100% recycled nylon fibers, so not only do you feel cute but so will the environment. Selfish has some beautiful designs that are perfect for those looking for something extra unique, with bold designs paired with popping colours. 

Londre Bodywear | @londrebodywear

Image from Londre Bodywear’s Website

The Vancouver, BC-based swim brand is breaking hearts and barriers, with stunning suits made from recycled bottles with a silky smooth look and feel. At the start of the season, they launched a collab with body positivity phenom, @thebirdspapaya, with an exclusive floral pattern that has hidden vulvas painted on the one-piece and bikini. Their goal is to keep you feeling your best with flattering shapes and super cute colours while activating for climate change to make our planet healthier. 

Mimi and August | @mimiandaugust

Image from Mimi and August’s Website

The Montreal-designed-based brand showcases body confidence by using every type of woman to model their brand and allowing customers to be a part of the fun by applying here. Mimi and August have comfortable basics and stunning designs in shapes that fit whatever coverage you’re looking for. They consciously create their pieces to reduce their environmental footprint and focus on non-fast fashion by producing limited quantities and don’t launch seasonal collections. 

Other summer must-haves from these brands you’ll love:

Store Link

Store Link

Store Link

When you’re passionate about the universe, you want to show it off, making astrology jewellery the perfect accessory. Every time you see it, it gives you a reminder of the bigger things and gives some power to those around you who see it. From the moon, sun, starts and everything in between, we’ve rounded up some jewellery pieces that add a little extra you.

Here are some beautiful jewellery pieces made by some Canadian brands we love:

North Star and Moon Bracelet from Katherine Karambelas

The perfect bracelet for anyone with astrology eyes.

Zodiac Necklace from Lavender & Grace Jewelry

Represent your own or the zodiac of someone you love with this unique 16k gold plated pendant necklace. Choose the option of one of 12 zodiac constellations made with Zirconia Crystals and a delicate looking chain that hangs perfectly to match any outfit.

Luna Studs from HART + STONE

Handcrafted in the crescent phase, these are the perfect everyday wear earrings for any moon lover. You have the option to pick between sterling silver or gold filled, and can also choose to buy it as a pair or single earring.

Twisted Crescent Moon Necklace from Trove & Co.

Plated with a tick layer of 14k rose gold vermeil, this is a signature piece for anyone looking for a simple and delicate universe piece. The crescent moon is filled with Clear ‘AAA’ Grade Cubic Zirconia to add to its shine plus is completely lead and cadmium free.

Sun Signet from Melanie Aude

Bring the sunshine wherever you go with this sun face ring coated in 14K gold vermeil. This beautiful signet has the thickness to create a bold statement look while the thin lower band ads an elegant touch.

During times of uncertainty and even in daily life it’s completely normal to experience different feelings of anxiety, sadness, doubt etc., we’re all human after-all. But how you deal with those sensitivities are what create healthy habits. Journaling is one amazing way to help you cope with the worries in your world.

Where to Start:

It can be intimidating staring at blank lines/ pages, even when you have been writing for a long time. A good place to start is by simply jotting down what’s in your head. It gives you a chance to express what emotions, feelings and thoughts you’re going through at that moment or what you’ve felt throughout the day. Use an old notebook you have laying around, buy (an eco) one that you’re drawn to, write on your laptop or even just a piece of paper. The key is not to focus on the writing materials, but the actual content and doing. If you’re having writers block, you can also Google/ Pinterest journal entries to get you started with writing ideas.  

There’s also amazing tools like guided journals which come filled with exercises like writing down things you’re grateful for or the things you’re most proud of yourself for that week. A lot of them also come with motivational quotes throughout them to inspire you as you write. These are a great way to keep you on track for journaling and give you a variety of tools to use.  

