10 ethical Father’s Day gifts from The Big Issue Shop

This Sunday, June 20, is the day to celebrate dads (and other father figures). We’ve got the best best ethical Father’s Day presents so you can show yours how much he means to you.

With these ethical Father’s Day gifts from The Big Issue Shop, you can put a smile on your dad’s face while helping people experiencing homelessness, supporting school children in Cambodia or backing a project that teaches marginalised young people the craft of woodworking. It’s a great gift and a good deed in one.

Jollie Socks

Jollie Socks is a “more-than-profit” enterprise, passionate about creating fun and tangible opportunities to support local homeless charities and care for those facing homelessness. For every pair of socks bought, a pair is donated to a homeless shelter.

Elephant Branded

Elephant Branded sells handmade recycled products to support school children in Cambodia. For every ethically-made, recycled bag or purse purchased, Elephant Branded give one ergonomically designed school bag or school kit to a child in Cambodia. Simple as that. The social enterprise supports local villagers in Cambodia who make their products out of locally-sourced, recycled materials, giving them the opportunity to learn valuable skills that permit them to have a sustainable, effective way to get out of poverty.

Elvis & Kresse

Elvis & Kresse was established in 2005 to stop London’s decommissioned fire-hoses – those that had become too damaged to repair – from going to landfill. Elvis & Kresse fell in love with these brave old hoses and mounted a rescue. Today, Elvis & Kresse’s highly skilled craftspeople make beautifully designed bags and homeware from 15 different reclaimed materials. 50 per cent of profits from the fire hose range go to The Fire Fighters Charity.

Goldfinger

Goldfinger is an award-winning social enterprise that crafts beautiful furniture and objects from reclaimed and sustainable materials, benefitting people and planet. Their team of skilled artisans and trainees have delivered projects to clients such as John Lewis, Gail’s Bakery, Tom Dixon, Whistles, Leon and Inhabit Hotels. All Goldfinger profits support its social impact. Through the Goldfinger Academy, Goldfinger teaches marginalised young people the craft of woodworking, so they can progress into meaningful work. The Academy also offers community craft courses, workshops and corporate away-days that enhance wellbeing and celebrate the joys of making. Goldfinger supports its community through People’s Kitchen: To Your Door, delivering hot meals and doorstep chats to vulnerable and isolated North Kensington residents.

Do Book Company

The Do Book Company is an independent publishing house based in Shoreditch, London. They produce a series of inspirational guidebooks in print and digital formats. The books are a spin off from the Do Lectures series, written by speakers whose ideas have inspired others to go and Do. The Do Book Company’s aim is to recreate that same positive change in book form – whether that’s the mastery of a new skill or craft, a simple mind shift, or a shot of inspiration to help you get started. Each book is fairly short, about 100 pages, as it focuses on the ‘doing’ rather than the background theory. Concise, practical guides that make it easier to Do stuff. A royalty of five per cent from the proceeds of each sale goes back into the Do Lectures to help it achieve its aim of making positive change.

Support The Big Issue

The Big Issue’s own-brand products support the creation of a range of work-based opportunities for disadvantaged people.

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The Social Mercenary

The Social Mercenary (TSM) is dedicated to bringing a distinctly West African flavour to modern street apparel. They take an ethical approach to textile manufacturing and have teamed up with social enterprises in Ghana to create a unique range of TSM Originals. The Social Mercenary is all about giving ethical the edge it deserves.

Ethical backpacks, t-shirts and caps are all produced in Ghana using local fabrics and supporting local communities. Ethical principles are fundamental to TSM and they’ve partnered with Ethical Apparel Africa to ensure that factories meet high-quality standards and adhere to the WRAP [Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production] principles.

Leiho

Leiho is a social impact brand where every item helps someone in need. Their journey began with socks because clean socks are one of the most requested items of clothing at homeless shelters. When you buy one, they give another. Every purchase helps give the right basic essentials that people experiencing homelessness need most.

Designs in Mind

Designs in Mind is a working studio, tucked away in Shropshire, where adults living with mental health challenges work together on ambitious, experimental art and design projects. They create bold, contemporary and beautiful homeware, greeting cards and prints that have a positive social impact and challenge mental health stigma. Their studio is a hive of activity, with close to 100 members and they believe that design has the power to positively affect how we feel, not only in how it looks but also through the experience of making.

Bala Sport

Bala Sport balls are high quality, hand or machine stitched or made with new hybrid and thermal bonding technology and carry the UK’s most trusted ethical certification – the Fairtrade mark. Bala Sport employ workers in India and Pakistan who are at the core of what they do. Football players can be paid millions for their skills on the pitch, but there would be no game without the all-important ball. Bala Sport believes the men and women who make their high-quality balls should be treated with fairness and respect. They’re skilled and dedicated people and the footballs are hand stitched to the same specifications as FIFA balls.