As everyone’s favorite Hallmark holiday rolls around we have been inspired by updating our neighborhood stores and finding conscious gifts that we think will score a home run for Valentines Day. We picked all sorts of categories and price ranges from very affordable to quite aspirational. We have gifts for him, her, they, us, everyone! They are artisanal, from small or heritage brands, sustainable, eco-friendly, unique, thoughtful and made for the conscious customer. Just click on the captions for a link to their online shop and more information.
We also will have a Galentines Day blog coming up with an idea we hope will catch on like wildfire. Stay tuned!
Below are our twelve picks (we had ten originally but just had to add two more gift suggestions).
THE TRIBES OF MOROCCO - MEDIUM ESSENCE OF ATLAS SERVING TAGINE
The Tribes of Morocco - Medium Essence of Atlas Serving Tagine, $65
The Tribes of Morocco, a small store in the East Village that specializes in Moroccan products made by artisans have this beautiful tagine for serving Moroccan food. It comes in a blue and white Moroccan motif inspired by the Atlas Mountains that can equally serve as home decor. It’s the perfect gift for someone who loves to cook. Perhaps a tasty Moroccan meal can be included in the Valentine’s day gift?
MELA - MAKE A BAG
Mela - One of Mela’s bag style Luna in Zest color, $350
Mela is an up and coming award winning vegan handbag brand that not only shuns animal skin but also avoids using petroleum products which can be just as harmful to the environment in creating vegan products. Mela has created a material made from apple skins, an apple leather called Melatex®. We recommend not only the stylish handbags from Mela as a Valentines Day gift but offering their “Make a Mela Bag” an exclusive opportunity to design the Mela bag of your dreams at their Soho store. During your personalized consultation, you’ll explore their range of styles, select your details, and watch your vision come to life through their made-to-order process. In two weeks, your custom creation will be ready to take home! Carefully crafted and sustainably made. If there is no access to the New York store you can always order one of their styles online. To make an appointment click here.
THE CANVAS - AZURE BEADED EARRINGS
The Canvas - Azure Beaded Earrings - $185
The Canvas is a multibrand fashion and design retailer bringing a selection of brands to New York City. The brands are emerging or established, each characterized by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We wanted to recommend a gift from The Canvas and these stunning beaded earrings are a statement piece of jewelry anyone would love for Valentines Day. Handmade by a women’s collective in Mexico, these earrings are a Gold/Silver plated earrings, composed of an assembly of colored beads woven by hand. Approx. 5.25”L x 1”W - 13.5cm x 3cm. Best is that it is a very affordable piece of jewelry.
WICKED AND POUR - CANDLE MAKING CLASSES
Wick and Pour - Candle Making Classes - From $50
A great idea for Valentines Day is to have an experience together creating a beautiful souvenir of the day and that is Wick and Pour, a candle making shop in New York City. Here you and yours can create your signature scent, use vibrant colors, and textures to craft candles that are uniquely yours. The candles are a combination of soy wax and their enticing scents are curated in-house with essential oils and phthalate-free fragrances. It’s a fun and easy experience, affordable and quite romantic.
COMMODITY - THE MINI WARDROBE SET
Commodity - The Mini Wardrobe Set - $75
Commodity is a fragrance brand created by artisans using the best ingredients to create the most innovative scents. This is a sustainable, ethical fragrance brand that believes in transparency of what is in their scents using only clean ingredients which is a growing list of ingredients flagged by global regulatory bodies for potential health or environmental harm. Commodity partners exclusively with perfume houses that prioritize both environmental and social responsibility when sourcing raw materials from around the world and their packaging is more sustainable, as Commodity is working toward fully recyclable, reduced-impact packaging. We love their gifts sets especially “The Mini Wardrobe Set” which contains each fragrance in its best-selling Scent Space version (the container has three different settings a closely-projecting Personal, a noticeably unique Expressive, and a room-filling Bold version.) so that you can rotate your scent. Perfumes are such popular Valentines Day gifts and with this gift set that is unisex and convenient you can’t go wrong.
