Unique Handcrafted Gifts: Meekono's August Gift Guide by the Marketing Team

As the holiday season approaches, it's the perfect moment to infuse a touch of Africa's natural wonders into your Christmas celebrations. The Meekono Marketing Manager has curated a special collection of our continent's favourites– gifts that resonate with eco-consciousness and sustainability. Here's a glimpse into the gifts that we believe would be a splendid addition to your holiday season: African Black Soap or Shea Butter in a Calabash: Imagine unwrapping a unique gift this Christmas—a calabash adorned with the richness of shea butter. For centuries, African black soap has remained a well-kept secret, cherished for its potent perks. Crafted from plant-based ingredients, this soap offers a range of advantages, such as:

Bacterial Defense: African black soap and shea butter possess natural antibacterial properties, making them an ideal alternative to medicinal soaps, promoting healthy skin.

Gentle Shaving Solution: Reduce razor burns and soothe your skin with the soothing oils and kinds of butter present in African black soap.

Muscle Relief: Shea butter's anti-inflammatory qualities make it effective in soothing muscle soreness, providing a unique post-game recovery aid.

Skin Ailment Alleviation: African black soap and shea butter are renowned for their ability to address fungal infections and mild rashes from conditions like eczema and psoriasis, providing relief and comfort.

Environmental Shield: Protect your skin from everyday stressors like air pollution, UV radiation, and cosmetic exposure with the natural protection offered by these products.

• Anti-Aging Elixir: African black soap's coconut oil content helps diminish wrinkles and fine lines by preserving collagen, and fostering youthful skin.
  
• Allergy-Friendly: With low protein content, African black soap ensures a user-friendly experience without activating allergies.
  
  
• Hair Health: Shea butter reduces hair breakage, promoting strong and luscious locks even after intense rugby matches.
  
  
• Sun-Kissed Protection: Complement your sunscreen routine with the additional layer of sun protection provided by shea butter, guarding your skin against harmful UV rays.
  
  
• Burn Soother: Shea butter's healing properties extend to soothing skin burns, particularly sunburn, offering relief and comfort during outdoor activities.

Vanilla Bean Paste

For bakers and those keen on enhancing the taste of their baked goods this summer. We highly recommend the Vanilla Bean Paste from Madgascarian Shores - this exceptional ingredient is a must-have to enrich your culinary creations. Replace traditional maple syrup atop pancakes for a unique and delightful twist. And for the pièce de résistance, be prepared to create chocolate chip cookies that will be the talk of the town. Madagascar Vanilla Bean Paste is your secret weapon for transforming ordinary recipes into extraordinary delights.

The merits of using vanilla bean paste are:

• • Antioxidant Power: Safeguard against cell damage with its antioxidant properties.
  • Enhancing Well-Being: Magnesium enhances "feel-good" hormones like dopamine and serotonin, benefiting cardiovascular health and calming the nervous system.
  • Blood Pressure Support: The potassium content aids in reducing blood pressure and maintaining electrolyte balance.
  • Bone Health: Calcium strengthens bones, reduces cortisol levels (minimizing stress), and contributes to weight management.
  • Mood and Metabolism Booster: Manganese acts as a mood enhancer and metabolism booster.

Scented Candles 

This is probably on many gift guides, but there is a reason: there are many benefits to scented candles, namely that they relieve anxiety and stress. The other benefits include a great way of enhancing decor in one’s space. We’re for chai-vanilla-infused candles. We recently found out that a whiff of chai is known to boost brain power, and a whiff of vanilla is known to be a mood booster too. 

Kid’s Woven Accessories

We present a charming collection of intricately woven home decor pieces for those with little ones that seamlessly blend functionality and charm, making them a delightful addition to a children's room. These woven baskets, thoughtfully designed, serve as multiple-use pieces for gathering toys, neatly storing blankets and various items, and in some cases, can be used as laundry baskets. Our selection includes curtain ties that not only elevate the room's aesthetics but also offer a unique opportunity for personalization. With the option to customize, these curtain ties become more than just accessories.

Assortment of Baskets

The continent known for its array of different-shaped baskets that come in a multitude of colours is another personalized gift option that is made for our favorite organizers (i.e., huge fans of organization tiktok). Even pet and plant parents find their perfect match among these options.

Bags Galore

Our admiration for leather and woven bags stems from their unparalleled quality and timeless appeal. Among them, the woven variety holds a distinct allure, characterised by its individualistic charm and exceptional craftsmanship.

Look into the world of unique gifting with our carefully curated selection of gifts that capture the essence of Africa. Plus, keep an eye out for our upcoming monthly Gift Guides, each expertly crafted by different teams, ensuring a diverse range of inspirations to light up your celebrations for the rest of the year. 

Your holiday inventory journey begins with us – source your exceptional gifts at Meekono.com