Perth Prezzies: Our favourite local goodies we’re gifting this festive season
It’s an understatement to say we’re big on what Perth has to offer – and while we’re into our fair city year-round, in the season of giving there’s even more opportunities to support local makers.
Here are our favourite local goodies we’re gifting our nearest and dearest this Christmas:
Youthful Nostalgia, Liam Fawell
Sun-drenched scenes and adventures across the globe? Sign us up! Perth photographer and globetrotter Liam Fawell has published his first book, with 168 pages of stunning, transporting film images captured across five different continents. The perfect gift for romantics, nomads and photography nuts alike.
The Bird
Got a local music lover in your life? They’ll definitely be a fan of The Bird, a Northbridge institution that has been a pivotal venue for many of our brightest musical talents since opening in 2010. The Bird needs our help to keep flying though – and you can show your support by gifting the music lover in your life tickets to one of their epic January fundraisers, which include epic local lineups and free-flowing drinks packages.
Kura Studio
We can’t get enough of Kura Studio’s thoughtful approach to homewares. Founded by BFFs Serena and Anika, their products turn everyday moments into something truly special – from cleverly shaped utensil holders that fan out your kitchen or craft tools juuuust right, Japanese-style garlic graters that fit perfectly in the palm of your hand, or ceramic painting palettes that practically transform your clumsy weekend watercolours into blissful meditation.
Mettle
What’s better than combining gifting with doing good? Mettle’s lush, ethical gift packs (chockas with locally and Australian made products!) will not only brighten someone’s day, but have been put together through a paid program that employs and trains women referred via partnering crisis shelters, helping them transition into the workforce or to further education, and assisting them in building financial security.
Neighbourhood Press
The lovely folks at Neighbourhood Press certainly know a thing or two about stationery! This Fremantle-based risograph print studio stocks a delightful selection of vibrant paper goods – from calendars that’ll get you excited about the year to come or diaries to doodle in, charming art prints or greeting cards to let someone special know you’re thinking about them.
TYPE1.0
Offering a unisex range of sunglasses and gender-neutral bags, local accessories label TYPE1.0’s range was inspired by a love of timeless style and quality fabrication. Amongst the range of glasses, classic shapes have been given a contemporary twist with chunky frames and minimalistic designs – all fabricated with 100% acetate frames and alloy-nylon lenses. From cat eyes to chunky aviators, these sunnies will truly take you anywhere.
Spirit of Little Things x Singlefile Wines Gin
Subi distillery Spirit of Little Things has teamed up with one of Australia’s premier wineries to create a limited edition gin showcasing Singlefile’s premium grapes, balanced with native botanicals. There’s two drops to choose from, a Chardonnay Gin and a Pinot Noir Gin, each offering something different for the different palettes out there! The former is perfect for some summert-time G&Ts, with the latter offering nice opportunities for sipping, mixed with dry ginger ale or a cheeky little “Pinot Negroni”. Get more info and grab a bottle here.
WA Opera
What do you get the person who has everything? A transcendent experience at the opera, of course! Whether you’re an opera newbie or a die-hard opera fanatic, WA Opera’s 2024 season has something in store for everyone – starting with the spectacular Wundig wer Wilura, a story of star-crossed lovers created by award-winning songwriters and storytellers Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse and sung in Noongar.
Cleverly Textiles
Originating in little ol’ Perth, Cleverly’s luxurious bed linen, robes and casual wear have become an international favourite, helped by the brand’s partnership with luxe online retailers Net-a-Porter and Matches. Often photographed on celebrities and fashion’s finest, this is the ultimate in bougie relaxation.
Ghost Outdoors
Ghost Outdoors are on a mission to make gear that’s as cool as you, and rugged enough to stand up to all your adventures. Inspired by the Australian landscape, their products look as good in the outback as they do in your living room. Their wool army blankets are as luxuriously soft as they are durable, made with no-scratch Australian Merino wool in stylish geometric colourways, and the Ultimate Rucksack performs just as well commuting to work as it does hiking through the wilderness. The only exception has to be “The Dope Ass Swag”, although we support anyone who wants to camp in their living room. The swag is the ultimate gift for the camping-lover in your life – ultra-luxe, it’s constructed with WA-made foam, Australian canvas and designed, cut, and rolled in Australia. We reckon it’s the new way to glamp (although if you prefer to be off the ground, they’ve got hammocks on offer, too).