Benefits

Finding Your Time

Everyone is different when it comes to the time of day they like to journal. Some prefer to write in the morning to use it as an intention setting for their day; while others use it as a tool to declutter their brains before bed. Frequency is the writers choice: it be everyday, a few times a week or when they really need to let something out. Whatever time of day you choose to write, it’s important to use this as a time of rejuvenation, not just another feel good ritual we try to shove into our day. It can be therapeutic like meditation because you’re giving your brain a chance to finally unwind. 

You also get some much needed alone time, to release everything you’ve been holding in, the bad, the good and the ugly. Take this time to find a comfortable spot, maybe light some candles, throw on a diffuser or anything that brings you relaxation to make you look forward to writing. It’s important to find a rhythm, to create a self-care practice that doesn’t feel like a chore, but something you truly enjoy, though it can take time to enjoy it. Like with anything, it can take time to get into creating a habit of journaling and finding out when writing works best for you. 

Letting Go 

There’s things we’ve said and done, goals, and the list of things we’ve bottle up inside because we’re too afraid to tell others. That’s when journaling comes in as a side kick that isn’t going to judge or doubt us, and is completely private to just you (with no one looking at your spelling either). Journaling gives you the chance to express everything you’re keeping inside and to get it out of your mind. It can be an emotional time during some writing topics, and don’t let that stop you from writing them. If you need to cry while you’re writing, do it, because it will help you release all of that emotion, while decluttering your mind.  

New Perspective

When you keep running through a scenario in your mind it can be hard to see it any other way. That’s why when we talk to a family member or a friend about a situation, we usually end up feeling better about it afterwards because their advice is something we may not have thought of. When we write down what we’re going through, it makes it a lot easier to see it from a new lens. We end up becoming more sure of ourselves because we start to rebuild a trust inside that may have been lost with all of the often untrue and negative comments we say in our heads. It might even unleash some more creativity, and inspire you to doodle or even add in pictures. This might even get you interested in bullet journaling, a mix between planning, journaling and drawing. 

Personal Guidance 

We often search outwards when we’re seeking advice whether it be from a friend, professional, sibling or even the internet. But rarely do we ever give advice to ourselves, even if we’re good at giving it to everyone else. You know yourself, what you need, truly want and aspire to, so who better to give you that advice than yourself? A great way to do this is when you’re writing out a situation, think about how you would talk to a loved one if they were in a similar position. It would definitely be something kind and encouraging, not the brutal insults that we say to ourselves if we “mess up”. 

Self-Growth

The more journaling is brought into a scheduled routine, the more we can bring these practices into real life. The blank pages start to become your best friend and you can pour your heart out without any judgement or worry about what anyone is going to think or say. There’s no right or wrong things to write, it’s all about what you feel needs to be said. Use your writing time to not judge yourself but to compliment yourself, because you’ll feel a lot better. You may even want to look back on some of your past entries to see how you were feeling, happy memories you wrote from a trip you were on or as a reminder as to why you’re writing in the first place. It becomes an amazing tool of self-expression, because it’s just you and your book, without any limits. 

Here are some Canadian journaling accessories we love including a Guided Clarity Journal, Refillable Bamboo Pen and Frida Notebook:

Store Link

Store Link

Store Link

One of the amazing benefits of yoga is the connection you can gain with your inner self. While group classes are always fantastic, it is a great idea to practice at home once in a while, allowing you additional time to breathe a little longer into the poses and stretches that your body may be yearning for. Apps like Gaia are wonderful tools for at-home sessions, as you are able to customize your practice to length and preferred style. There’s also of incredible yogis on YouTube who can assist you with your at-home practice.

Flowing at home is a great way to help build your cardiovascular strength, while also relaxing your mind and body by a slow release of stress. When you get the chance to Yogi up at home, you get to move at your own pace and repeat each move as many times as you need, helping to dive into a deeper self-discovery.

