Father’s Day Gifts for Woke Dads

Soon the third Sunday of June will be upon us, and with it, quarries of whiskey stones, herds of leather goods, and an inferno of grills—all presented as perfect gifts for Dad. As the editor-at-large of Fatherly, a site devoted to modern parenthood, I’ve watched this annual algae bloom of patriarchy year after year. Over the past 10 years alone, according to the National Retail Federation, Father’s Day spending in the U.S. has increased by $6.6 billion, and is estimated to reach $16 billion this year. That’s a lot of hip flasks and fishing trips. But as the roles of fathers and notions of masculinity evolve, so should your gift giving. For those woke dads out there—or those just opening their eyes—here are 12 ideas to celebrate that this Father’s Day isn’t your father’s Father’s Day.

It used to be that Tom’s, Warby Parker, and Bombas had a corner on the feel-good fashion market. But their one-for-one model has recently come in for some well-founded criticism. (Maybe the desperately poor don’t need slip-ons?) That’s one reason why Brooklyn-based State bags works with local aid organizations to better understand what communities need and deliver aid accordingly. Sometimes, it’s a backpack. Sometimes, it’s facilitating conversations between police officers and inner city youth. Sometimes, it’s straight-up cash. In the case of State’s two-tone Crosby Fanny Pack ($75), a portion of the proceeds goes to Seeds of Peace, an organization that sends children from conflict zones to a summer camp in Maine. Plus, Dad will be right on trend with the street style.