Carla Adams
Perth artist Carla Adams has something for your sweetest (and most ratbaggy!) friend. The one-stop-shop for the person who truly has it all, jump onto the artist’s online store for everything from niche reference and self-deprecating bumper stickers (“Jeremy Wade Fan Club”, “If you think my driving is bad, you should see my art!”) to fantastic decorative plates (“Born to succeed/ Forced to make art”) or even a set of pencils that declare “I got ghosted by a guy with no bed frame”. Not that we know a few perfect candidates for that one…
Coby McDougall ceramics
We’ve got a newfound obsession with local artist and ceramicist Coby McDougall (aka cobesmcgee)’s unique mugs and vases. Each piece is uniquely handcrafted with bold and irreverent designs (who doesn’t need a mug that declares “NAH” with such conviction?), or curious faces. Their online shop is currently sold out but rest assured, they have a bunch of markets coming up for the 2023 festive season!
Sue Lewis Chocolatier
If you’ve got a chocolate fiend in your life, don’t just get them any old choccies – get them the best of the best. And you can’t get much better than the luxe chocolates of Sue Lewis Chocolatier. Nestled deep within the State Buildings, Lewis has been hard at work crafting some extra special festive treats… As well as a next-level advent calendar that’ll knock your socks off.
Hall of Flame
Candles have got a bit of a reputation as the go-to gift for someone you don’t know all that well… But no more. Hall of Flame make candles you’ve never seen before: glow in the dark, one metre tall, dripping multi-coloured wax… you’ll never be able to look at a tea light again.
Shari-Vari Records
Give the gift of good listening with a selection of vinyls from the best in the biz, Shari-Vari Records. The store, nestled underneath the State Buildings, boasts a highly curated collection of new and used vinyls traversing ambient, experimental, house, techno, soul, disco, reggae, dub, African and Brazilian genres. (Find out more in our write-up on the store here.) Or, if your giftee fancies themselves a bit of a selector, grab them a gift card and they can dig through the collection for a rare find.
Mountain and Moon
We’ll always keep coming back to Mountain and Moon’s bold, gold goodness. The ultimate outfit-completers, these blingy, statement pieces have a hint of astrology, plenty of glamour and a fair dash of fun, too. Perfect for besties to beloveds!
Willow
Know a few plant-killers? (We’re guilty as charged!) Local start-up Willow is changing the indoor gardening game, and hopefully saving a few plants along the way. The nifty gadget is inserted into your beloved plant’s soil, and when paired with a handy app will tell you exactly what your plant needs – no frantic watering or hasty repotting required.
Bedtonic
Boy, do we love a sleep in. And is there anything better to enjoy a lazy Sunday morning in than Bedtonic sheets? Pure OEKO-TEX certified European flax linen, that keeps you warm in the winter and cool in the summer, in the perfect muted colours to match any decor. When you’re sleeping on sheets this luxe, it sure does get difficult to get out of bed. As well as bedding, you can treat someone special to one of their robes – which are delightful enough to wear out of the house.
Somic Skincare
Home-grown Somic skincare is handmade in small batches right here in Perth, with an extensive roster of products that will have you glowing from head to toe – plus some pet shampoo to keep your pooch pampered, too. Luxe textures and botanical, unisex scents make it a strong contender for anyone who needs a pamper, and they’ve got you covered with some gift sets that are sure to please.
Wanda Out Yonder in the South West, Aleisha Zappia
Instill a love of WA’s stunning landscape to the next generation with this sweet book written, illustrated and published by Perth local Aleisha Zappia. Wanda Out Yonder follows the tale of Wanda, the loveable Southern Hairy-Nosed Wombat, as she explores Perth and the South West – meeting plenty of friends along the way!
Mother SPF
Give the gift of being sunsafe this summer! It’s the most important step in your skincare routine – you gotta slip, slop, slap! Mother has been created by some even more passionate locals. A mineral sunscreen, Mother contains no water – which means no preservatives, emulsifiers or thickeners. Plus, it’s reef-safe, vegan, made using sustainably sourced ingredients, with only a minimal amount of exclusively post-consumer plastic packaging, which is filled using solar power.
St. James Supply Co.
Help your friends and family make the switch to plastic-free: sort them out this Christmas with a whole new set of haircare basics from St. James Supply Co. Their range of solid shampoo and conditioner bars are soap free, biodegradable and vegan, and free from sulphates, silicones, pthalates and parabens, and come in a range of delicious scents like clove and lemon myrtle, or frankincense, rose geranium and sweet orange (plus a scent-free version for sensitive scalps!). They’ve also got other bathroom necessities on offer, like toothbrushes and shavers, and handmade wooden soap dishes. If your recipient is picky about their haircare, you can also check out that oh-so-aesthetic terrazzo soap – a bar makes any bathroom super stylish.
The Bare Theory
The Bare Theory is Perth’s newest hub for everything beauty – offering a range of clean and eco-friendly beauty and skincare products from brands like Josh Rosebrook, Luk Beautifood, Inika Organic, Zuii Organic cosmetics, Sienna Byron Bay nail polish, Mokosh Skincare and many more. Across the range, ingredients are ethically sourced and packaging is all refillable or recyclable. As well as their retail range, you can get ready for all those festive season parties with a makeup application or tanning service – using the same clean and earth-loving approach.
