a gift guide and it spurns mass consumption but also still a gift guide
Ceci n'est pas un shopping newsletter
This is a gift guide featuring only small businesses and artists based in the cities where I’ve lived or have spent a lot of time in: New York, Toronto, Portland (OR), Montreal, and Vancouver. There are other cities I wanted to include and maybe would in the future, but I had to cut myself off.
I have no intention of turning this into a shopping newsletter (I’ve got more than enough to eat at home), but I did want to remedy some of the harms caused by many of the others before it was too late.
Our email inboxes are currently under attack with Black Friday sales, listicles with Amazon affiliate links, influencers with wide followings pushing the lowest common denominator, the candles and towels and soaps with the most mass appeal. It feels counterintuitive that ostensibly, “we” are more literate than ever about sustainability, labor practices, and the risks that monopolized retail giants impose, and yet consumerism feels more unhinged than ever. We gravitate toward the same products that creators are incentivized to exalt, to purchase into class signifiers. The issues here are structural and more to do with the saturation of capitalism, but we’re still left with gift guides that promote a monoculture - that seem less geared towards individuals with unique personalities, than they are checking off boxes for their brand sponsors.
I’m so over gift guides that seem to have no regard for the humans, ecosystems, and cultures that engender objects and infuse them with meaning. To me, gift giving is an opportunity to express a shared understanding between you and the recipient, to buy them something special they might not have treated themselves to; to affirm that you see them and want them to have nice things, or to push their comfort zone just that teeny tiny bit. It’s also an opportunity to flex your amazing taste, and nothing says amazing taste like buying something unique from a real artist.
Small businesses and artists are the lifeblood of cities. They are what give a city character, narrative, colour, and style. Imagine a world where we just had Target and Nordstrom and Amazon warehouses everywhere. Not to monger fear, but that world is increasingly imminent, and we need to behave responsibly, in a way that reflects the world we want to live in.
Buying from artists is an art - navigating the SSENSE sale is not. And buying from small businesses keeps your city interesting: now that’s a return on your investment.
About this guide:
I’ve done my best to keep each gift under $100 USD, because this new normal of recommending $200+ gifts is frankly, well, not to sound like a Democrat on the verge of a nervous breakdown, but weird!
I’ve tried to limit myself to ten recs per city, but often I failed.
A disclaimer: this list does not include objects from vintage stores, because online inventory is always fluctuating. This list focuses primarily on small businesses, local shops, artists, and craftspeople. Also, if I got into vintage, this list would never fucking end. Maybe I’ll do a vintage roundup another time, if there’s interest.
I’ve listed it in order of cities I have spent time in most recently - New York, then Toronto, Portland, Montreal, then Vancouver.
New York Fuckin’ …. State!
I realized I had to split this into two sections because so many artists live upstate and well I have laughed and loved there and let’s face it living there wouldn’t be out of the cards for us….
The City
Everything from November 19 Shop is perfect, but I haven’t been able to get this Mr. Chung candle out of my head…. Always need to take a hit of that whenever I walk by.
Jao is an amazing store on Atlantic Ave with stock that’s always changing. I’ve purchased gifts from here on multiple occasions. Gale, who helms the family business and still keeps shop there, has the best taste and is always going to France in search of objets d’intérêt like this bijoux box and this rain bonnet that I deeply f with.
I saw this Sunprint Kit at Slope Home the other day and almost bought it for myself, then had a psychotic train of thoughts that went like: “wow, but wouldn’t it be even better if my loving husband came here, saw this, thought it might delight his whimsical wife, and buy it for her?” Anyway I didn’t buy, caught in the fantasy that my partner would end up in this homewares shop (delulu indeed), but you could!
Isshi is the fantasy dreamworld invented by artist Rolly Robinson. You could get this charm bracelet set for you and your twin flame.
Merch for brand loyalists is always a great idea, and it so happens that some of my favourite merch in the city is by Yemeni coffee roasters Yafa. This is an ideal baseball cap. In their Sunset Park cafe they have tons of other cute shit too.
