From carols, lights, Santa-inspired decorations, rum cake and general merriment Christmas is almost (finally!) here in all its glory. Though what we love about about December is that ‘tis also the season to be gifting. Whether it’s presents for the family placed under the Christmas tree, a Secret-Santa parcel for your colleague or a little something for your friends the joys of gifting are like no other. We also know that between those work deadlines and catching up on sleep on the weekends you might have forgotten to get those presents for your loved ones. What with the Christmas shopping rush at the malls and online retail portals offering one generic gift hamper after another the process of gifting can become both confusing and hurried. Fret not, if you belong to the group of last minute Christmas shoppers, we have you covered. We have curated a list 14 unconventional presents from our very own favourite and trustworthy brands. They not only deliver uniqueness in handcrafted and customised goodness but many of them are also eco-friendly as a kind gesture towards the planet. From the first of its kind sock subscription, snapbacks made from sneakers or even gifting an experiences in the form of a Christmas special heritage walk, our list has a gift for every budget and every kind of person. So without further ado, scroll down to put away all your gifting woes!
I. Quirky Wall Shelf
This ultra-modern wall accessory by progressive furniture company Spin is what brings both organisation with a bit quirkiness to life. Its perfect way to display your knick-knacks or hang your keys, sippers, scarves and other go-to stuff. The design is such that the layout, colours, and sizes can be played around with for self-customisation!
For more information and to place an order click here.
Price: INR 5,000
II. Framed Art
In an initiative to make it both accessible and affordable ArtAndFound offers a wide range of art from doodles, collages, typography, pop-art to erotic-their roster of artistic possibilities is never ending. They also do a framed customisation once you have had your pick. DIY home or office decor all the way!
For more information and to place an order click here.
Price: INR 1800 onwards
III. A Heritage Christmas Walk In Mumbai
On the 23rd of this December No Footprints a unique travel boutique takes Mumbaikars to a small village; the lesser known beautiful Matharpacady. The rich heritage of this hamlet will be unravelled through fascinating stories by the tour guide. Also get ready to be surrounded by vibrant Christmas decorations from beautiful fairy lights to Santa and Rudolph installations! The tour will end with the sampling of local Christmas sweets.
For more information and to book a ticket click here. The walk takes place on the 21st of the month.
Price: INR 799
IV. Customised Stationery
All products at Origin One are researched and conceptualised to give you a unique experience with both pen and paper. Made from organic high quality materials they balance durability with an aesthetic that borders on rustic sophistication. The brand’s constantly growing collection includes planners, diaries, journals, social stationery, curated gift boxes, pencils, thread stitched and wire-bound notebooks. If you can’t pin down one product for your loved one then sign them up for the brand’s annual subscription; the first of its kind in India!
For more information or to place an order click here.
Price: INR 2000 onwards
V. Organic Cigarette Rolling Paper And Filters
With over 6 billion pounds of degradation resistant synthetic filters littering the planet Karma Tips offers an easy way to reduce your carbon footprint. Their filter paper are hand-made from natural cotton, fruit and vegetable pulp which means that no trees were cut to produce it. While their filter tips are even more unique; they contain seeds of exotic and edible plants like amaranth, basil, spinach, rosemary, celosia, wildflowers amongst others that grow after you throw away your cigarettes!
For more information click here. To place your order you can call them at 9900445003 or write to them at karmatips.prasadam@gmail.com
VI. Wooden Handcrafted Sunglasses
Wood Work Inc offers some stunning handcrafted sunglasses that are evergreen in design and impeccable in their finish. They use extremely light weight materials like bamboo, black walnut, zebrawood, ebony, oak, rosewood and other woods that have been recycled or harvested in an exceedingly accountable method. Their simple mantra is beauty with sustainability.
For more information or to place an order click here.
Price INR: 3000 and onwards
VII. Eco-Friendly Yoga Mats
JURU Yoga’s mats have been crafted by yogis who have invested time and resources to understand modern yoga needs. Made of a cork surface they are anti-microbial, remain odourless (no matter how much you sweat), are easily washable and don’t chip off or break. But the best part is that it’s completely eco-friendly; cork is harvested from the bark of the tree while the tree continues to live as long as 300 years. This is a gift thats all style and comfort along with consciousness.
For more information or to place an order click here.
Price: INR 2500 onwards
VIII. Sock Subscription
The Moja Company is dedicated to adding funk to your sole. This is your one-stop for all your sock fetishes- funky multi-coloured sushi printed to minimalist patterns more suited for work. What’s more is that with their monthly sock subscription (the first in the country!) you can surprise your feet every month!
For more information or to place an order click here.
Price: INR 350 onwards
IX. Sneaker Snapbacks
A one of a kind innovation this is exactly what the name suggests; sneakers cut up to be refashioned into edgy snapbacks. Nishant Fogaat is the brainchild behind these ‘Sneaker Snapbacks’ and has been lauded for his creation by the likes of Nike, Adidas, Mita Sneakers and Atmos Tokyo. For those interested in scoring some of their own Sneaker Snapbacks, you better keep a few pairs aside—depending on your design, one hat could take up to three pairs of sneakers.
For more information and to place an order, you can reach out to him on Instagram.
Price: INR 10,000 to INR 15,000 (if you aren’t using your own sneakers)
X. Customised Eco-Friendly Earthy Bags
The Burlap People works with third and fourth generation artisans to make high quality, eco-friendly and high quality bags. What makes these bags unique is their use of the vintage wash technique, giving their products an aged finish, complete with salvaged leather making for straps and corners folds. Their palette extends to over 23 colours, and you can even customise elements of the bag.
For more information and to place your order call them at 9831040578 or place an order on their Instagram.
Price: INR 3200 onwards
XI. Membership At Mumbai’s Oldest Library
The David Sassoon Library in Mumbai houses almost 70,000 books on social sciences and literature of regional languages among other subjects. The library’s Venetian Gothic architectural structure has an archaic appeal that resonates throughout the building. It also has its own garden filled with jackfruit, mango and coconut trees; an idyll to read in the bustling city.
For more information and to apply for a membership click here.
Price: INR 4000 for membership (1500 will be refundable on termination of membership)
XII. Ikat Weave Bomber And Denim Jackets
These bomber jackets from Ikat Story come with a bohemian twist; made with the vibrant Ikat cloth; an ancient method of dyeing textiles in India. Their denim jackets have a similar aesthetic with funky trinkets sewed on to them. Every piece here is one-of-a-kind as no style is featured in the same fabric twice.
For more information and to place your order you can reach out to the artist here.
Price: INR 4000 onwards
XIII. Goodies In Graphic Art
Kulture Shop, India’s pioneering graphic artist collective offers over 500 exclusive artworks, available as wall art and on premium lifestyle products. Each purchase here means a award for the creator thus promoting a sustainable ecosystem for independent Indian artists. It should be your go to shop for edgy last minute but edgy gifts. View their full collection of products here.
They have stores in both Kala Ghoda and Bandra.
Timings 11-8pm (The Kala Ghoda store is open till 10pm this week for Christmas.)
Price: INR 400 onwards
XIV. Premium Chocolate With Peppermint Candy
The chocolates from All Things Good in Delhi are the kind that match up to all your sweet-tooth fantasies. Their cocoa is sourced right from Ghana and then their artisanal chocolates are infused with unexpected ingredients like Habanero chillies from California, granola, strawberries, and biscotti. They are bringing the festive season in with a bar of Belgian milk chocolate and delicious peppermint candy cane at the soft centre.
For more information and to place your order click here.
Price: INR 350 onwards
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