George Vavakis Photo Prints
Local photographer George Vavakis wanders the streets of Perth searching for a mix of beautiful and unusual scenes in amongst the ordinary, and the results are extraordinary. A unique gift with a variety of different price points that will look incredible on the walls of any home, we reckon – check out more of his work on Instagram.
Turner and Turner
Turner and Turner create functional, handcrafted wares that reflect the beauty of our Southwest. Turned natural edge bowls and boards made from Western Australian timber burls are the perfect canvas for a gorgeous grazing platter, while their cake stands turn any sweet treat into a piece of art – plus their hand crafted wooden spoons, spatulas, rolling pins and cake knives are the perfect gift for the baker in your life, or get the party started with their timber bar accessories.
Innerspice
Big flavour meets countertop elegance with Innerspice’s chic masala dabba. The spice boxes are made with traditional Indian rosewood and feature nine separate, removable compartments filled with aromatic spices – plus four unique spice blend recipes to get you started on your spicy journey!
South Beach Aperitivo
We cannot (repeat: cannot!) turn down an opportunity for a spritz, let alone when it’s made with South Beach Aperitivo. Made by some local legends, they say the zero-sugar drink is bursting with coastal flavours of salt bush, strawberry gum and lemon myrtle, and to be honest – we couldn’t put it better ourselves. The spritz is also our festive drink of choice, and we know what everyone we know will be getting in their stocking this year…
Brew Crates
We’re pretty lucky with the amazing selection of breweries in WA, but there’s so little time and so much beer! Let Janice from Brew Crates box up a nifty collection of WA craft beers: Dingo Lager, Eagle Bay Beer, Nail Brewery Beers from Bassendean, Feral, Matso’s, Little Creatures – Janice knows her stuff. (And they’ve got ciders, if that’s more your vibe!) Pick from boxes teamed with snacks: Jerky Co jerky, Morish nuts or Whistlers Milk Chocolate Rocky Road from the Swan Valley. Who wouldn’t want to see that waiting for them under the tree?
Old Bridge Cellars
Old Bridge is one of our favourite bottle shops, and for good reason – their shelves are packed with plenty of long-time go-tos and surprising new favourites to wet your whistle. Show someone just how much you love them with one of their stellar Christmas hampers, stocked with amazing WA-produced booze, snacks and sweeties, or extend the festive celebrations with one of their delightful wine advent calendars!
Timely Coffee
Give the gift of good coffee this Christmas – and when it comes to good coffee, Timely knows what’s up. They also know about trying to be good in other ways, too: they’re committed to operating ethically and sustainably in all arms of their business. Treat someone special to a coffee subscription – you can choose what type of beans and how often you’d like them delivered, or even some of their eco-friendly, 100% compostable coffee pods.
DoubleDouble Coffee
Or, sort out the coffee-lover in your life with a pack of goodies from DoubleDouble. These locals not only roast up some damn fine coffee, but some damn fine goodies to go with it – including excellently stylish mugs, apparel and coffee-making apparatus. (They also just did a collab with Kiwi roasters Coffee Supreme.)
Republic of Fremantle
If our little Christmas tree is anything to go by this year it looks like gin is at the top of every naughty kids wish list, and if you’re looking to gift some of the same why not go with one of the best in the biz – Republic of Fremantle. They have a deliciously tempting range of cocktail gift sets, vouchers, cocktails a tasting options for all kinds of spirit lovers out there. Check out their extensive gift guide now.
Makers In Common
Makers In Common, as you may have guessed, is from the same gang as Bread In Common and Coogee Common, and is a collective of artisan producers strongly focused on being environmentally conscious and choosing responsibly sourced seafood and farming practices, supporting local producers and growers as much as possible. Their online store stocks a full range of Coogee Common Jars and their new Bread In Common Distillery products, along with gift hampers and loads more.
Rickles Pickles
Explore a new side of WA produce with a jar of Rickles! Utilising small local growers, this chef-lead producer is making some of the best pickles, hot sauces and mustards in the west – and what’s a better gift than levelling up everyone’s sandwich game?
Postale
Let the pros do all the hard work – haven’t you done enough work this year? The legends at Postale have curated a stunningly stylish gift box for everyone in your life, championing the best of Western Australian businesses. From foodies to skincare fiends to natty nerds, these guys have you covered with the click of a button.
Perth Festival
What do you give the person that has everything? An unforgettable experience at Australia’s longest-running international arts festival, Perth Festival’s 2024 program is looking more magnificent than ever, centred around the theme of “Ngaangk” (sun), with some truly stratospheric performances to look forward to.
Header image: Liam Fawell