Speaking of merch, these hoodies from Marché Rue Dix does double-duty on being both cozy and chic. This incense burner from Senegal is also stunning.
I met the ceramicist Maggie Boyd at a tribute concert to Mort Garson’s Plantasia at Greenwood Cemetery two summers ago. Her presence completely moved me… she felt like a true Artist, as a creator, a giver, a …. Mother? I projected a lot on to her, and then I bought a ceramic planter. Doesn’t appear that she has anything for sale currently on her website but she’ll let you know on her ig when she’s doing another drop.
My beloved Salter House is one of those stores where you could blindfold yourself and point, and it would be cute and completely respectable as a gift. These hand-painted white stoneware candle holders make me swoon. If you have a bespoke baby in your life, may I suggest these adorable little mice in a matchbox?
All I really, really want is this bleeding hearts mobile by artist Anamaria Morris of All Kinds. She’s doing another drop of some of her fantastical art-works in December.
A selection of dried flowers for making teas from SOS Chefs? A spice gift set that doubles as pigment? Pretty, pretty, pretty cute!
Been eyeing the Commuter Bag by Brooklyn designer Liv Ryan for far too long… but that sake vase is such an ideal shape for a beautiful multi-use object.
Very into these slippers from Tangerine, made in Japan from recycled cotton kimono fabrics. Beautiful and cozy slippers are such a treat.
A nice cookbook is always a good gift. Archestraus is a Very Cute Store specializing in cookbooks, and they also have an amazing vintage selection.’
Also want to shout out the gorgeous new addition to Park Slope, Shahmiri. They don’t yet have an online retail presence but truly worth visiting IRL. Leah, the owner, has an incredible curatorial eye and has stocked her shop with gorgeous clothing, jewelry, and homewares that you won’t find anywhere else.
I have to cut myself off! This list is NON EXHAUSTIVE. Drop your art or favourite stores in the comments, or whatever.
Upstate
Rae Wilson is a multimedia artist based in Hudson, she makes celestial, imaginative objects focusing on ceramics and florals and she’s doing insta drops with works for purchase throughout November/December.
I love Hops Petunia in Kingston. Sending a floral arrangement is a truly romantic gesture, and at this time of year you can save many of the stems for drying. You can guarantee that flowers from them will be great quality and thoughtfully designed. They also sell tons of cute apothecary goods and homewares, like these pressed flower taper candles.
A scarf is an ideal gift, and I love this one from Nikki Chasin.
Holding Space is an artist-run collective based out of Kingston. They had a very sweet shop downtown but are currently looking for a new brick-and-mortar! I love their zine, it’s beautifully compiled and a great way to get to know diff local artists doing and making cool shit.
I know I’m breaking my affordability tip that I sanctimoniously berated The Culture on, but if people are going to be spending lots of money anyway then seems like you can feel good about your purchase if you give money to an artist. Presley Oldham’s world is worth shelling out the ol’ pocket book for, and this magnificent bracelet makes for a truly unique talisman for the fanciful sweetie in your life.
Curating my own gardening wardrobe from Gardenheir is my own personal #goals - they’ve got Italian clogs, chic watering cans, and an excellent workwear selection. One of those anything-from-here-will-work stores, but I might refer you to these wax botanical pallets for keeping your wardrobe fresh and moth-free, some Hudson Valley maple vinegar, or this ball of twine with a cutter blade.
Workaday Handmade, based in Red Hook, NY, make playful takes on functional ceramics and other objects. These stained-glass-looking tower candles are lovely.
All Sorts has, uh, all sorts of new and vintage tschochkes based out of Hancock. A unique bottle opener is always a fun idea - I like this trout one.
Eleanor Friedberger is an artist and musician living in Ellenville. She started an art gallery/shop called Weird Ellenville that is also currently looking for a permanent home. In the meantime you could buy one of her records or t-shirts for a music fan in your life.
