It’s our annual The Local Artisan Guide Father’s Day Gift Guide and we have had such a great time researching, shopping and following recommendations for gifts that will thrill your father and show him how exceptional you think he is with an equally exceptional gift.
We have gift recommendations for multiple categories and a variety of price points from very affordable gifts to extremely aspirational gifts. The brands are small, artisanal and have a story. There is something for every dad here that values craftsmanship, design, unique products, beauty and knowing you went the extra yard to show them how much you love, honor and care for your dad or dad figure. This is for you dad for being there and being the best dad you could be.
We have ten gift recommendations in no particular order. You can find the info by clicking onto the link in the captions. Although all are found at brick and mortal stores they can be purchased online.
OILOGY—a New York based fragrance brand founded by two immigrants, one Columbian, one Egyptian, created a brand inspired by the rich scents of the Middle East. We discovered a scent we know your dad would love, King Tut, one of their most popular scents for the fresh and clean aroma. The scents are long-lasting and alcohol-free made from high-quality essential oils. King Tut is a combination of sea notes, grapefruit, mandarin, orange, bay leaf, jasmine, ambergris, guaiac, wood, oakmoss and patchouli. This artisan fragrance brand is also very affordable for such a unique signature scent.
RECOLLECTIONS: THREE DECADES OF PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOHN SEXTON
If your father loves nature and appreciates fine art photography may we recommend Recollections: Three Decades of Photography by John Sexton. John Sexton is an acclaimed fine art photographer who specializes in nature photography. He studied photography with legendary American photographer Ansel Adams and shares the same aesthetic of capturing spectacular landscapes around the world. With Recollections we see stunning images of American national parks and vistas from Yosemite to the enigmatic rock forms of the Colorado Plateau. Your father will love going through these images and it also might inspire a trip to these incredible landmarks. You can even give the gift as a precursor to a road trip together for memories that will last forever.
This gift is the perfect gift for the dad who loves to make cocktails, the Rattan Cocktail Shaker from Feste, a brand that specializes in making entertainment beautiful and special. The cocktail shaker was “Designed in Canada and handcrafted by a network of global craftsmen, Artisan 85 serving utensils and accessories bring a unique flair to any gathering. The cocktail shaker brings a relaxed, coastal vibe to your next cocktail party with the Rattan bar accessories. The woven natural fibre adds texture and visual interest to bar essentials. The decorative natural rattan can be easily removed when cleaning. Handcrafted. Material: Stainless steel, natural rattan. So whether it’s a good old fashion Old Fashion or your dad likes to experiment in mixology, this cocktail shaker is not only a great gift but incredibly affordable too.
OFFICINE CREATIVE - JULES 006 BROWN LEATHER TRAVEL BAG
Officine Creative is a brand we love and have been following since they opened in Nolita, NYC. It was founded in the 90’s in Italy with a team “combining peerless craftsmanship with a distinctive creative flair to create something truly unique” which is one of the reasons we think this travel bag is an exceptional Father's Day gift. Officine Creative successfully mixes modernity and traditional artisan craftsmanship. Although this travel bag is definitely aspirational we feel it is one of those pieces that can be past down from generation to generation as a family heirloom. It resembles a traditional doctor’s satchel bag. The Jules 006 is handcrafted from beautiful Italian airbrushed brown leather. It’s a classic travel bag with top handles, removable shoulder strap and functional zip pockets inside and out. The dimensions are 48W x 30H x 22D Cm - (31,5 L). It also comes in the color black. Dad would definitely treasure this gift forever, he can use it visiting Yosemite on that road trip that the two of you have been talking about.
Is your dear old dad getting up there in age? Do you want to help his memory and coordination skills but can’t seem to get him to try new activities? Well then this is the game for your dad! Sweary Bingo is a cheeky gift that dad should love no matter the sharpness of his thinking skills. The tag line is “A Party Game for the Potty Mouthed” There is a selection 64 insulting and creative swear words to shout out, in this potty-mouthed version of the classic game. You can have up to 12 players, there is a master board, 64 tiles, 100 counters, and a glossary is included to explain some more unusual terms, lists the geographic origin, highlight creative variations and generally raise your swearing game. This is the most fun your dad will have while sharpening his memory skills. I would especially recommend this gift if your dad is not the swearing type as think how liberating it can be for him (and you!). Bookshop.org is where you can find Sweary Bingo, it’s an amazing site to buy books and games that donates money for local independent bookstores ($48,163,771.39 so far) to help them thrive. So win/win!
