Holiday Guide: Gifts for Guys!

Some men are so easy to shop for, while others are impossible.  Whether you are looking for gifts for a boyfriend who needs everything, or gifts for Dad who has everything, we have some great indie design products to help you with your holiday shopping in our latest Holiday Gift Guide: Gifts for Guys!

Recycle in Style Vaya Bags combines great design with eco-friendly materials. Their  Recycled Bike Tube Belt is made from a rubber bicycle tube, and it also  features an actual safety belt buckle.  It is a great gift item for  environmentalists, bike enthusiasts, or anyone who would appreciate a  very cool belt.  Combine it with the matching black wallet, also made from  recycled bicycle tubes, and you’ve got a truly unique and practical gift  for him.  Belt: $20, Wallet: $30
Indie Design for Music Lovers Is your guy always rocking out? If bands like Vampire Weekend or  Gorillaz dominate his play list, check out this Barbed Wire Tee by  Alison Pierz.  The grey printed barbed wire image stands out against  the black, 100% cotton shirt.  It’s edgy and comfy, and will be one of  his favorites.  He may also appreciate Claudia Pearson’s Music is my  Sanctuary print, inspired by Grammy award winning saxophonist Gary  Bartz.  Tee: $22, Poster: $24
Meditative Bamboo Forest If you need something for a mellow fellow, the Bamboo T-Shirt by AdAm  & Hiromi features a beautiful bamboo forest in the wind.  In fact,  the wind has blown the leaves all the way around the shirt, as the image  sweeps across the chest and down and around the back. He’ll feel an  instant sense of calm whenever he puts this on. Namaste. $28
Classic Leather with a Handmade Twist Your boyfriend or husband will make a great impression carrying Paul  Aude’s Handmade Leather Organizer.  You can see the handcrafted quality  in the rich leather, fine stitching, and classic clasp.  It is masculine  and practical for carrying important documents, whether he is an  aspiring writer or the CEO.  For a more personal gift, the Camel Journal is just the thing for writing anything from poetry to business ideas.   The leather will continue to develop even more character through years  of use. Organizer: $145, Journal: $85

Check out all the unique indie design products on IndieShop.com.  Be Original. Shop Indie!

Holiday Gift Guide for Pets and Pet Lovers

Our pets are members of the family.  We want them to be comfortable and happy, and even stylish.  Pets are not accessories, but our designers have created fun and practical pet accessories for your puppies and kittens, your home - and for you too.  Here is our new Holiday Gift Guide featuring wonderfully creative gifts for the pets and pet lovers on your list priced from $18 - $135!

Dogs and Boys = Wrestling So your dog loves to wrestle?  Have him test his strength with this Luchador dog toy from BowhausNYC.  This soft, squishy masked fellow is an action-packed challenge between you and your pup.  Play Lucha Libre tug-of-war until the wrestler squeaks for mercy!  Price: $18
Sipping in Style Your dog always needs access to fresh, clean water to stay hydrated.  This lovely black wristlet is actually a portable water bowl.  No need to carry around a container or search for water sources anymore.  Simply drop a bottle of fresh water in your bag, and pop this little pouch on your wrist for the perfect day out with your best friend.  Price: $24
An Octopus Ate My Dog These beds from Prima Dogs never cease to make us laugh.  Not only are they conversation pieces, but they are comfortable pet beds for your dog or cat.  They are manufactured using Japanese Nanotechnology to keep them clean and fresh.  And when you tell your friends that your dog fell asleep inside an octopus (or a shark, or another dog for that matter), you won’t be lying!  Price: $49
Who’s ready for Mojitos? The Guayabera is a popular men’s shirt style throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.  Pet Fashion Designer Ada Nieves has created the perfect version for dogs.  Built for comfort and style, the Guayabera features fine vertical pleats and detailed stitching.  You can order a dog’s size and a matching one in large for his human.  Could it get any more adorable?   Price: $50
Uptown Style and Downtown Edge No pet gift list would be complete without a fabulous leash and harness.  Ada Nieves does it again with this matching set.  The flashy animal print has its Uptown style, and the tattoo art appliqué accent gives the ensemble a distinctly Downtown edge.  Your pup will be admired wherever she goes.  Price: $50
Dog Crate No More - It’s Home Décor Dog crates provide a safe environment for your dog, but they do nothing for your home décor.  Until now.  BowhausNYC has created a cover that turns a crate into a palace.  Featuring classic fabrics like this traditional French toile, damask, or cabana stripes, these dog crate covers also come with soft cushion.  Your dog’s crate will enhance your living room, an eyesore no longer.  You can also purchase a matching dog carrier in the same fabrics with leather trim and web shoulder straps for style and comfort. Price: $70 - $90 for Stand Alone Crate Cover | $135 for Dog Carrier

These are just some of the carefully designed products for our best friends.  Have a look at the entire collection to find the perfect gift for pets and the humans who love them.  Register your IndieShop.com Wish List too – you just might get the perfect gift this season!  And don’t forget our furry friends in need.  Rescue your next pet – you’ll be glad you did.

