Whether you’re shopping for your nice list (or you’re naughty and shopping for yourself), one thing’s for sure: there is no shortage of unique gifts out there, and it’s never been easier to shop. So to help you cut through the noise to find those magical, “where-did-you-find-this” type of gifts, we have rounded up our favorite lesser-known brands to provide you with those treasures to place under the tree. We promise that with these gems, you’ll put Santa to shame.
@blueantwireless
Because those standard-issue Apple earbuds are always tangled or lost: BlueAnt has staked their reputation on wireless headsets since they launched.
Los Angeles, CA
@bowernyc
The friends and co-founders infuse their love of play into their minimal, often made-to-order home goods. Their molded plywood furniture is designed to be nested together, but their lower-ticket items, like their brass Tipsys, are a good entry point. (They just designed a custom set for the Whitney in the museum’s signature colors)
New York, NY
@novelstudios.nyc
What makes Novel (Studios) pieces so unique is that they’re not designed by one person; it’s a collective of interdisciplinary creatives with different passions—architecture, urban layouts, industrial materials—whose work results in objets that are more than just pretty pieces, like this concrete candle. It melts, and you’ve got a sculpture.
New York, NY
@palminawines
Unlike most other Cali wineries, the Cliftons (husband-wife, adorable) have invested in extra-large barrels, a traditional Italian aging method, leaving their blends to improve for years before bottling. Their most-loved is Nebbiolo, and they ship incredibly fast.
Lompoc, CA
@esby_apparel
The Texas-based clothier has quietly built a name for itself in the “streamlined, chic, wardrobe essentials” category. Their natural fiber kimonos and jumpsuits make them an easy-wearing, fail-proof gift for any busy, stylish woman.
Austin, TX
@apparatusstudio
Everything that comes out of the Manhattan lighting studio is handcrafted and meant to warm up a space, not serve as an austere fixture. They’re known for their sometimes off-beat materials (horsehair, resin, rubber) and thanks to their backgrounds—costume design, fine art—they know how to make pieces that appreciate.
New York, NY
@hodinkee
Hodinkee is widely regarded as a watch expert. Their unbiased reporting on both trendy and classic timepieces is a go-to for collectors and newcomers alike, but what few know is their shop is worth checking out, too. Their 4 and 6-watch leather travel roll is constantly sold out, so get it while you can.
New York, NY
@vitruvidesign
Classic “we made what we couldn’t find” story from a brother/sister duo, Vitruvi’s aromatherapy oils have some science behind them: Sean and Sara quit a job and a medical school career to make blends that rely on the mathematical patterns in plants, and their packaging is as symmetrically beautiful. Their most-ordered oil is Headache, a eucalyptus-based oil with a calming effect.
Vancouver, BC, Canada
@compartes
Artisanal chocolate has become a very serious business, and these guys have added some very serious flavor to the game. We aren’t just talking about the amazing taste of their uniquely flavored bars (Donuts & Coffee, anyone?); but their packaging also adds to their flair. We’d say that everything they do is a work of art and so tastefully done. They’re the golden ticket to your new favorite chocolatier.
Los Angeles, CA
@bloodrootblades
Just in time for the holidays, there’s a reprieve in the knifemakers’ multi-year-waiting list: the Georgia duo is accepting orders for custom blades which they re-forge from scrap metal. Each piece is a collaboration between the customer and the designers who source materials on a bespoke basis, so they’re beautiful as décor but incredibly sharp and functional in the kitchen. This is for the fanciest foodie you know.
Arnoldsville, GA
@getrecently
Subscription boxes are nothing new. But a monthly subscription to your very own magazine, printed on acid-free Mohawk paper sure is—Recently turns your photos into a journal, so when the year’s up, you have 12 beautiful issues, all for $9 a month.
Brooklyn, NY
@uprisenyc
Buying contemporary fine art can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be: Uprise sells beautiful pieces from emerging creatives at a price that justifies gifting someone an investment-worthy artwork. The founder began her own collection by snatching up custom menus from New York’s Chanterelle, a now-defunct restaurant who worked with Merce Cunningham, Nan Goldin and others, so she knows the importance of buying what you love.
New York, NY
@janetaylorjewelry
Women are notoriously tough to shop for, and jewelry is even harder. Jane and Cleo, a mother/daughter team will happily work with customers to scour the recipient’s Instagram feed to get a sense of her style and the perfect gem-focused piece to compliment it. File them under: bling you can actually wear everyday.
Amherst, MA
@poweruptoys
PowerUp Toys recently launched in earnest, after a successful Kickstarter campaign with a simple mission: create little motors to add power to paper airplanes, turning them into the lowest-cost drone on the market.
Miami, FL
@simplyframed
You might recognize Simply Framed as one of our guest editors a while back, but we can’t get over their usefulness especially this time of year. Nothing is more personal than a beautiful framed personal photograph or memento. Also, every 10th frame is now free.
Miami, FL
@stagprovisions
The Texas shop has a vast offering for men—clothing, accessories, furniture, bottled beer—but it’s well-edited enough that everything feels focused and special.
Houston, TX
@revivalcycles
No two bikes are alike, so long as you’re buying from this wacky motorcycle workshop. The experts are obsessed with re-tooling and re-constructing old bikes into bespoke rides, but if you’re not interested in dropping a few months’ rent on a gift, they also have an “under $50” section of keychains, bike accessories, blueprints and wearables.
Austin, TX