Benefits of at Home Yoga:

• Create Your Happy Place: opening up a space in your home specifically for yoga or meditation will ensure there is one place in your habitat that is focused strictly on serenity. Design this space in any matter that encourages you to decompress. Make sure that it is clutter-free, as a cluttered space is difficult to relax in. Feel free to add your own elements such as your favourite crystals or essential oils.
• Peace in Solitude: being by yourself can be very empowering. It is also an imperative when it comes to self-care. How can we know who we are and what we want if we don’t spend any time with ourselves? At-home practices are also wonderful when it comes to taking extra time for savasana or meditation.
• Practice Makes Perfect: practicing in a studio full of strangers can be intimidating for anyone, whether you’re new to the flow or are a full-time Yogi. It can be extremely difficult to separate our egos from our practice when everyone else around you is doing headstands and you’re still trying to master downward dog. Doing a routine at home or working on certain moves in your on space increases your confidence and abilities dramatically.
• Personalized, Chatter, Laughter, Customize: While there’s the unwritten Yogi rule to keep your noises to a minimum during classes which helps bring the zen energy to the room, you can feel free to laugh, grunt, groan and cheer yourself on when your at home on your own. You can also make a personalized playlist and say whatever may be coming to your mind when you’re holding a pose for too long.

The Poses:

1. Child’s Pose | Balasana

This is a super comforting pose that helps reduce stress to help bring you back to a good heart rate, with proper breathing. It’s a really useful pose as it helps relax tensiono in the face and mouth – yes we even carry tension there! You can also take this time to set an intention for your practice to make the most out of each move. 

2. Mountain Pose | Tadasana

If you find yourself looking to improve your posture this is the perfect pose for you. This is the ultimate pose to soak up the earths energy and use it to help balance you out. Plus, it gives your body a full stretch to help get the blood flowing from top to bottom while focusing on your core and lower back.

3. Standing Forward Fold & Half Way Lift | Uttanasana & Ardha Uttanasana

This pose helps release built up tension that’s running through your mind and body. When you slowly bring your body up halfway you’re helping with blood flow and and releasing built-up tension; especially in your upper half, like shoulders, triceps and mind.

4. Chaturanga | Chaturanga Dandasana  
Build and strengthen the endurance of the muscles in your arms, shoulders, core and back with this power move that also stretches your core and lower back. Chaturanga helps stretch out your core and lower back, which helps make your vertebrae feel extended. They key to moving through the postures is reminding yourself that you’re strong. When you practice at home, you don’t even have to feel shy about saying out loud “I have the strength”.

5. Downward Facing Dog | Adho Mukha Shvanasana

This pose is packed with the ability to reduce anxiety, stretch you out from head to toe and align your body. It works really well to bring energy into your lower legs that travels up to your spin. With your head hanging low, it takes away tension that we tend to carry around in our traps and neck.

6. One Legged Downward Dog With Knee Tuck | Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana

This moves lengthens your hips and quads and brings increases the strength in your leg and arms from holding up one leg at a time. With the knee tuck, you’ll immediately start to feel your ab muscles working while your heart rate picks up. This is really important because a strong core is everything when it comes to supporting the rest of your body. 

7. Warrior II | Virabhadrasana II

Keeping your direct focus past your finger tips helps to build focus and discipline. Warrior II will help you gain serious strength through your front leg while your arms get toned from keeping them up against gravity.

8. Extended Side Angle | Utthita Parsvakonasana

Work your entire side with this sturdy twist that strengthens your core and lengths you, leg to neck. While you look up to the sky you actually pull energy down from it to keep you motivated in your practice.

9. Pigeon Pose | Eka Pada Rajakapotasana

Women are prone to tight hips which makes this move ideal and immediately reliving. It’s a complete hip opener and relieves built up tension that you’re walking around with from your hip flexers into your butt.

10. Corpse Pose | Savasana

It’s rare that we let ourselves take the chance to lay completely flat in stillness, which makes this pose so useful. It’s said to be the most beneficial move of your entire practice because it’s when your body and mind are able to fully absorb all of the benefits it just experienced. It gives your body a chance to heal as you breath into the muscles that were just worked, while you melt into your mat.

