Receiving or giving a great gift is often the nucleus of great festive memories. Whether it’s unwrapping that grail video game as a kid, receiving an unexpected and well-thought-through gift as an adult, or seeing a loved one’s face light up as they open up a present you bought them, these memories are precious and can last a lifetime.
While gifting is far from the most important part of the holidays, it helps us to show our loved ones that we care. But buying for someone who has gotten into the realm of more niche, quality goods can be tough — I, for one, don’t envy my fiancé one bit. With that in mind, we created our yearly Holiday Gift Guide — a list that you can use to guide a purchase for someone into well-made, heritage-centric goods, or pass on to someone who needs some inspiration for what to get you.
We’ve chosen products from a range of prices, categories, and makers, and hope that you can find either the perfect gift or some solid inspiration from this list. Happy holidays, folks.
The Gift Of Versatility – Le Laboureur Veston in Hydrone Blue Moleskine
Everyone can pull off a Le Laboureur Veston — especially in the iconic Hydrone Blue Moleskin — which makes this classic chore coat a safe bet if you’re buying for someone special.
This is a fantastic introduction to the highly functional chore coat style and is as timeless as can be. It’s as useful as any of your favorite denim jackets, but because it’s cut from a nicely textured blue moleskin that ages unlike anything you’ve tried before.
The Le Laboureur Veston features a traditional French 3-pocket (plus 1 interior pocket) style design, contrasting button-front placket, adjustable cuffs, and Le Laboureur tag on the chest pocket. It’s the perfect jacket for just about anyone, so it makes a great gift, or a great personal treat to splurge on with all that holiday cash.
Available for $170 in theHeddels Shop.
The Gift of Warmth – Heimat Mechanics Bobble Hat Schwarz/Safety Red
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Get warm and festive with the Heimat Mechanics Bobble Hat. Bobble hats run high on the list of underrated winter accessories. They have a cute but refined aesthetic rooted in Viking Scandinavia, they’re seasonally appropriate, and they’re simply fun. Heimat’s made-in-Germany 100% virgin wool bobble cap is a perfect head-warming option for those who want a high-quality cap that lasts.
With a Santa-approved red bobble, this 1.5″ folded brim cap can be worn higher on the head, or folded lower to cover the ears while you’re snowboarding.
Available for $52 from Clutch Cafe.
The Gift of Sustainability – Porter “The Porter Mug” 16oz
If there was ever a quality-made travel mug for the hot beverage lover in your life, it’s 16 oz. The Porter Mug, constructed from ceramic/silicone/plastic. We’re about to hit 2023, aren’t we far overdue in carrying reusable mugs? No more styrofoam cups, please, folks.
They’re microwave/dishwasher safe, FDA-approved, and BPA-free, to boot. They’re also available in 3 classy colorways for every liquid drinker you love in your life. Throw a box of quality hot cocoa or single-origin coffee in with the gift for the full package.
Available for $30 from Upstate Stock.
The Gift of Timeless Style – Pherrow’s 451 Raw Selvedge Denim Jean
Who wouldn’t want to unwrap a pair of Pherrow’s 451 13.5 oz. Jeans on Christmas morning? These roomy, straight-leg, mid-rise jeans are the perfect gift for the denim lovers on your “nice” list. A brand new pair for the new year.
The 451 is cut from a mid-weight, vintage-style one wash denim, meaning the receiver won’t have to worry about too much shrinkage. They’re a perfectly straight-leg fit based on post-war Levi’s 501s, and even feature painted rear pocket arcuates, a cost-saving branding method utilized by jean makers after WWII.
This classic 5-pocket design features a buttoning fly, hidden rivets on the back pockets, and OD green herringbone twill pocket bags up front.
Available for $200 from Clutch Cafe.
The Gift of Aroma – STAG Acapulco Incense Holder / P.F Candle Co. Teakwood & Tobacco Charcoal Incense
It’s never a bad time to make your environment smell good, but when the holidays hit, it’s essential. Enter the Acapulco Incense Burner by STAG. This ain’t a boring incense burner. This is a heavy-duty sandstone work of art. Its neutral color and interesting texture make it appealing to look at both when the incense is burning, and when it’s not.