ONCEPT - TORONTO MEN’S RETRO SNEAKER
Oncept - Toronto Men’s Retro Sneaker in Flame - $300
What’s a quick way to a man’s heart? A smart set of stylish trainers that are also sustainable. In comes Oncept, a brand that strives to have a low carbon footprint. Oncept has a process called “re-speckled” this is a process that uses leftover rubber from other manufacturing and combines this excess material with new rubber to produce new outsoles. Re-speckled is a certified process that uses 55% discarded material which saves hundreds of tons of waste in landfills. They utilize sustainable bio based memory foam made from castor oil (plant based) and recycled rubber. They source their leather ethically and use recycled nylon (made from plastic water bottle) and other recycled materials. That said the brand does not skim on style. Toronto mixes retro style, comfortability and eco-friendly design (seen here in Flame, offered in five color ways). It’s definitely a win/win gift for everyone.
THE MEADOW - CLOUDFATHER VALENTINA DARK CHOCOLATE WITH MAPLE
The Meadow - Cloudforest - Valentina Dark Chocolate with Maple - $12
The Meadow is a much loved neighborhood shop selling pantry goods such as salts, bitters, chocolates and more (plus fresh cut flowers). Since chocolates are an iconic Valentines Day gift for your loved one we have chosen for our chocolate gift a chocolate from the chocolate brand cloudforest, a small Portland, Oregon based chocolatier that uses organic ingredients with unique flavors. Valentina is the flavor we chose that is 75% dark chocolate with a combination of Canadian maple and Ecuadorian cacao (weight: 1.2345 oz). It’s a delicious and affordable gift.
THEO HABERDASHERY - ROLEX MARCONI SPECIAL WATCH FROM THE 1940’S
Theo’s Haberdashery - Rolex Marconi Special Watch from the 1940”s - $1,250
One of the most sustainable and conscious gifts you can give your loved one are vintage pieces. Whether it’s fashion, accessories, art, home decor, objects or jewelry, to find a special piece that has been created by an artisan and was once treasured. Theo’s Haberdashery is a men’s boutique curated to showcase vintage Americana, fine watches and jewelry, and includes their very own cigar line inspired by their namesake Theodore Roosevelt. An exceptional gift for a man is a piece of jewelry and a vintage Rolex is the ultimate gift for your loved one. We love this one-of-a-kind piece for the boutique, a Rolex Marconi Special Watch from the 1940’s. It’s 28mm with a Ghost sector dial, Mechanical wind. In working condition. The watch comes with a one year mechanical warranty. It’s on the high end of spending for a gift but we feel it will be cherished and destined to become a family heirloom.
SPIRITED AWAY - RITUAL ZERO PROOF - TEQUILA ALTERNATIVE
Spirited Away - Ritual Zero Proof - Alternative Tequila - $35
Sharing a Valentines Day cocktail is a romantic way to start an evening or Valentines Day meal. However many people these days are forgoing alcohol yet miss the taste and the social bonding of having a cocktail to toast their love. That is why we highly recommend from our favorite alcohol-free wine and spirits store, Spirited Away this zero proof tequila alternative, Ritual Zero. “Crafted for margaritas, Ritual Tequila Alternative brings the heat to your favorite cocktails. Greeting you with a rich golden hue, a traditional blue agave aroma opens up on the pour. Ripe tropical guava is underscored by the mellow spice of black peppercorn as the flavor grows, going deeper with charred oak and mesquite smoke. Bright Mexican lime gives way to a clean, spicy finish, with a kiss of cracked sea salt for good measure.” Ritual’s tequila alternative has a high taste score of 94 points from the industry-standard Beverage Testing Institute. It’s all the taste and ceremony of tequila without the hangover and poor decision making tequila can incur (speaking from experience).