World’s End Farm is a place that belies categorization - it is a working wool and flower farm, an artist residency, a ceramic studio, a community kitchen, etc etc. One of their main streams of revenue is their artisanal soap brand, Saipua (Finnish for soap). I got to use their products when I did a winter residency there and they really are divine - earthy, sweet scents and deeply nourishing, even in the roughest of winters. Any of their soaps or oils would make a lovely gift. Their liquid soap is especially luxe.
Little King in Beacon is a real one-stop-shop for pantry, homewares, apothecary, clothes…. I lovvve this Scottish-made wool hat, and it comes in a bunch of colours.
Toronto
I can’t help that Home = Toronto. In spite of itself, Toronto has retained incredible talent across the arts, and although the city’s infrastructure to sustain it is always another condo development away from collapse, it maintains its share of special, singular businesses - not to mention a really great vintage scene. Toronto has managed to keep many of my brilliant friends within the confines of its unrelenting road closures, so I’m resigned to love it forever.
100% Silk Shop needs no introduction - it’s a fantasy world unto itself. This Czech glass bead necklace made by Paris-based Sisi Joia may have been the reason I felt compelled to write this list in the first place.
I’m breaking my rule about no vintage, but Penny Arcade Vintage has been one of my fave spots for over ten years, and I just checked the website, and they have, as per usual, an abundance of priceless, unique wares. A quilt is the utmost expression of love and this coverlet from the 70s is so sweet. As I mentioned, a scarf is an ideal gift, and this peachy pink Scottish mohair scarf makes for scarf canon.
I’ve never smelled anything like the elixirs produced by Universal Flowering. I bought a discovery pack for myself a few years ago, and I’ve been thinking about getting myself another soon - I recently saw that I missed the last release of Summer Sauna and I’ve been kicking myself since.
Hanji Gifts on Bloor carries such a gorgeous selection of Korean stationary, craft supplies, and little treasures. It’s so fun to peruse IRL - full of delights like this mother of pearl compact mirror.
It really is such a heart-shrinking feeling that when I type in “Mirvish Village” in Google Maps, the description is “real estate developer.” The website screams “there’s no place like this place, any place!” hovering over the sky-high condos like a dark cloud. You can buy a 1 bedroom apartment for $700,000. Maybe it’s because I left Toronto by the time destruction of Honest Ed’s was underway, or maybe it’s all the core memories from being in undergrad, mindlessly going into the galleries and shops, eating fries at the Victory Cafe, walking home buzzed on Markham Street arm-in-arm with my best friend, or maybe I’m thinking about my Zaide who grew up right there, or maybe it’s because Toronto is a city that can’t seem to preserve whatever heritage it’s got to hold on to. Whatever it is, it feels shocking and upsetting whenever I’m home and pass by the new development. I always try to scurry along, averting my eyes, like a death I can’t accept. One of the most special, most important small businesses that shut down on Markham Street before the real estate deal went through was a Palestinian cultural center called Beit Zatoun. There really was nothing like it. They hosted lectures, community events, potluck dinners, craft markets. The founder, Robert Massoud, welcomed me here and we developed a friendship - we had honest, thoughtful conversations and even co-hosted a film screening and discussion to help “build alliances” and “foster dialogue” with the Jewish community (it was the mid-20teens… not sure it had any sort of wider impact, but it certainly made an impact on me). It was devastating to so many when Beit Zatoun had to close its doors. But while the space no longer exists, the nonprofit mission behind it lives on! Now operating as Zatoun, they continue to import and sell Palestinian products in Canada, with a focus on their fair-trade cold-pressed olive oil. Their online shop has different options for purchasing olive oil and spices. You can also find individual bottles at the stores listed here. Palestinian olive oil is famously world-class, and good olive oil is such a nice gift for a cook in your life.
Anyway as I was saying…… Clothing is risky as a gift, but it can be acceptable when it’s as pretty as the Cloud Blouse from Local Woman.
You can’t go wrong with one of the curated gift bundles from Health Hut. This is a great gifting hack! The dolls in your life love a little soap, a little candle, a little mist.
