Gift Guide: 11 Gifts from Indigenous LATAM-owned Brands for the Holidays

Celebrated every November, Native American Heritage Month is an opportunity for all of us to acknowledge the history and traditions of Indigenous peoples. It’s also a chance for us to support Indigenous-owned businesses, which we should do year-round but is especially important this month and during the holidays to support small business owners. While we’re planning for regalitos for our loved ones (or ourselves!), we decided to round up some gifts to give your friends and family all from Indigenous LATAM-owned brands like Prados Beauty, Mi Mundo Mexicano, and Firme Arte. Featuring gifts like jewelry, make-up, art prints, and purses, this list has a little something for everyone. Read on to learn more about 11 gifts from Indigenous LATAM-owned brands you should snag for Native American Heritage Month just in time for the holiday season.

Mother Earth 6 Pan Eyeshadow Palette – Prados Beauty

For all the make-up lovers in our lives, you can’t go wrong with this Mother Earth Eyeshadow Palette from Prados Beauty. Featuring six pans of eyeshadow, this palette features three shimmer colors in pink, gold, and black, as well as three mattes in orange, brown, and beige. Perfect to mix and match for a variety of everyday and dramatic looks! Best of all, it’s vegan, talc-free, and cruelty free, so you’ll create eye-catching looks while being kind to the earth. The award-winning brand was founded by Cece Meadows who is Xicana and Indigena (Yoeme).

Mother Earth 6 Pan Eyeshadow Palette, $18, available at pradosbeauty.com.

Van Gogh’s Starry Night Beaded Earrings – Handmade by Friendship Bridge

We love these earrings from Handmade by Friendship Bridge, a nonprofit artisan collective based out of Sololá, Guatemala. In collaboration with over 30 local women artisans, the organization works to address poverty and inequities in the region by providing them with equipment, resources, access to global market and wholesale buyers, and empowerment to sustain themselves through their artistry and business. Handmade in San Jorge La Laguna, Sololá by artisan Mirian, these earrings feature orange, blue, and black glass beads and reference the Vincent Van Gogh painting “Starry Night.” A timeless piece for any occasion.

Van Gogh’s Starry Night Beaded Earrings, $35, available at handmadebyfriendshipbridge.org.

XL Sunday Mercado Bag – Mi Mundo Mexicano

Need a bag next time you go to the market? Be sure to pick up this Sunday Mercado Bag from Mi Mundo Mexicano. Every purchase you make through their store supports Indigenous artisans and communities in Mexico, which offer unique and one-of-a-kind products. Because they’re handmade, each product will vary in size, color, and design. This tote bag was made by an artisan in Guadalajara, Mexico and features sturdy double handles as well as recyclable, waterproof vinyl that is easy to wash and reuse. Bring it to the market, the pool, the beach, or just about anywhere else!

XL Sunday Mercado Bag, $69.99, available at mimundomexicano.com.

Pavoreal – Dunaxhii 

The perfect bag for every season that always makes a statement. Handwoven and hand-embroidered, this unique purse features a beautiful image of a blue peacock with multicolored feathers in pink, red, purple, green, and orange. Pair with any outfit to go to the beach, pool, or market! It was handcrafted by a master Zapotec artisan from San Dionicio Ocotepec in the state of Oaxaca. They are one of the many artisans supported by the collective Dunaxhii, which was founded by owner Frida to preserve Zapotec artistry and culture for the next generation.

Pavoreal, $55, available at dunaxhii.com.

Princesa Chockers – Carmen Creations

Carmen de Novais is the founder of Carmen Creations and a jewelry designer from Brazil who handmakes all the items in her shop using exclusively Japanese glass beads, hypoallergenic silver, and Indigenous bead art forms. This Princesa Chocker is one of many beautiful pieces available on her site. Featuring blue and gold beads, it sits delicately on the neck and pairs well with any outfit to create a timeless and stylish look that’s versatile for both dressed up looks and for adding flair to a simple outfit. For extra flair, pair with their Cycles of Life earrings.

Princesa Chockers, $36, available at carmencreations.com.

Nierika – Tepehuan (O’dam) Yarn Painting – TateiHaramaratsie

Hoping to add some eye-catching artwork to your living space? Look no further than this yarn painting from TateiHaramaratsie on Etsy. An homage to their Tepehuan roots, this 12″ x 12″ painting is titled “Invocation to the Moon and Rain,” features images of the moon, birds, fire, leaves, and is handmade out of beeswax, yarn, and wood. This bold art piece is perfect for art-loving friends or family who appreciate you investing in such a rare find.

Nierika – Tepehuan (O’dam) Yarn Painting, $149.99, available at etsy.com.

“Sacred Cura” canvas print – By Ayala

Elevate your space and make room for healing with this gorgeous “Sacred Cura” art print from Ayala, a first generation artist of Indigenous descent from Colombia and Ecuador. Featuring bright and saturated hues, the painting is a self-portrait of Ayala that explores healing generational curses and shows how smudging can purify our souls and free us from violence and pain. The canvas print, available in sizes ranging from 5 x7 to 36 x 48, is stretched on a wooden frame and comes ready to hang

“Sacred Cura” canvas print, $30, available at byayala.com.

“It’s a Beautiful Day” Unisex Ultra Cotton Tee – Soni Art Shop

A soft tee is always a great gift, especially when it has a beautiful artwork on it. Printed on soft cotton and avaialble in small to 5XL , this colorful unisex T-shirt features a woman in Indigenous attire with the phrase: “It’s a beautiful day to be Indigenous.” Soni Art Shop was founded by Soni López who is Chichimeca, one of the Nahua peoples of Mexico.

“It’s a beautiful day” Unisex Ultra Cotton Tee, $21.97, available at soniartshop.com.

Cauldron Candles – Firme Arte

Firme Arte offers a wide variety of products including art prints, stickers, elixirs, face masks, jewelry, soaps, and candles. These cast iron cauldron candles are perfect for the spooky season but can be used year-round to inspire emotional healing, confidence, and love and can be used in ritual burnings and smoke cleansing. The vegan soy wax is scented with coconut, shea butter, and mahogany, and fused with crystal totems, raw rose quartz crystals, skull charms, and love Magick incense cones and oil. When not in use, cover it with the matching cast iron lid for a cute decor item.

Cauldron Candles, $30, available at firmearteonline.com.

Chiapas small art print – AnahiGuadalupeArt

Art as a gift is one that keeps on giving because they can enjoy the beauty of it all year long. We love this one from AnahiGuadalupeArt that measures 5″x5″ and brings a pop of color to any room. The painting features a dancer from Chiapas in a traditional folkloric dress in red, blue, orange, purple, pink, and yellow roses. The shop was founded by Anahí Guadalupe Martínez, who is of Zapotec descent and also offers stickers and bookmarks in addition to prints.

Chiapas small art print, $8, available at etsy.com.

Carrizo Plate Earrings – The Zapotec Weavers

Pick up a pair of Carrizo Plate Earrings from The Zapotec Weavers for yourself and a friend this holiday season for an elevated best friends jewelry piece to share. Made out of carrizo wood, these earrings feature a beautiful circular design with gold and orange colors. Measuring 3″ x 2.5″, they will sit comfortably on your ear and also provide a unique, one-of-a-kind look to any outfit. The brand was founded by three generations of master Zapotec weavers in San Juan de la Guelavia, Zapotec, so every time you buy a product, you’re not only supporting a family but also their entire lineage and community.

Carrizo Plate Earrings, $27, available at thezapotecweavers.com.