TORU + NAOKO - CARMIN BODYSUIT
Toru + Naoko - Carmin Bodysuit - $164
It wouldn’t be a Valentines Day gift guide without recommending lingerie. We have chosen a gorgeous piece from the sustainable lingerie brand Toru + Naoko. Toru + Naoko is “dedicated to crafting beautiful lingerie with a conscience. Their 100% female artisan team ensures ethical production, while they source sustainable materials and operate in small batches to eliminate waste. Eco-friendly packaging and carbon offsetting initiatives further our commitment to a greener future.” The Carmin Bodysuit features a high waist bottom thong, attached in the front center with a bralette, with adjustable back and shoulder straps. Also includes a pair of detachable straps that can be attached to the front center. It’s beautiful, sexy, stylish and just keeps on giving and giving. She’ll love this lingerie and will want to wear it daily, you know for the sustainability. ;)
IRVING GREEN - FOXFORD MAEVE CASHMERE & wool THROW
If your perfect idea of celebrating Valentines Day is staying in with your bo having a Netflix and chill kinda evening then may we recommend this exquisite cashmere and wool throw. Just imaging cuddling under this ultra soft cashmere and wool throw from Irving Green, a boutique that curates home decor and gifts from around the world. This cashmere and wool throw, the Maeve, comes from Foxford Mill, a mill that sits on the banks of the River Moy in County Mayo, Ireland. They have been manufacturing the finest wool throws and blankets for over 130 years. The Maeve is woven in a classic herringbone design, and crafted from a soft blend of lambswool and cashmere with a traditional roll fringe. Material: 95% Lambswool 5% Cashmere. Size : 140 x 180cm. Perfect for a cozy night in celebrating Valentines Day.
SANTA MARIA NOVELLA - EMULSIONE ANALCOLICA NON-ALCOHOLIC AFTER SHAVE EMULSION
Santa Maria Novella - Emulsione Analcolica Non-Alcoholic After Shave Emulsion - $65
A gift he is bound to love and appreciate is from the Florence heritage brand Santa Maria Novella, the Emulsione Analcolica Non-Alcoholic After Shave Emulsion. It’s not only women that should have a skin routine, help guide him to the amazing products from Santa Maria Novella, the after shave emulsion has no alcohol and is an “innovative and gentle formula with citrus notes, designed for those seeking an effective post-shave treatment that is also kind to the skin. This milky fluid emulsion boasts astringent, emollient, and refreshing properties, offering an immediate sensation of freshness after both electric and razor.” This emulsion will get the skin hydrated, healthy and smelling light and clean. A skin care routine is a sign of self care and self love and isn’t that what Valentines Day is all about, Hallmark holiday and all?
Well that is our selection for conscious gift giving on Valentines Day. We hope the selection helps you out or at the very least gives you a guideline to find conscious gifts that are local from a small, artisanal business. If you are going to celebrate Valentine's Day remember it really is the thought that counts. Happy Valentines Day!
Welcome to The Local Artisan Guide’s annual holiday shopping recommendations!
We are publishing four blogs for the holiday season this year divided in the following categories; For Him, For Her, For All, and For Kids/Pets. This week our gift recommendations are FOR MEN and we have five selections that we think the men in your life will find unique, special and for you, affordable. They are all from small, independent brands and the links are in the captions as they are all available online, some are available at brick and mortar stores.
INPHORM NYC - MEN’S SPIN PERFORMANCE JACKET IN INK
We are so excited that the sustainable luxury atleisure brand INPHORM NYC has added men’s and children wear to their label. INPHORM NYC has been providing luxury tennis, golf and activewear for women for years so for men and children to now have access to the stylish, well made and sustainable brand. Those who know about the brand know they will show up with a unique piece and not a uniform. We recommend this elegant men’s spin performance jacket which your man will want to wear for many occasions. Their copy reads “Gear up for your next match or elevate your everyday look with the Spin Performance Jacket. This relaxed-fit jacket boasts a UPF 50+ rating, providing exceptional protection against harmful ultraviolet rays, whether you're crushing aces on the court or lounging around in style.-Relaxed fit for optimal comfort-UPF 50+ rating for sun protection-Four-way stretch for unrestricted movement-Soft, luxurious performance fabric-Machine washable and easy care-Sustainable blend of recycled materials - 67% recycled rayon, 28% nylon, and 5% spandex. -This blend offers the perfect combination of softness, breathability, and long-lasting durability.”