These wool socks by Okayok are chic and look soo cozy and they’re made in Toronto.
Eunice Luk sells her collectible ceramic art via website drops but you might have more luck finding her over at 100% Silk Shop.
This bonnet by Toast & Yarn that you can get at Frock on Roncy.
Love this ceramic garlic grater from Pictus Goods.
The Wanderly always carries a really solid vintage selection peppered with thoughtfully curated apothecary and home goods. These ceramic mini espresso cups are so sweet.
The ultimate indulgence: purchase a cake from Nathalie Marsh. She’s gotta be the most talented Renaissance Woman in the GTA, and she’s taking custom orders over the holidays.
And always worth seeing what’s in stock at Bellwoods Books. I just checked their Etsy and it looks like they’re offering gift boxes containing three books of poetry by women poets plus a merch item. Cute!
Portland, Oregon
In classic Laura-lore, I accidentally moved here for 8 months to live with my then-new boyfriend’s (now husband) parents whom I hadn’t met before. My in-laws live on the cusp of the burbs, right next to Tigard. We always do a family trip to the Tigard Value Village whenever we’re back in town, and often strike gold. Growing up, Alden was a nerdy jazz kid and a serious teen entrepreneur, so it’s fun for us to rediscover his city together now that he’s a Devilishly Handsome Career Musician Adult.
Stand Up Comedy is a gem, and this ear cuff by Faris, a Seattle-based jewelry designer, is classic and sexy.
Lowell Shop Gallery is one of those places I try to visit whenever I’m back in town. These limited-edition books on clouds are special. Good thing Nationale Gallery is right next door.
Take your girl to Oko and get her something sparkly.
Wapato Island Farm offers workshops, community events, and an herbalism shop, focusing on Indigenous farming practices. You can get herbal tinctures to calm the nerves, or purchase a gift card so that your farming-curious friend can use credit toward a workshop on their beautiful farm on Sauvie Island.
I really dig the Portland-made Primecut bags and now that wallets are apparently obsolete, I would be a glad recipient of one of these card pouches.
Consider one of Morgan Ritter’s poem tags for purchase at ILY2 gallery.
Every time I go to Portland I have to pick up one of these Elizabeth W Lilac Candles at Banshee. The scent is transcendent - so purely of lilac, and with it, the euphoria of spring.
This shirt from Monochromatic kind of reminds me of the type of shirt Oscar Isaac was wearing in those thirsty photos.
Who wouldn’t enjoy a sweet rose print by artist Shana Tabor?
After a day of schlepping my mother-in-law around to all of Portland’s excellent vintage stores, I ended up finding my “second look” dress for my wedding at Seven Sisters. I love the owner and they always have a great selection of unique, small-batch brands. These coasters were made my NY-based designer Sophie Lu Jacobsen in collab with Étagere, one of my fave accounts for curated antiques and vintage.
If you haven’t already gotten on the Olio E Osso train, it’s worth checking out. My friend got this bodycare mini set and I kept sneaking hits of it, it smelled sooooo good. You can also find them, along with many other great Oregon-based brands, at the Yo Store.
Montreal
Montreal…. city of my dreams and nightmares. I moved here on two separate occasions, and each time just couldn’t make it work. Third times a charm? Lol jk….. unless?
The new Ora-C collection is breathtaking. Her use of carnelian stones evoke power. Get your friend or lover these stud earrings, which are deeply wearable yet also incite mystery. Part of the nature of your relationship is that you are constantly humbled by their complexity, after all.
Anatol Spices is the gift that keeps on giving. Who wouldn’t want bagfuls of gorgeous spices, salts, aromatics.
april april is a gallery technically based in Pittsburgh, but with deep Montreal roots. They recently released a volume of poetry as a companion to their first exhibition, featuring several Montreal-based writers and artists. This is a gallery to watch, and gifting a token of the early days will only generate more meaning in years to come.
Show someone that you really are invested in them actually enjoying their holiday with a gift card to Bota Bota.