Men’s grooming products are always a good gift for dad, however we are particularly excited about Jackfir grooming products and the story of their creation. Jackfir’s founder, Charlie Razook, first created the brand in the midst of 3.5 years of leukemia treatment. After researching about the environment and the toxins we are exposed to in our wellness products, Charlie decided to come up with a certified-clean men's skincare brand offering trustworthy and effective personal care solutions inspired by nature. Jackfir offers clean grooming essentials, including facial cleansers, moisturizers, and shaving creams formulated with predominantly organic ingredients. The brand is vegan certified, GMO free, gluten free, contains natural ingredients is plastic neutral and is a member of ONE TREE PLANTED. They offer on their site a a bundle called The Facekit which includes their Classic Shave Cream, the Classic Daily Moisturizer, and the Classic Daily Cleanser. Combined these three products will help your dad’s dry skin, face wrinkles, redness and irritation and dark spots all while knowing your dad will not have any exposure to toxic chemicals and irritating ingredients. This can even become one of those great father/son gifts as it is a brand that any man in your life would be grateful to have. The brand is also available at Credo beauty boutiques.
One of the reasons there is The Local Artisan Guide is to help our audience find amazing heritage brands that can easily be overlooked if you don’t live in the area the product is created or the marketing is not overblown. Viberg is one such brand. Viberg is a Canadian heritage men’s footwear brand founded by Edwin Viberg in 1931. The brand is renowned for its high quality timeless shoes and boots. The brand can trace its shoemaking lineage back to the 1890’s in Sweden where the family learned how to make scrabble boots for farmers and workers. The brand has stayed in the family with Edwin’s grandson Brett Viberg at the helm now. Brett has continued on the family business and has added some more contemporary silhouettes to the collection which is why we recommend the Slip on - Bison Janus Calf Suede Shoe as we felt it was very “DAD”. Although this gift is on the more pricier of our gift guide, between the quality, the craftsmanship and the aesthetics of the brand, it is a gift that will be greatly appreciated and cherished. “Janus is a calf suede with a fine, even nap and a soft, open surface. It remains relaxed in structure while gaining depth with wear. Bison offers a cooler, lighter brown with a quiet, understated depth. Built on the 1005 last, a round-toe sneaker last with a minimal heel drop and flat removable footbed. Made on a full leather insole with solid leather toe and heel stiffeners, creating a stable internal structure that maintains shape and improves over time. Finished with a natural edge, maintaining a lighter contrast.” Handmade in Canada! If you want to go all out, this is the gift for dad.
FLYING SOLO NYC - AURJA - BLUE AUM CARDAMOM HINOKI MOSS CANDLE
We always like to have a candle in our Father’s Day Gift Guide and this year especially as we just came upon the brand AURJA. Aurja not only has a candle scent that dad will love, when it burns out there is a beautiful object left behind for dad to enjoy and be part of his decor. We found this candle brand at Flying Solo NYC, a boutique that sells and promotes independent, small brands. The candle comes in a beautiful blue ceramic vessel designed to stay on your dad’s shelf long after the wax is gone. “Aum” is named for the Sanskrit sound of universal alignment, the vibration beneath everything. The scent notes on the candle are Cardamom, Hinoki, and Wild Moss. It was custom-developed with French perfumers sourcing the finest ingredients from across the world. If you want your father to have a scent that will calm the mind this is the gift. Peace of mind is one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves and others.
If your dad has exceptional sartorial style we have the polo for him! Malbon is a luxury golf sportswear brand founded in Los Angeles in 2017. Malbon’s mission is to make a product that is bold and unique in a world where there is too much conformity and they do this while also being elegant. That is why we love the Habana Polo, it is an updated classic. Crafted from a soft cotton blend with a refined v-neckline and ribbed trim for structure, it's finished with Malbon’s signature sugarcane stalk print—a motif woven throughout the season. They motto is “Malbon style from first tee to clubhouse.” however your dad does not even have to like golf to enjoy this refreshed polo look. With 92% cotton 8% nylon and relaxed fit, it is sure to become his favorite casual item to pull out of his closet.