IndieShop.com Holiday Gift Guide for the Fashionistas on Your List

We all have someone in our lives who possesses the gift of self-expression through their sense of style.  They are the true originals who keep up with the fashion trends but are more about creating their own style.  Looking fabulous appears effortless. They never wear the exact same outfit twice and are always perfectly accessorized. IndieShop.com is the perfect place to shop for unique gifts that will delight every fashionista on your list.

Blooming Scarf Wrap for Leisurely Days Designers AdAm and Hiromi have created the Blooming Scarf Wrap, stylish and versatile, perfect for those days when one wants to look great without too much effort.  You can create many different looks: a cardigan, a shawl, or a hoodie.  The fabric is Slub, a stretchy, striated fabric knitted with soft, unrefined cotton yarns.  The scarf collar is printed with an elegant, stylized blue floral design.  You can play with the many different ways to wear this single design.
Little Black Skirt With A Twist Your fashionista probably has a favorite black skirt that is the bread and butter of her wardrobe.  With a cute top and some great accessories, and she’s set for any occasion.  Well, indie designer Alison Pierz may just give that skirt some competition.  Her barbed wire print skirt is flirty and feminine, and the silver metallic barbed wire print around the bottom of the skirt adds a subtle edginess.  It’s an easy fit in S,M,L and you can adjust the length by folding the waistband.  Smart and sexy, this hot skirt is a must-have for the fashion forward set.
Tie Dye Dress for All Seasons We love that tie-dye is back.  This slate colored T-shirt dress is sleek, flattering and hand dyed by designer Jessica Hollander.  Jessica’s training with oil paints shows her eye for color and the patterns are unique and flattering, drawing your eye to the burst of color on the hip.  The sweet pocket details are a fun finishing touch.  Bring out your hippie chic with this versatile, one-of-a-kind handmade dress.  Wear it with leggings, boots, and a sweater for a fun day on the town.
What About the Fashionisto? The fashionista’s male counterpart - guys love great design and fashion too!  The Red Moth Cabana Men’s Shirt designed by Juli Raja, is a cool, retro look.  Wear it with a black jeans and a leather jacket in the city, or poolside on vacation.  The colorful hand block print patterned mulmul cotton fabric is light as a feather and created in limited editions for her menswear line.  Your fashionisto will also appreciate the shirt’s handmade wooden buttons.
Scarves –Perfect Fit, Perfect Gift Every stylin’ gal has a closet full of scarves but could always use another.  IndieShop.com has so many great scarves to choose from!  Alison Pierz’s Barbed Wire Scarf matches her fabulous barbed wire clothing collection.  And Jessica Hollander creates tie-dyed scarves if you want a bit of boho style.  Michelle Murphy creates hand painted silk scarves, which are true works of art.  Artisan Emporia’s funky, soft, and versatile Hood scarf and the Mind Maze Silk scarf by Juli Raja are both great for men and women.  The right scarf will fit everyone perfectly every time.

If you’re still hesitant to make a purchase, a gift certificate to IndieShop.com is a thoughtful solution.  And to make sure you get what you want this year, make sure to sign up for Wish List on IndieShop.com.  Happy shopping!

Holiday Gift List: Unique Products for Kids!

The holidays were meant for kids!  Here on IndieShop.com, we have wonderful, unique products especially designed for them, from toys and books to clothes and whimsical artwork to decorate their rooms.  Instead of plastic toys and mass-produced items that have been shipped across the planet, give your children gifts that are a lot of fun and made with care and quality by indie artisans who believe that good design isn’t just for adults.

