Our Guide to
Online stores for creative Christmas gifts
Every year, somewhere around the first grey week of November, I make the same promise to myself: this time, no last-minute candles. No gift sets grabbed at the checkout. This time, every present will feel like it was chosen for one person only.
Why I choose unique gifts over generic ones
The truth is, the best gifts I’ve ever received weren’t expensive. They were the ones where I could feel the thought behind them. Something handmade, something a little unexpected, something that made me smile every time I used it.
So this year I went looking for small online shops that make exactly that kind of thing.
Give A Pon: handmade slippers that feel like a hug
If I could give only one gift this winter, it would be a pair of slippers from Give A Pon. This Dutch brand takes the traditional woollen Greek slipper and reimagines it in bright, original colour combinations. Each pair is handmade in a workshop in Greece, and the pompom on the toe comes from centuries-old Greek footwear.
They’re warm, beautiful and a little unusual, which is exactly what a good gift should be. The shop also makes pyjamas and blankets if you want to build a full cosy-evening bundle.
Perfect for:
the friend who’s always cold, new parents, anyone who deserves slow mornings.
Shop:
giveapon.nl
Wielonki: colourful headwear for grey days
There’s something about December light that makes me crave colour. That’s why I love Wielonki, a shop of handmade headwear made with natural materials in cheerful colours. Their ready-to-ship collection is perfect for Christmas, because you don’t have to wait for a piece to be made.
A bright hat on a dark winter morning is a small thing, but it changes the whole day.
Perfect for:
friends who walk everywhere, colour lovers, Secret Santa with a slightly bigger budget.
Shop:
wielonki.pl
Tarta Gelatina: because you can never have enough towels
I’ll say it: there can never be enough nice towels. Tarta Gelatina makes patterned and striped towels, playful bathmats, bathrobes and table textiles, all in joyful colours and fun designs. They describe themselves as modern homewares for creative people, and that’s exactly how they feel.
A beautiful towel turns an everyday routine into a small pleasure, and the recipient thinks of you every time they use it.
Perfect for:
housewarming gifts, friends who love interiors, hosts of your New Year’s party.
Shop:
tartagelatina.com
Anna + Nina: playful homeware for a festive table
Anna + Nina is an Amsterdam brand, and for me its homeware is the real treasure. Think colourful glasses and carafes, mugs with sweet details like the “I Love You” tea mug, scalloped plates, quirky vases and cosy home decor. At Christmas, its collection grows to include ornaments, festive decorations and pieces for the Christmas table.
These are the kind of gifts that make everyday moments a little more joyful, like morning coffee in a cup that makes you smile. And if you want to add a little sparkle, the brand makes jewellery too.
Perfect for:
the friend hosting Christmas dinner, coffee and tea lovers, anyone who loves a beautifully set table.
Shop:
anna-nina.nl
Choosing Keeping: the most beautiful Christmas ornaments I’ve seen
I’ll be honest: Choosing Keeping’s ornament collection is the most beautiful I’ve come across. This London stationery shop has always been known for its eye for detail, carefully choosing pieces from independent makers around the world. Its Christmas ornaments carry the same care. They feel less like decorations and more like small treasures you’ll unwrap and rediscover every December.
An ornament is one of my favourite gifts to give. It’s small, it’s personal, and it becomes part of someone’s Christmas tradition for years.
Perfect for:
friends who collect ornaments, new homeowners decorating their first tree, anyone who loves Christmas traditions.
Shop:
choosingkeeping.com
GoodMood Prints: wall art that works for everyone
If I’m truly stuck on a gift, I go to GoodMood. It’s an online marketplace of prints by independent artists from around the world. Every purchase supports the artist directly, and that’s the part I love most. New collections launch every month, so there’s always something fresh.
Prints come unframed or framed in black, white or natural oak. They’re made with eco-friendly inks and FSC-certified materials, and printed close to where they’re delivered.
Perfect for:
almost anyone, corporate gifts, friends who just moved.
Shop:
goodmoodprints.com
The gift is the feeling
In the end, what people remember isn’t the present itself. It’s the feeling of being seen. This Christmas, let’s give gifts with a story: made by real people, chosen with care, and loved for years.