Holiday Shopping Guide - IndieStyle!

Put your money where your conscious is!  It's the holidays and we all gotta drop some ducats on some shiny for the friends and fam.  How bout this year you put those dollars to work for your values?  You can support small businesses, green businesses, independent artists and visionaries.

Here are some ideas and my personal faves!



The Whole 9 (Culver City or online) - A gallery space (The Whole 9) and a not-for-profit (The Peace Project).  Gifts start at $20 with 25% of sales donated to The Peace Project which has been doing incredible healing work in Sierra Leone...Jewelry, gift items, cool things, and more.  Not to mention the great affordable art!

Brat (Santa Monica) - Okay, those little purses might be on my wish list!  Nancy is style maven, confidante, girl about town, and Brat is my favorite closet!  Gifts for guys and girls and kids and hipsters and cool cats!  A museum of LA Style!

A4DS - Last week's Practivists, Art for a Democratic Society have cool activist gifts!  Check out their Etsy!  Buttons (badges for you Brits), and more more more!  Great for activists on a budget!




That Young Def Shop - Def Sound is a kind of a happening.  Music.  Life.  Awesome socks.  Check out the shop.  Check out the music.





Millenial General Assembly - Great jewelry from found vintage and antique objects!  They are like stories hanging around your neck!

K. Anderson - The amazing singer/songwriter K. Anderson has put out a new EP just in time for the holidays!  The songs are haunting, beautiful, her voice is so sultry and nuanced.  Check it out!















Sheeluv - Designer Sheeluv makes great things!  From art prints to fab iPhone cases!  I kinda want one for my iPod...

Araceli Silva Jewelry - I love Araceli Silva's work.  Hand-crafted silver and gold pieces with gemstones.  Delicate beauty.

Reciprocity (online) - Body products, candles and more - organic, planet conscious and fun!  I met Lara while we were both working with youth - she has an amazing spirit!

Breathe Bodyworks - Who doesn't want some bodywork, healing, massage, yoga as a holiday gift?  Go ahead and get a gift certificate or book some recovery time for yourself or grab a yoga video!  You will not be disappointed - Jenn is an intuitive and well-trained healer.












Objects With Purpose - Non-toxic fragrant candles!  I met Ianthe in our Creativity Group - this is such a great and unexpected outcome of all of our visioning!


When you're done shopping, make sure to pop into Cafe Bolivar for a yummy drink and some arepas - treat yourself!


Tell them E. Amato sent you!  : )

(If you have a business like this - go ahead and give me a shout out and I will try to include you!)

I might try to do some less-LA-centric ones, too, if I have time to update - but most of these businesses can do online sales!

Disclaimer:  Nobody here asked to be included and I even hope they don't mind!  I just like them a lot. I hope I'm not leaving anybody out.  I admit this is a pretty girl-y list.  Oops.