We have recommended bags for men in the past but this year we are recommending a USA based company that specializes on bags made especially for motorcycles! Viking Bags are created to not only look stylish but to be as well designed and practical for your motorcycle journeys. We recommend the Trident Large Motorcycle Backpack as it’s not only a great traveling companion for your motorcycle but is also backpack you can use as luggage sans a motorcycle. Viking Bag states, “The Trident large motorcycle backpack is constructed out of cordura. The backpack has a total storage capacity of 1952 cubic inches with adjustable sternum clip and waist straps. Useful means of storage for both short and long commutes, it is ergonomically designed with hook and loop ties to make it more comfortable when carrying. When off the bike, you can carry this Trident backpack by slipping on the padded shoulder straps. If you need to secure the backpack to the motorcycle, you can simply put away the straps in the back. Features a top zippered pocket with its interior lined with fleece, perfect for storing more fragile items such as sunglasses. On either side of the bag, there are zippered pockets perfect for transporting smaller belongings and mesh pockets where you can insert water bottles up to 17 Oz. The Trident backpack for motorcycles includes a separate zippered compartment for shoes separate from your clothes and other essentials. And the three additional pockets in the front is best for organizing smaller items like snacks, phone, keys, wallet and electronics chords.” This is guarantee to be an exciting gift for the biker in your life.
Established in 1790, Dr. Harris & Co. has been a family run business that developed natural toiletries that eventually were served the gentry and royalty. Today they offer fine selection of soaps, shaving creams and soaps, aftershaves and colognes, skincare products and much more, continue to appeal to all those who appreciate quality and distinction the world over. We love this Winter Skin Set with Almond Oil Bath Soap, this white, triple-milled soap is recommended for the most delicate of skin and has a rose, geranium, cinnamon and clove fragrance. Almond Oil, it is 100% pure with nothing added to it, making it hypoallergenic and ideal for improving the health of the hair and skin. And Almond Oil Skinfood, for normal to exceptionally dry and chapped skin. Your man will be very grateful for this trio for his winter skin dilemmas.
WOLF & BADGER - BUGATTI VINTAGE RACING CAR CUFFLINKS
Wolf & Badger, one of our favorite shopping destinations that specialize in independent brands is featuring this wonderful holiday gift, a set of Bugatti Vintage Racing Car Cufflinks Eighteen Carat Gold On Silver Cufflinks from the jeweler, Simon Kemp who describes them as, “These fabulous cufflinks are faithful reproductions of the famous Bugatti Racing Car. Cast in sterling silver , Simon silver solders a high grade pair of cufflink swivels to the backs. After an intensive polishing process he then adds a rich layer of 18 ct Gold to the wheels and the driver. This creates a stunning contrast with the rest of the design; the light is drawn to the silver with the gold highlights completing the effect. As you will see the cufflinks sit beautifully racing across the cuffs! An excellent gift for all motoring enthusiasts. Our silver is made from recycled materials.” He will treasure these cufflinks that will one day turn into a family heirloom.
An affordable but memorable gift is a fragrance that he will love. The iconic Fragrance Shop in the East Village neighborhood of NYC has a wide selection of fragrances for both men and women (plus you can make a custom fragrance for you or yours). We love their special edition blend, “Chaka”. It’s a tabacco, bourbon, lime and musk mix. This fragrance is inspired by the courtly and multi-dimensional gentleman, who is laid back and humble but direct and to the point. He can be found surfing at the local beach or leading business meetings in a suit and tie. If that sums up your man, this is his essence in a bottle.
We hope this list provides gift suggestions that will bring happiness to the men of your life.. They all come from unique small brands, they are affordable and we hope they inspire you to shop local this holiday season.
This year for The Local Artisan Guide’s Father’s Day gift recommendations we asked some fathers what they would like to get as gifts then we researched and matched artisanal brands that fit our ethos (and dads would love). What made it easier for us this year is that we were heavily inspired by our annual trip upstate New York to Kingston, where we visited the “Field & Supply” Spring Market. Field & Supply is a heavily curated modern makers market that spotlights local brands in categories of apparel, accessories, home decor, beauty & wellness, jewelry and more. As we explored the beautiful tented grounds located right on the picturesque Hudson River, we were greatly inspired by the local brands and the stories of their makers. The different cuisines of the food stalls made for a great day escape from the city. We gladly picked some of their makers for our Father’s Day gift guide from their new online shop to make it easy for you to shop artisanal gifts for dad. We encourage you greatly to check out the Field & Supply site and possibly visit their outdoor markets, which will certainly inspire you to shop local and artisanal, especially for dear old dad (or any dad figure in your life).
