warm wish-list: NYC local indie designer gift guide
So it's gifting season again. How beautiful to show love and gratitude in physical pieces of thoughtfulness. And at the very same time... how incredibly overwhelming to be swept up in our culture's rhetoric of must-haves and false abundance. It was for all these reasons I was hesitant to create another "gift guide". And it was for all these reasons I felt like I should.
I hope this points you to some amazing and inspiring places. To say I love you with a gift made locally with so much love and creative life force that it's pretty much pouring out the seems. Say I love you by gifting something that you won't find on the Google 100, but the unique ~warmly 10 (and counting).~ I’ll be adding to this list as we go and special new things dop, so check back in.
That, AND... I thought maybe you could steal this from me. Send it to your relatives who wanna get you something special but will more likely get you something fate to the back of your closet.
alright… here’s our little catalog as it stands:
1) Haricot Vert
Dear Diary Made-to-Order Bracelet
$258
Haricot Vert brings another layer to the idea of charming. These precious hand-painted charms are cheeky and beautiful. You can custom this to be meaningful for your giftee charmed with all of their favorite things— how lovely.
2) Magic World Girl
Cat Incense Holder
$35
Look how sweet! It’s a kitty kat incense holder. Magic World Girl has many gorgeous, whimsical goods. Garments and ceramic pieces like these. They make a great little gift and will continue sharing good vibes in the homes of anyone who receives one.
3) 10.0 Mm
Wool Tee
$85
Something about handmade knits makes them warm and cozier. You may have seen some beautiful knit pieces from 10mm at the warmly zine launch. They make such cool touches to any winter looks and a very sweet gift.
4) Bleachy Val
Heart Ring
$40
How cool is this heart-shaped watch ring?! Bleachy Val upcycles vintage watches into new jewelry for the coolest ways to gift a watch. The rings will add a super interesting, unique touch to your friend’s chunky silver ring collection going on. But check out the website and check up on Insta too for new stuff and to find a collection of the goods in person at Pop Ups — she also does hair clips, necklaces, and earrings.
5) Plant Girl NYC
Natural Indigo dyed Cat T-Shirt
$100
Plant Girl does these amazing naturally dyed garments. These indigo cat tees couldn’t be cuter. Each one is unique and hand-dyed/printed. And if you’d like to see them in person, Plant Girl also brings these goods to pop-up markets around the city, so stay tuned.
6) Soft Noise
The Honey Wig Ring
$195
The organic, dynamic works of art that Soft Noise creates in their jewelry get me every time. You may have been enchanted by them at the warmly zine lanch. Honey Wig feels liquid and unique— it would make such a special gift.
7) Eden’s Harvest
full of grace
$275
Eden’s Harvest Jewelry is so easy to adore— it looks like it was born from a beautiful, oceanic, magical world that just sucks you. in. Again, these pieces would be great for a very special, one-of-a-kind gift.
8) Chill Fish Holiday drop Dec 5th
Multiple ceramics at a range of prices
Every detail in these ceramic pieces is full of thought, care, and story. Each is hand-painted and incorporates real shells that the artist both hand collects and externally sources. They become nothing short of works of art that can live in your kitchen— or your loved one’s kitchen- to bring a bit of magic to the everyday.
You can shop some goodies along with Haricot Vert at L’Apartment 4F during their pop up for the weekend of Dec2-3. That is a verrry healthy serving of whimsical charm in one place if you ask me. :)
9) femlord
I heart NY tank
$20
This is such a cool, handmade take on a design that’s both classic and trending. Femlord does these wild and incredible airbrushed (I think) art and stencil patterns on vintage and used garms. They’re a cheeky giggle and a statement in one and it gives that 90s aairbrush nostalgia. Somehow the femlord style it brings a little extra <3 to the I <3 NY of it all.
10) urbn rewrrk
long sleeve top
$135
Another creative brand I saw at a pop-up somewhere and just adore. These dye colors are so earthy and beautiful and I love the silhouettes on this top. It’s a unique, one-of-aa-kind, hand-made-with-love piece that I think would still get a ton of wear. That right there marries apposing gift philosophies with one ingle swoop.
11) Flora Zhai Jewelry
Blue Pansy Pearl Bracelet
$86
I really do kinda melt at the striking edgy beauty of Flora Zhai. The brand uses resin-coated organic media against medals and pearls in a way I find feels almost extraterrestrial. There is something so alluring about that blue pansy— such a special piece.
12) Nikki Nectarine
Coats
Nikki Nectarine’s upcycled creations make me smile and awe every single time. There feels to be so much love in these coats and I just think… what a truly beautiful way to wrap a loved one up in something warm over the holiday season!
13) Madeline Marie
Lauren Dress with Lace Embellishments
$238
Madeline Marie garments are special because they bring the personal touch back to the art of dressmaking. This one from the FW23 collection feels so tender with the vintage embellishments. I feel like stepping into it would bring to life a little world of whimsy.
okay have fun sharing the warmth! lmk if there’s something I should add