ROWING BLAZERS - WINNIE-THE-POOH HUNNY POT DAD HAT
And last but certainly not least is the gift to get for the dad who is nearly impossible to get a gift for because he has everything already (including YOU!!), it’s a baseball cap! How can a dad not have enough baseball caps. It’s a fun, useful and affordable gift for dad on Father’s Day. We picked the brand Rowing Blazers, a brand created in 2017 by Renaissance man Jack Carlson who has been having fun with the look, traditions and quirks that come with being preppy. That is why we picked the Winnie-the-Pooh Hunny Pot Dad Hat which features the an embroidered Winnie-the-Pooh motif made out of 100% cotton-twill. The baseball cap is one size and adjustable and is the ultimate “dad” hat. It’s classic, it’s preppy, it’s funny, it’s love, just like Winnie. It’s perfect for dad.
That is our gift guide recommendations. Like we said, we included all different categories, all different price points and all made by small local brands made with craftsmanship for the father figure in your life. So show dad how unique he is just like the gift choices and that you have been thoughtful in finding a gift to express your love to him. Happy Father’s Day for all the great fathers and father figures in the world that showed up and did their best to love their children.
It’s that time of year again. Spring is in the air, flowers are blooming, daylight savings time and warmer weather are making us more social again and Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Yikes!
Don’t worry! We are here to offer a few spectacular suggestions for Mother’s Day that fulfill the qualifications of The Local Artisan Guide. Your mother will appreciate a gift that she knows was created with artisans using unique skills and ideas. What better way to show your mother you are really thinking of her and honoring her for Mother’s Day? We have ten suggestions that range in price points and categories, from beautiful objects, accessories, delicacies and one amazing experience. The links are available in the captions.
After doing some extensive travel the past year to multiple climates we started to appreciate the flexibility of lightweight knits such as alpaca to keep you warm and stylish when the temperature suddenly drops 20 degrees when the sun goes down. One of our favorite finds is this poncho from Yanawara, an ethical knitwear brand designed in New York and handcrafted by their artisan ateliers in El Alto, Bolivia. We love this poncho especially because it comes in a multitude of colors, is easy to fold and carry and can be worn in a variety of ways whilst looking quite luxurious. It is handwoven 100% from the finest alpaca. It is lightweight yet warm and it features a fluid design that moves gracefully with you. One size fits all and it can even be unisex. The alpaca wool is sustainably sourced from local communities in the Highlands of Bolivia through a process that involves a mutual breeding, this means with care and respect for the animals and the environment. Sisa means “woman who decides” in Aymara, a symbol of strength and self-determination and what better way describes the job of being a mom! Yanawara also carries a beautiful ethical home section.
Flamingo Estate is a luxury brand located in the hills of Los Angeles that specializes in creating products the slow way. That means growing and sourcing their materials, working with local farmers, harvesting their own goods and creating products using ancient practices with skilled artisans. We came upon Flamingo Estate at a friend’s home who was in love with their candles and we knew immediately Flamingo Estate was going to be in The Local Artisan Guide’s Mother’s Day Gift Guide. We picked Prinsesstårta, a scent inspired from the Principessa Cake from Sant Ambroeus (my not so guilty pleasure). It was a brilliant idea to create a scent from this famous cake that was much loved by Swedish princesses as when you slice it the aroma of lemons, almond marzipan and vanilla cream bring a smile to your face. This candle uses Heliotrope flowers to replicate the almond marzipan, along with a combination of cinnamon, lemon peel and musky Amber for the base. The Prinsesståra candle uses a vegetable wax and is hand poured in Los Angeles into beautiful recyclable glass containers. Even the packaging is made using materials from responsibly managed forests, including some recycled paper products. What sold us also was their statement that was perfect for Mother's Day, “Prinsesstårta Candle is a tribute to the mothers in our family: complex, strong, comforting, and sweet. And you can have as much as you want and you’ll never get fat.” A bonus is that Flamingo Estate donates a percentage of their profits to fund organizations in Los Angeles caring for animals and restoring their habitats, starting with The Lange Foundation and Farm Animal Refuge. A win/win!