Whether at home or the studio, here’s some great items to add to your Yogi collection:

Store Link

Store Link

Store Link

There are so many incredibly talented tattoo artists out there and it’s important to ensure that the one you pick to ink up your bod is aligned with your aesthetic and has the skills to execute. We’re obviously huge on the moon and the astros, so we decided to round up some of our favourite artists in Canada. If you’re looking to get that perfect universe tat, check out these incredible artists for inspo.

Artist #1: Vic

Ink & Water Tattoo | Toronto

Images from @vic.ink_ Instagram

Artist #2: Chiao Wei 

Chronic Ink Tattoo | Toronto

Images from @changchiaowei Instagram

Artist #3: Adri Dids 

Tatouage Toutankhamon | Québec

Images from @adri.dids Instagram

Artist #4: PJ Eagle 

Living Colour Tattoo Studio | Ottawa

Images from @pj_eagle Instagram

Artist #5: Em  

Gastown Tattoo Parlour | Vancouver

Image from @artscab Instagram

‘Tis the season for love and gratitude but also eating great food and giving gifts to the people you love. But with all of the fun comes the responsibility to celebrate this season with Mother Earth in our hearts by doing our part to minimize our environmental footprint. By purchasing items with zero-chemicals and little waste, we’re one step closer to minimizing our effect on the planet this holiday season. We’ve put together a list of five ways you can transform your holiday into one that’s kind to the earth this year. Here’s how we do it:

1. Make Lists:

This is a key to avoid holiday stress from the time crunch, over-spending and unnecessary buys. Make a little holiday planner, digitally or in a notebook, with lists for each category which might include: gifts, food and decor. Then write down: what you have, what you need and where you’re going to get it from. This lets you put all of your thoughts down and visualize everything because it’s in one place. It lets you avoid polluting the air by driving around to many different stores and gives you a plan for how to best purchase each item. You end up saving money because you’re shopping with a purpose rather than wondering around stores aimlessly, which we’ve all done. 

2. Gift Experiences:

You know what never goes out of style and we can’t have too many of? Memories. They’re the perfect presents that will actually go to use rather than sitting around. Some of our favourite experience gifts include: cruelty-free pedicures, massages, movie passes, weekend getaways and romantic picnics. There’s tons of different pricing options when it comes to experience gifts so whether it’s your work secret Santa or a gift for mom and dad, the ideas are endless. Also, depending on who you’re giving it to, you can always include yourself in those plans to make the present extra special as an excursion for both of you. It’s a super simple way to show someone you care and are thinking of them, while minimizing the waste that comes from material things. We love fashion, but you can only give your sister so many turtle neck sweaters. 

3. Homemade Over Store Bought:

This goes with gifts and the food you’re bringing to parties. It’s super easy and convenient to head to the store and buy pre-made dishes or a pre-packed gift set, but this causes a lot of plastic waste and can be expensive. By making your own food and presents you takeaway the extra costs from the middle man and can more easily control the amount of waste being produced. There’s tons of DIY holiday food and drink ideas plus endless handmade presents that every person on your list can enjoy. And as always, it gives a beautiful personal touch to show your gratitude this holiday. 

4. Reusable Wrapping

Wrapping is a huge part of the holidays but causes a lot of waste. Approximately 540,000 tonnes of wrapping paper get’s thrown out in Canada each year alone. The key is to use items that can be reused in convenient ways or to package it with things you already have at home, rather than buying new things. This saves the cost of wrapping and lessens the waste you cause with each gift. Things like: scarves (that you can add as a part of the gift), shipping boxes (you maybe got from your latest online delivery) and recyclable brown paper (tied with twine and dried plants) are great wrapping ideas. A tip for standard wrapping paper is if you can crunch it into a ball with your hand and it stays in a ball you can recycle it, but if it opens up, it goes in the garbage 

