Choosing the best vegan gifts depends on who the gifts are for. Each individual may have different moral concerns and preferences when it comes to gifts. If the gift is for a person one knows, then thinking about what types of items he or she likes is the best strategy. For more general gifts that might go in a gift basket or anonymous gift exchange, non-confrontational and generic gifts are best. All vegans are different, and while some might appreciate gifts designed specifically for vegans, many people also appreciate vegan gifts that come from normal stores.
For friends, family members, and close acquaintances, choosing vegan gifts is as easy as choosing gifts for anyone else. One simply needs to consider what the individual in question would like on a personal level and purchase that item. He or she may love cooking, and might appreciate a vegan cookbook. If he or she loves shoes, shoes made from vegan leather can be very beautiful. Giving a gift card to a vegan-friendly store can offer the most open gift, but this also does not always show a lot of thought.
Generic vegan gifts for people one does not know personally must be somewhat less confrontational than many vegan gifts. Not everyone is a militant vegan, and shirts or bags with slogans are definitely not a good idea. Food items like vegan cupcakes, chocolates, or muffins can be excellent if one is certain that allergies are not an issue. Items made from vegan leather also make great corporate gifts.
Food preparation tools can make excellent vegan gifts, as many vegans love to cook or feel obligated to prepare food at home in order to minimize the risk of contamination. Some cooking items, such as food processors, can make excellent large purchases for loved ones that show great consideration for the vegan lifestyle. One way to make this type of gift more personal is to make a gift package for the individual including favorite spices, cookbooks, and other kitchen items he or she may like. In some relationships, giving appliances is considered taboo, but when the gift is seen as supportive of a particular moral identity this restriction can sometimes be lifted.
One thing many people forget when shopping for gifts for vegans is that many items are vegan that are not marketed as such. Anything made from metal, for example, obviously has no animal products in it. Simply thinking about which items in a normal store are actually vegan can yield some of the best vegan gifts.