The Local Artisan Guide was so happy when Enarai first reached out to us. The brand produces the product we travel the world to highlight. Enarai (the phonetic spelling of 'N.R.I.', a legal status which stands for Non-Resident Indian) was founded by Kanika Issar who is also the designer. She works with Indian artisans who have been skilled at the ancient craft of creating dokras. A dokra is an ancient Indian tribal metal craft that uses a lost-wax castingtechnique to create non-ferrous metal objects like brass and bronze. Enarai connects an ancient 4,500 year old tradition of craftsmanship to a modern and global audience. The dokra metal handles on the Enarai handbags are literally pieces of art. The dokras are objects that depict daily scenes from tribal culture such as dancers, musicians, ornaments, animals, birds and jewelry. We are featuring the Dari Noir bucket handbag which is made from soft vegetable tanned Indian cow leather that is made with a non-toxic, natural, slow and artisanal treatment process. The handbag comeswith an adjustable & detachable strap and is H:18cm, D:12cm. This style belongs to a one-time, limited-edition series and was created by Mr. Praphulo, a 6th generation tribal artisan. If you want to see how the dokra is made just click here. This is the perfect gift for the discerning mother who has a collector’s aesthetic and values history and artisanship. She will be the envy of all her friends and you will be promoted to favorite child.
Lana Dai is a ceramic artist who has evolved from a career as a Product Designer to the more visual and aesthetic art of porcelain. Her focus has been creating and replicating flower forms in which she creates in porcelain a variety of delicate flowers with their various petal shapes and sizes. Dai designs vases, dishes, objects and even ceramic lighting fixtures. We love the Porcelain Flower Bowls which we highlighted as a Mother’s Day Gift. Her collection includes a variety of flower types and colors. Dai can reproduce the porcelain bowls on her site or custom create what colors and forms you think your mother would love. For artwork purchases or commission inquiries, please email lanadai@gmail.com. Prices are available upon request. This is the gift that your mother will love as it is a piece of art made by a local artisan just for her.
ILENIA CORTI JEWELRY - MESSAGE HOLDER WITH HEDGEHOG
Ilenia Corti is an Italian jewelry designer who comes from a family of jewelry designers based in Valenza, Italy, a city known for gold. With her love of nature, Ilenia became inspired early on to create her own brand and work on creating magical landscapes with her jewelry designs which include nature, forest creatures and insects, all the while using different colored gems and enamel. The jewelry is rich in detail and depicts a microcosms of glimmering beauty. Her designs have attracted collaborations with luxury brands that included an 8-year partnership with Valentino Garavani, leading the men’s and women’s jewelry categories, a collaboration with Maison Margiela, a partnership with Virgil Abloh for Off-White, and many others. Our recommendation for a Mother’s Day gift is her “Message Holder with Hedgehog” This unique piece is a message holder pendant. Crafted in gold-plated silver, it features a refined cylindrical shape designed to hold small messages or cherished thoughts. The design is enhanced by a delicate hand-painted enamelled hedgehog, a symbol of protection and sweetness, like your mum (well most mums). The pendant comes with a brass chain. This handmade piece will show your mother you are thinking out of the box when thinking of her for Mother’s Day. You can even add a sweet message inside letting her know exactly what you think of her. Also for such an exquisite piece of jewelry it is quite an affordable gift.
Jacques Torres, fondly known as Mr. Chocolate, is a world renowned, award winning chocolatier and the first artisan chocolatier in New York City to start from cocoa beans and make his own chocolate. Jacques prides himself on specializing in fresh, handcrafted chocolates using premium ingredients free of preservatives and artificial flavors. The beautiful designs make for lovely and delicious gifts and for Mother’s Day we picked this “I LOVE MOM” 12 piece collection of bonbons to show mom how loved and appreciated she is. The selection includes their most popular selection of eight assorted signature bonbons and four creamy Belgian milk chocolate or 60% Belgian dark chocolate with a touch of white chocolate on top to create letter bonbons that are filled with a smooth soft center of either all milk or dark chocolate. This is the perfect gift for the foodie mom and even better is that it is quite affordable. It’s a way to show your mom she can have an artisanal gift even if you are on budget.
NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN - MOTHER’S DAY BOUQUET WITH STORE BOUGHT BLOOMS CLASS
Sending or giving mom a bouquet of flowers is a time honored tradition however you may feel it is not a very original gift. But what if your mother received a spectacular bouquet of flowers and it was created by YOU? We found this class in creating Mother’s Day floral arrangement at the New York Botanical Garden however these are classes are usually available at any public botanical gardens or your local florist. What is unique for this class is that you'll learn how to compose your own unique bouquet using simple design principles and a lush variety of economical, store-bought blooms. Although the class is $155 ($139 for members of NYBG), you will learn a useful skill that will save you money in the future by creating bouquets for your mother, friends and even yourself. You can dazzle your mom and she doesn’t even have to know that you created a floral masterpiece from flowers you found at Trader Joes or your local deli. Your mom will not only appreciate this gift but be proud of your new found skills.
Let’s not be beauty gatekeepers! If your mom is like my mom, she loves keeping herself as youthful and healthy as possible. That includes a beauty routine and products that are way more effective than the beauty brands your mom grew up with (heck, what I grew with!). That brings us to cêpoLAB, a Korean beauty brand at the forefront of ethical, eco-friendly beauty. cêpoLAB is the world's only beauty brand for skin strength, featuring the patented ingredient CLEPS® as its core component. We highly recommend BIOGENIC ESSENCE 90%, as what living skin truly needs is not just simple ingredients, but the power to recover on its own. There are only five ingredients in Biogenic Essence 90% which minimizes the use of artificial colors or fragrances. Your mother will greatly appreciate a gift that helps her recover the essence of the youth of her skin.
ASSOULINE - “MOTHER AND CHILD” BY CLAIBORNE SWANSON FRANK
If your mother is an avid reader as my stepmother is, a book is always a gift that will be appreciated and loved. For Mother’s Day we recommend “Mother and Child” by Clairborne Swanson Frank, a coffee table book from the world renowned book publisher Assouline that combines the beauty of mother and child photography and thoughtful commentary on motherhood from iconic well known families. In her latest body of work the artist set out to explore what modern motherhood means in the 21st century as she delicately tasks each mother to look within themselves and express what being a mother truly means to them. “Mother and Child” embarks on this profound journey that reminds us all of the power of motherhood and the great gift of love. It is a gift that expresses to your mother how you are grateful and acknowledge the strong bond shared between the two of you. It’s one of those rare coffee table books that you actually want to pick up and read and she will cherish it.
This is an aspirational, Big Momma of our gift guide recommendations. Remember when your parents sent you to summer camp as a kid (if you were lucky enough). Now you can return the favor and send your mom to camp. Camp Château that is! Camp Château is a women only camp located in a French château where for a week you get to curate your own adventures and select activities, experiences, and connections that most interest you and bring you joy. It’s an all-inclusive sleep-away camp (you will be sharing your room just like in camp but way nicer) that provides inclusive spaces for women, where they can rest, rejuvenate, and have fun. There is an array of activities you get to chose from. Think yoga, flower arrangement, cooking classes, sightseeing, wellness, art, wine tasting, crafting and so much more. Or you can also relax and just be in an amazing setting. The camp has proved so successful the founders (all women) decided to add another château to the program. There aren’t that many spaces left for 2026 so book ASAP. If you are a daughter this can be a mother/daughter trip, or she can go with her friends or go alone and make new friends. Either way we guarantee your mother will be thrilled to go (I want to go!!). If you are loving this gift recommendation but either cannot afford it or your mother is not that mobile there is actually “Pocket Château”, which provides an online camp community for $22 a month. It can be accessed on the internet or mobile web. It includes weekly electives, live events, community chat, community posts and more. As amazing as gifts can be the memories of an experience at Camp Château will last a lifetime.
Motherhood is the hardest job on earth, don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise. So let your mother know before it’s too late how much she means to you and how much you love her with a gift that shows that you really thought of her.
