Throughout the year we share lots of makers and designers and independent stores we think you’ll love to shop with, both online, in the magazine, and of course our book, PLACES to Shop.
But, as Christmas approaches, we also like to pull together a little edit of gift ideas from some of our favourite indie businesses to make your hunt for the perfect gift that little bit easier.
So, here’s a round up for 2023, from one-of-a-kind candles and personalised portraits, to classic book collections and gift sets for slow winter mornings. This gift guide is your starting point for the season’s festivities…
FOR WOMEN
Wintertide scented candle, £32 – Cedar Lifestyle
Every winter needs a seasonal scent. This candle from Cedar Lifestyle combines winter fragrances of pine and eucalyptus with a warming undertone of wood smoke. Each candle comes in a hand-blown glass pot, each uniquely patterned. One to hold on to long after the wax melts.
Hana Embossed Ceramic Ikebana, £68 – Every Story
Ikebana is the Japanese art form of flower arranging. This handcrafted clay bowl by Every Story is the perfect vessel for displaying delicate fresh or dried stems for a centrepiece that nods to natural living.
Personalised portraits, £88 – Lisa Stickley Studio
Quirky, completely original and all in Lisa Stickley’s signature style of humour and charm, a personalised portrait will capture your favourite people through playful character, joyful colour and distinctive patterns—a family portrait you will love forever.
Silk bracelet in silver, £24 – Epanoui
These delicate silk bracelets with tiny silver spheres pair well in stacks or look lovely as a standalone piece. The silk comes in multiple colours: fawn, grey, blush pink, amber, lilac, coral or black—a tiny stocking filler but with oodles of style.
Cloud Socks, £14 – By Foke
These socks are named after how they feel – like walking on clouds. Snuggle up at home or add extra cosiness to winter strolls in these fluffy terry cotton blend socks, which come in numerous colours, from a bold bright blue to the more natural shades of stone or slate.
PLACES to shop, £15 – 91 Magazine
For interior enthusiasts and lovers of indie shops alike – 91 Magazine’s very own PLACES to shop offers a guide to independent lifestyle stores across the UK. Curated by 91 Magazine’s editor, Caroline Rowland, you’ll be endlessly inspired by beautiful spaces to browse, shop and linger.
FOR MEN
Luxury Fika gift set, £55 – Teppi
Slow winter mornings call for full-bodied coffee and the warmth of a cosy candle. This luxury Fika gift set comes with Nørlo organic ground coffee, a gold coffee scoop, a stylish eco-composite reusable Huskee cup and a Fika candle, chocolate-scented and sealed with wax.
Ramble Guides: Lake District by Athena Mellor, £18 – Ramble Co.
This handy guide is the perfect kick-starter for exploring England’s most popular National Park. From wild swimming and rugged fells to the local food scene, farm shops and galleries, this guidebook offers 15 walks with route descriptions and hand-drawn maps, alongside 250 pages of carefully curated places of interest.
Men’s Cashmere and Merino Socks, £37 – The Tartan Blanket Co.
Socks must be two things: soft and un-take-off-able. This olive-coloured pair is designed in merino wool and cosy cashmere with a classic fleck design and chunky feel. An ideal companion for the season.
Riley gift box, £28 – By Foke
Every outdoor explorer needs a pocket knife and playing cards. This gift box goes a step further offering a beautifully illustrated card deck stored in a wooden box. The deck’s four suits represent nature’s wonders: trees, water, mountains and the sky. The small pocket knife has a sculpted chrome handle shaped like a fish.
Craft beer gift pack, £28 – Fauna Brewing
Fauna Brewing, a small independent brewery located in West Sussex, supports a different wildlife conservation cause with every beer they brew. Discover their core range with an IPA, lager and low-alcohol beer, including a miniature of their elderflower gin and a savanna illustrated pint glass.
Do Sourdough Paperback and Sourdough Starter, £16.95 – Do Book Co
For sourdough aficionados, this gift set combines award-winning bread baker Andrew Whitley’s bestselling book on sourdough with his own sourdough starter. Perfect sourdough bread baking with Andrew’s tools and tips.
FOR KIDS
Meline play tent, £95 – Junior Edition
 This charming kids’ play tent offers a decorative hideaway for your little ones to shelter away and play. It comes with a 100% cotton canopy, pinewood frame and a roll-down door that fastens with ties.
Otter teddy, £49 – ferm Living
ferm Living’s adorable otter teddy is a cuddly companion for imaginative play. Other animals in the series include a frog, koala or panda, each fashionably suited and booted ready for the next adventure.
5 Minute Nature Stories, £16.99 – Berylune
 These read-aloud stories invite young nature lovers to get lost in the everyday wonders of the natural world. Suitable for 5 years and up, these true tales of a woodland offer stories to excite, inspire and inform.
Baby booties, £24 – Sophie Home
Keep teeny toes toasty with these soft and fluffy booties that fit from newborn until it’s time to toddle. They’re lined with cotton and a sherpa outer lining to ward away the chill.
Twister cardigan, £60 – Nellie Quats
This mustard-yellow chunky knitted cardigan is made from organic cotton with a timeless box shape and wooden buttons. Stylish yet comfortable, it’s easy to wear and easy to care for.
A Rainbow of Books, £125 – Berylune
Start as you mean to go on with a children’s book collection to spark the imagination. This 10-book bundle is tied together with ribbon and full of classic reads to be enjoyed by all ages, such as Oliver Twist, Charlotte’s Webb, The Secret Garden and The Wizard of Oz.