Consider buying a keffiah from Betina Lou. They’re donating all proceeds to support displaced families in Gaza. While you’re there, you could grab some mint eucalyptus bubble bath - the brand, Flambette, makes all their products in Québec, and they have been enthusiastically vetted by the Author.
Charlotte Gachet makes ethereal hand-painted silk scarves, I’m especially partial to this one avec motif de papillon et citrouille.
Fish tail hoop earrings from Bilak jewelry.
I love Rightful Owner. Classic vintage-inspired cuts but with something a lil weird, a lil piquant. All her stuff is made in small batches in Montreal. This is a great festive velvet handbag.
Odeyalo consistently puts out great staples and I love the playfulness of their tote bags.
Eve Gravel made a home capsule and their 100% linen tablecloths come in the sweetest colours. Tablecloths… one of those things that people always need.
You can get a sweet wintery print from Claire Milbrath at the Editorial webshop for 25 Canadian buckeroos!
This silver candle holder in the shape of a flower from Ex Voto is delightful. The chrome offsets the ~wiggly~ vibes of the flower.
Vancouver
I don’t have much to say about Vancouver, but I keep ending up there. It’s beautiful and a little boring; people are polite and a little chilly. The food is great and the beaches are gorgeous. It’s a good place for ~nesting~. I’ve got a bunch of people I love there, and I’ll admit it, the west coast is nice! If I finally spent time island-hopping, I might end up an island girl.
Old Faithful Shop is reliable for high-quality Japanese stoneware and home goods. I’ve gotten a vase from there as a gift and it’s one of those stores where you really can’t go wrong. I will flag this painted ceramic canister as storage that sparks joy is hard to come by.
Across the street, Out & About Boutique is a Japanese lifestyle store for your more whimsical, esoteric bestie. Cute stationary is always good to have on hand.
I would be delighted to receive a triangular kerchief lambswool scarf by Margaret Howell via Neighbour. Something I wouldn’t necessarily justify buying myself but would wear the shit out of. Not to mention this adorable temporary tat tin!
I love One of a Few - it’s a well-curated womenswear store that’s been around for years. A gorgeous-smelling soap made in Vancouver by Sunja Link might just do the trick.
Kokom Scrunchies are run by 13 year old Mya Beaudry and her mom! Are you kidding me!! :’) And her scrunchies are made out of gorgeous textiles! She’s Algonquin from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation but you can find her scrunchies at Mucker Next Door.
Taylor Maki makes rugs in Kelowna under Maki Rugs in Kelowna - super fun hand-tufted textiles. A rug is a bit of a big get but she does drops for cute objects like tufted coasters on her insta occasionally.
Hey Jude is also one of those stores that I have to check out every time I’m in town. The whole vintage selection is great and they carry apothecary/home objects. This hardcover journal is especially beautiful.
Smith Bowen has been making coquettish, botanically dyed cotton lingerie since before Gen Z discovered Brandy Melville. Hand made Vancouver, their garments are literally compostable. I have been eyeing their stuff for years, you’re bound to make someone in your life happy with a very wearable-looking bra or saccharine undies.
Wolf Circus makes chic versatile jewelry at a bunch of different price points. I love this bolo-inspired flower cord necklace or this seed pearl necklace still available in blue at Hey Jude.
Annie Axtell’s wiggly pillows are cute in a non-overly-millennial-coded way because the pillows actually look heavy and firm, which for my brittle back is a dealbreaker. The materials are sustainably sourced and she produces in small batches. Love this one in green.
and lastly…
a little plug for Everyday Oil. This has been one of my go-to products for years. They’re Asheville-based so could definitely use some love right now! It’s the perfect travel companion - really is an all-in-one moisturizer and cleanser, smells amazing, sustainably made, and fairly priced. They’re stocked at many of your cute local shops, or you can order from them directly.
Turns out I desperately need a rain bonnet. Thank you for these recs Laura!
I love this so many amazing places! You are everywhere all at once!