5. Decomposable Decor:

It’s easy to get caught up in the sparkly wreaths and jingly bells as you’re getting into the holiday spirit, but think about the plastics and toxic chemicals that are going into making those decorations. They’re cute, but being eco is cuter, which is why decorations that are made out of natural materials are a great idea. To make them, you can just go for a walk and collect pine cones, pine leaves, twigs and berries that have fallen on the ground for your materials. You can even cut up some oranges and dry it out with cinnamon sticks in the oven for another pop of colour and nice smell. From this you can make table settings, hanging decor and wraps for the staircase, which can all be tossed in compost bin or saved when you’re done. You can easily make your own waste-free decorations and look trendy while doing so, plus it’s a fun way to get into the holiday spirit. 

If you’re not in the crafty mood, here’s some in-store brands that make great eco-holiday gifts:

Retailers Across Canada – Cocoon Apothecary

Montreal – V & O Salon

Toronto – Consonant Skincare

Retailers Across Canada – Fruits & Passion

Whether it’s apart of your everyday wardrobe or something you like to dazzle on for special occasions, jewelry can bring a beautiful little touch to any outfit. We all know that the type of jewelry we purchase can be a form of expression but it’s also a great opportunity to support amazing Canadian designers and brands.

With the holidays coming, jewelry can also make great gifts for anyone on your list (including yourself!). There’s no denying that giving the gift of a little box is a great way to show that you put a lot of thought into a gift, especially when the jewelry itself is thoughtfully purchased.

Also, side note – you can also always buy yourself something nice because 1. why not? and 2. you don’t need to wait on someone to buy you something to make you feel special! Sometimes buying yourself a little something is a great way to demonstrate a little self-love 🙂

Here’s some places we love to shop for a little glam right here in Canada:

Katherine Karambelas

Made with love in Montreal, Katherine Karambelas works alongside her three passionate daughters to empower women and encourage their strength, intelligence and beauty. Their pieces are loved by It Girls (#kkitgirl), including Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, Christine Cho and they even a collection with Jordyn Woods. With items made to order, recycled jewelry components and sample pieces plus support for the global environmental organization 1% For The Planet, Katherine Karambelas is committed to sustainable practices.

Image from Katherine Karambelas Instagram

Cadette Jewelry

Created for the mindful and modern woman, Cadette Jewelry makes timeless pieces used as an extension of the wearers self-expression. Creator, Allison Asis, proudly hand makes each item which can’t be replicated by mass-production, which also eliminates heavy water use, pollution and a large carbon footprint. The pieces draws inspirations from modern art and design, nature and the journey of womanhood.

Image from Cadette Jewelry Instagram

Foxy Originals 

Ger and Suzie Chemel, journey began back in their Western dorm room when their shared love of jewelry sparked the start for Foxy Originals. The two designers keep things trendy, lead-free and budget-friendly, in their Toronto production studio, with new collections launching seasonally while always travelling in search of new colours, patterns and inspirations.They also offer a recycling program, where customers send in their well-loved Foxy pieces for them to get melted down and turned into new reusable items, and in return get a 20% off coupon code.

Image from Foxy Originals Instagram 

HART + STONE

Made with minimalistic designs and geometric cuts, owner and artist, Emily Hartwell McPhee, draws her inspiration from the nature that surrounds her in her home of Salt Spring Island, BC. For the lover of simple things, adventure and the earth, HART + STONE focuses on quality over quantity and is crafted using precise attention to detail. Whenever possible they also use recycled gold and silver and try to source their materials from places with ethical mining and working conditions.

Image from HART + STONE Instagram 

Wolf Circus

Handcrafted and thoughtfully designed by an all-woman crew from start to finish made in Vancouver. Wolf Circus thinks of the environment by using materials from either recycled sterling silver or recycled bronze that’s coated in a high grade 14k gold plating. They inspires others to embrace their confidence in their daily life with well-priced and high quality pieces to create attainable luxury.

Image from Wolf Circus Instagram