We’ve paired this gift idea with the Teakwood & Tobacco Charcoal Incense by P.F. Candle Company. While they’re not clove and cinnamon-scented candles, these classic-smelling incense sticks will keep the cozy atmosphere going even after the Christmas tree is lugged out to the sidewalk.
P.F. Candle Co. doesn’t mess around with their great-smelling incense, this stuff is tried and true and beautifully crafted to boot. If your candle-addicted loved ones are around this holiday season, give them the gift of variety, and aroma.
Available for $42 and $9 from STAG (Incense Burner/Incense).
The Gift of Comfort – Reigning Champ Cuffed Sweatpant
Believe me when I say that these Reigning Champ Cuffed Sweatpants in Heather Grey are cozy. Source: I’m wearing them as I write this. They were gifted to me on my birthday a few years back, and they’re a go-to when lounging around the house, or when I need to run out to the store and can’t be bothered to throw on hard clothes.
Reigning Champ has been crafting high-quality modern sportswear in Canada for many years now, and if you haven’t tried one of their 100% cotton medium-weight terry sweats, now’s a great time. These are a perfect gift for the denim head in your life who doesn’t need another pair of jeans, but who needs an upgrade in the loungewear department. Time to dump those old, cheap sweats for good.
These nicely textured grey sweats come complete with flat lace waist ties, elastic waistband and cuffs, dual hand warming pockets (that you won’t want to remove your hands from), Reigning Champ tag, and a handy back patch pocket.
Available for $120 from Division Road.
The Gift of… Socks – American Trench Sock Boxes
Socks don’t have to be a bad gift. No, quite the contrary. A quality-made sock is highly underrated, and if someone you know is in need of some sprucing up in that department, consider the American Trench Holiday Sock Box. Sure, they’re kind of festive, and you’ll likely want to wear them primarily when it’s holiday time… but that doesn’t mean you can’t wear them on any of the other 364 days out of the year. You can.
Constructed from a variety of textile blends, each box contains four fun merino, silk, and cotton fair isle socks. If you’re not great at picking which socks to roll with, or if you just want to try out a couple of different options while saving some cash on a bundle, this gift box is the way to go.
Available for $75 from American Trench.
The Gift of Patina – Loyal Stricklin Miles Wallet – Pueblo
Something well-crafted that will last forever is always a good idea when it comes to gift buying, but when it comes to Christmas, you typically want something with a point of difference. For those specs, we’re loving the Loyal Stricklin Miles Wallet in ‘ortensia pueblo’.
Coming from Italy’s Badalassi Carlo tannery, this leather has bundles of texture and a whimsical blue colorway that somehow feels festive. There’s no doubt this will develop a spacey patina with a blend of deep blue and brighter blue hues after a couple of years of use.
Loyal Stricklin’s designs are typically minimalist and useful, and the Miles is no different. It’s a simple fold that can house bills, cards, and tickets, all while slipping neatly into a rear pocket.
Available for $85 from Loyal Stricklin.
The Gift of Office Patina – Sturdy Denim Notebook Cover
Denim and leather accessories, anyone? A new pair of jeans might be out of the question, budget-wise, but that doesn’t mean you need to give up the potential for patina with this Sturdy Denim Notebook Cover, perfect for the hard-wearing-goods-lover in your life who happens to need to take notes, sketch, or jot down Mom’s green bean casserole recipe. Better yet, someone who can’t wear raw denim to the office but wants a patina project for the Monday-Friday grind.
The Notebook Cover fits a range of notebooks, and is made from indigo/white denim that’s sure to fade with time spent creased in a tote bag. Accented with brown leather, it features three pen slots, a leather tab closure. and is branded with a military-style Sturdy stencil on the exterior.
Available for $88 from Clutch Cafe.
