Valentine's Trends for the Locally & Sustainably Minded
Valentine's Day is a time to celebrate love and affection, and what better way to show your appreciation than with a thoughtful, handmade gift? In 2025, the trend is leaning heavily towards personalized, DIY or locally sourced gifts that not only convey your love but also add a unique touch to the occasion. Here are some of the top handmade and homemade gift trends for Valentine's Day 2025:
- Something to Eat or Drink
For the food lovers in your life, consider handmade treats like gourmet chocolates, homemade jams, or even a beautifully crafted cheese board. Tailor your offering according to dietary preferences, buy local and ensure that your gift is of the highest quality and made with love (yours, or someone else's!).
- Personalized Jewelry or Candles
Skip the artificial fragrances and mass produced costume jewelry. Seek out something made from up-cycled items and earth-friendly materials. Consider the attention to detail in a hand beaded bracelet, or the naturally sourced scents of your local beeswax candle maker. These items are often one of a kind, or limited batches...a truly rare gifting opportunity!
- Handmade Cards or Stationery
If a card is important to the person you are gifting to, make it something that wont be thrown out! Compostable tags, up-cycled cards, recycled paper and handcrafted art with your message on the back are all more likely to avoid the landfill. Some creators include seeds in their paper mixes for planting later on, upcycled materials and fronts that double as pieces of decor, and reusable add-ons like charms to be used afterwards.
- Plants or Locally Sourced Cut Flowers
Most flowers are shipped long distances, sprayed with pesticides and potentially even dyed to prepare them for your gifting experiences. To avoid this, consider locally sourced flowers, potted plants, or even seed packets to be planted an enjoyed all summer long! In colder states, dried flower bouquets can be gotten from certain flower farms, allowing the florals to be enjoyed indefinitely!
- Experiences
Experiences are the ultimate sustainable and locally minded option for Valentine's Day gifting. Enjoy dinner out (pick a local restaurant and make reservations!), do a puzzle or creative project at home, or find an activity to share such as bowling, a museum, or a show. Many creative sellers actually source craft kits, baking kits or "date nights" for you, so you can still support local businesses while keeping the waste to a minimum.