A view of Field & Supply in upstate NY in Kingston along the beautiful Hudson River.
THE BIG GREEN EGG 10” MINI CHARCOAL KAMADO GRILL & SMOKER IN GREEN
For generations fathers have loved grilling on the iconic Big Green Egg. A grill was a popular Father’s Day choice from those dads we asked what they would like, so we chose the Big Green Egg is now available in a mini 10 inch form that makes it easy to take it on picnics, your apartment balcony, vacations, boating, camping and more! What makes the Big Green Egg in mini form so special is featured in it’s copy:
“The Big Green Egg is the highest quality, most versatile and simplest-to-use outdoor cooker available, offering more cooking options than all other conventional cookers combined. Grill, roast, smoke, sear and bake the EGG does all this and more!
Quick and easy to start - reaches cooking temperature and is ready to use in minutes
Precisely control the temperature by easily adjusting the patented air flow systems. The calibrated temperature gauge provides precise readings from 150 to 750F.
An EGG retains heat and moisture so well that foods don’t dry out. Your food is naturally tastier because the EGG is a completely natural way to cook, and youll appreciate the difference at your first bite.
The Big Green Egg is fueled by 100% natural hardwood for superb performance and flavor. Your food will have a natural and wholesome quality without any chemical aftertaste.
Best-In-Class limited lifetime warranty your investment is protected by a successful company with a worldwide reputation for unmatched customer service.
What was another popular request from dads? Meat! So we recommend “Happy Boards”, a charcuterie shop located in the Lower East Side, NY that offers an array of charcuterie boards. You can go to their website and order the charcuterie board of your choice. We like “The Classic Charcuterie” that includes: Truffle Pecorino, Gouda, Triple Cream Brie, genoa salami, spicy coppa, fig jam, herb-infused honey, mixed nuts, caperberries, seasonal dried and fresh fruits, and seasonal vegetables. Includes a box of assorted crackers (optional). Designed to serve 2-3 people. If you are not in New York City, many places offer a variation of what Happy Boards offers as we advise it is always best to shop local.
FIELD + SUPPLY, HAND-PAINTED KRAFT SPIRAL NOTEBOOK
Field + Supply offers the carefully crafted objects from WMS & CO., a brand that offers everyday objects elevated by design and influenced by history. We think dad would like this Kraft notebook to be used as a journal or someplace to keep his notes and thoughts. “The artist’s way is to have a little notebook always at hand, ready to accept ideas big and small. Each of these Kraft cardstock-covered notebooks is a unique work of sweetly naïve modern art, hand-painted, and hand-bound on a vintage press in a small Iowa studio. Spiral bound with burnished copper wire. 50 pages of thick bright white uncoated paper stock. 7.5 x 9.75". Ruled.”
FIELD + SUPPLY, ROAD TO NOWHERE, MEN’S SANTOS JACKET
Field + Supply offers the apparel collection of “Road to Nowhere”, a sustainable clothing brand for men and women located in Montauk, NY where the clothes are effortlessly stylish, comfortable, and ethically produced. We think the “Santos Jacket” will bring dad’s style level up ten fold. Made in Los Angeles, the Santos Jacket was designed from a favorite vintage painter's coat. Made from the signature Bemberg™ fabric, this jacket is as comfortable as it is versatile. Wear it open as a jacket or button it up as a stand alone shirt.
FIELD + SUPPLY, WICKERS CREEK, SACRED EMBER SCENTED CANDLE
For a gift that is easy for dad to transport we recommend Field + Supply, Wickers Creek Sacred Ember Scented Candle. Wickers Creek is a Hudson, NY based candle company with a reverence for heritage craftsmanship. Their candles are all anchored by the slow burn of master crafters working in small batches. The 14 oz. hand-poured candle in reusable metal showpiece is the first of a wide array of Wickers Creek products launching soon. For dad we know he will love the Ember Scented Candle which using a sensual mix of sweet orris and smoky copal, it celebrates the ritual of gathering around the fire. “Nature’s silence paired with the crackle of aged wood, the unmistakable scent of dry heat, and the wild spirit of the flame.”
