A Globally Conscious Holiday Gift Guide
where to shop for unique presents from around the world
Hi friends,
I’ll just come out and say it: I suck at gift-giving. This is mostly because I’m a terrible procrastinator. When I lived in the U.S., I was that person running to the mall to find a very specific present on December 22nd, or panic-scrolling to see which retailers could still ship fast enough to make it under the tree by Christmas morning. Gifts, it seems, are not my love language.
But as we start rolling into the 2024 holiday season, I’ve had presents on the brain. Because Nick and I can’t be with family for the holidays this year, I want to send loved ones things that have an extra something to make up for our separation (and maybe for some of my past sins in the gift-giving department).
So, what to give them? I can’t think of anything that would be more unique and fun than little slices of our favorite destinations. I’m also a big believer in using your disposable income to spread wealth by purchasing from craftsman and local businesses who need the money, something I wrote about in one of my earliest Substack posts. Over the past few years, I’ve racked up a list of global retailers that fit these requirements—from Jordan, Egypt, Portugal, Norway, and more—and given this is a community of internationally minded, adventurous people, I thought it could be useful to you.
So, my friends, I give you the globally conscious holiday gift guide for 2024. I’ve organized it by category, with brief descriptions of each retailer and links to what I’d purchase embedded in the text.
Keep reading for my best sources of meaningful gifts from all over the world. And tell me in the comments: what’s your gifting strategy? Do you have a go-to source?
a couple notes & disclaimers
I’ve focused this guide on retailers that stock artisanal goods made in the country where the store is based. All offer international shipping, generally to the U.S., Canada, and Europe at minimum. I’ve visited and bought from most of them in person, but I have not tried ordering online from the majority and can’t personally vouch for their delivery services.
Note that you may be responsible for customs fees, and that shipping can get expensive. I looked into shipping costs for each retailer and eliminated places whose international delivery fees were bananas, such as Rome’s Sant’Eustachio Il Caffè, which would charge 72€ to ship a moka pot to the U.S. (but if you’re cool with that, their moka pots are extremely stylish, and I’m not judging).
With that all said, on to the guide!
clothing & accessories
Susan Fosse (Norway). Susan Fosse designs the most beautiful knits for men, women, and children. I bought this cardigan while visiting Bergen, and my mom was so envious that I had the exact same one shipped to her in California for Mother’s Day. The garments are all made in Norway, and while they are not cheap, the quality is excellent. My sweater has held up very well after two winters of regular wear so far—one that included being clawed by a puppy—and I intend to keep it for many years to come. These scarves printed with images of Norway would also make a great gift.
Kotn (Egypt). Kotn makes basic t-shirts, suiting, knitwear, and accessories for men and women, plus some nice-looking home linens. This certified B Corp is technically a North American brand, but their entire supply chain is in Egypt (with the exception of a couple facilities in Portugal), and they make an effort to work directly with local cotton farmers. For the spouse/parent/sibling who wears socks long after they get holes in them—I think we all know at least one person like this—I’d pick this wool-cashmere pair or a couple of these crew socks.
Proyecto Rufina (Mexico). When I walked into this Mexico City boutique, I felt like I had found my mothership. The racks are full of gorgeous, hefty linen clothes that are almost all in the under-$100 range. I grabbed a dress and two tops when I was there this spring, and I wear all three regularly. Note that not all of their goods are made in Mexico (interestingly, the tops I bought were made in Italy) but their shipping prices are really reasonable and they do limited runs, which they claim reduces fabric waste. These natural dye napkins would be a good for a friend who loves hosting, and this dress would be perfect for a gal who loves the cottagecore aesthetic.