One of our gift recommendations on the high end is this spectacular leather travel bag from Moses Nadel, a bespoke boutique atelier on Long Island, NY. They offer a well-curated collection of handmade luxury lifestyle products; leather artifacts, fine interior items, bags and accessories. Your father will love and treasure this leather duffle bag that will only become more beautiful as it ages and becomes a family heirloom. It is available in a multitude of colors (saddle color pictured) and as stated in the website the Range Travel Bag is, “A premium two-way large zipper, an interior zip pocket, two easily accessible drop-pockets, and two exterior side drop-pockets offer easy access, and a reinforced bottom panel with metal footing offers structure. Built to wear over the shoulder or with a fully adjustable and removable cross-body strap. Material Leather. Unlined with leather bottom and sides for support. Dimensions L 20.5" x W 9" x H 14". Handles 9" drop (L 21"), shoulder strap 38"-57" (removable).”
FIELD + SUPPLY, FLORA BEAUTY, COGNAC + TOBACCO GROOMING OIL
On the more affordable side of the spectrum of gift giving for dad is skincare for keeping dad’s skin looking soft, supple and youthful. In the last few years men have been catching up with women in wellness and the benefits of taking care of your skin. Gone are the days when a man would just slap some drying cologne on their skin and call it a day. Flora, a beauty and wellness brand based in Kingston, NY Flora honors this tradition with its line of natural, artisanal beauty treatments for hair, face, and body, crafted utilizing the highest-quality ingredients, selected without limitations of cost. Their Grooming Oil is, “A blend of organic Argan Oil and Borage Oil. Use to hydrate and soften facial hair and moisturize skin. Reduce inflammation in the hair follicles that can occur from the abrasiveness of shaving. Moisturizes hair and replenishes a dry scalp. The scent is sweet tobacco and cognac reminiscent of your grandfather’s humidor.”
FIELD + SUPPLY, MOSES NADEL, WEIGHTED PERISPHERE BALL
If your father is into sports we found the perfect artisanal gift, this Weighted Perisphere Ball from Moses Nadel. We love this gift as it can be either used as a medicine ball or home decor because it is such a beautiful work of art. “Inspired by traditional medicine balls, these unique objects have weight to them. They are as much a decorative work of art as an actual plaything to complete your training routine.
Each ball is a hand cut each 5-sided panel from select hides of American Buffalo and recycled weighted fill
Each piece is finished with traditional hand-lacing
Weights slightly vary
Materials: American Buffalo Leather. Recycled weighted fill.”
Another affordable Father’s Day gift we found on the Field + Supply online store is this nice piece of masculine jewelry from KC-KO, s small local brand that offers small-batch leather goods, hand-made in NYC. The Single Wrap Bracelet (burgundy waxed) comes in three sizes and they even offer the option of having it monogrammed for an additional $8. We love this for dad!
And we end our last Father's Day gift with the ultimate artisan gift for dad we highly recommend this piece of campaign furniture from furniture designer Richard Wrightman. This Folding Officer’s Chairs made to order and offers a variety of material options. Richard Wrightman designs have all been inspired by campaign furniture (furniture the military in the past used while on a military campaign) and besides the well constructed folding chair, this piece comes with it’s own carefully crafted wooden box. You (or dad) can customize the design by choosing the wood, leather and fabric for this particular design. The dimensions are 20” W x 28” D x 27.5” H Seat Height: 8” Price is upon request once you chose the materials for this one of kind, once in a lifetime gift for dad that he will not only treasure but gladly use.
That is The Local Artisan Guide’s recommendation for Father’s Day 2024. We hope you explore Field + Supply as they are a great source for locally curated artisan products for all. I thank the dads that gave me their suggestions on what they would like to receive for Father’s Day. I wish all the men who are fathers and father figures a happy Father’s Day, providing for and creating a safe and loving family is the really the gift that keeps on giving.