Here are some great gift ideas for children, ranging from $15 - $31, ages 0 and up:

Cute Critters Art for Kids’ Quarters Artist Kenneth Kudulis of Kudu-la creates unique prints of whimsical characters that are perfect for decorating the walls of your child’s room. Kudulis draws funny imaginary beasts, some cute, some scary, and each print is applied to a block of wood, giving it a nice, unique texture.  All of Kudu-la’s creatures are “based on people and pets I see on the streets and subways of NYC.”  In his “Mason Jar Collection,” all of the beasties are captured in the jars because “they’ve been running amuck around NYC long enough.”  Your child’s imagination will run wild too as he tries to figure out the stories behind each colorful character.  Price: $15, Ages: 0 – 110.
Kids Learn about Native People Across the World Tribal Alphabet is one of those books that your kids will remember for their entire lives.  They will learn about 26 different native people around the world, including Native Americans.  This award-winning book is aimed at children 3 – 8 years old, and a percentage of the profits go to Cultural Survival, working to defend the rights of indigenous people worldwide.  Author Claudia Pearson will even send your child a personalized autographed copy. Price: $18, Ages: 3-8 years.
Hippie Chic Tie-Dyes for Retro Kids What’s more fun that picking out baby outfits? Put your groovy baby in a hippie chic tie-dyed onesie by Indie Designer Jessica Hollander.  She hand ties each tiny garment, and then dips it in a variety of colored dyes to come up with unique patterns and hues on every single piece.  The variations are beautiful and striking. Your baby will be happy in his ribbed pima cotton onesie and make people smile with his retro fashion sense.  Price: $28, Age: 1–18 months
All Snuggles, No Sneezes with Herbal Pals Your kids will snuggle happily with Herb the Penguin in the evening.  He certainly is cute and soft.  He also helps relieve allergies.  The creation of Allergeze, a team comprised of a researcher in Chinese herbal medicine and a doctor of public health, Herbal Pals are designed to ease the symptoms of children’s allergies with a pouch of natural herbs that slips inside an opening on your Pal’s back.  As your child cuddles with Herb the Penguin, the pouch releases fragrant oils with curative properties to help her breathe comfortably and sleep through the night.  Price: $30.
Design Your Own T-Shirt - Crafts For Kids Kids love to draw and see their artwork hanging ceremoniously on the refrigerator.  With the T-Me Design Your Own T-Shirt Kit from Poloppo, your children can actually wear their artwork on a t-shirt!  Spend some time drawing pictures together during the holidays and have your children pick their favorite creations.  Use the envelope provided to mail in the drawings.  Within a few days, Poloppo will return your child’s very own one-of-a-kind t-shirt.  These kits are also great ways for kids to hand make gifts for their siblings.  Price: $31.95, Sizes 4 - 12.

We have many other products created by our talented indie designers.  So have a look around the site.  You may just get ALL your holiday shopping done in one single place.

 

Holiday Gift List: Five Beautiful Necklaces

Making up a holiday gift list can be exciting and fun – for some people.  Others might prefer elective dentistry to trying to figure out what to give to whom.  The best way to thrill your friends and family this season is to get them unique, handcrafted gifts that they will absolutely love.  We are posting Holiday Gift Lists each week on our blog, featuring the best of indie design and great gift ideas for everyone on your list!

We have a wonderful and diverse array of jewelry on IndieShop.com.  This week’s Holiday Gift List features five beautiful and versatile necklaces, priced between $28 and $95.

Hammered Sterling Silver Gong Necklaces The Gong Necklace by Rebecca Shepherd has two tiny discs, one nesting on top of a slightly larger one.  You can see the raised textured dots, which arise from hammering on the inside of the disks.  It comes in several color combinations, including sterling silver, oxidized/sterling silver, and oxidized/14K gold vermeil. This dainty necklace is a perfect fashion accessory for the girls and ladies on your list.  Price:  Sterling Silver $28, Oxidized/Sterling Silver and Oxidized/Gold Vermeil $30
Eco-Friendly, Reclaimed Tin Necklaces Looking for an eco-friendly gift? Eco jewelry maker Anna Johansson of Annabuilt collects tin cans of all sizes, shapes and colors and creates one of a kind jewelry by matching up the original patterns on the cans.  Her Reclaimed Tin Offset Chain piece is colorful and asymmetrical, a lovely and light statement piece.  Price: $36
Vintage-Style Lockets Lockets are back in style.  Wink & Flip’s sweet, vintage-style lockets come in antiqued gold and silver.  Each side features a different intricate design.  Place a meaningful picture or a very special memento inside a beautiful keepsake locket for a very special person in your life this season.  Price:  $40
Two Points Gold or Silver Necklaces Lauren Haupt’s Two Points handmade necklace comes in silver and gold.  The two hand casted points are small and fine, and if you look closely, you’ll see that they are two different shapes.  Rather than making a statement on its own, this necklace will enhance the personal style of some lucky person on your list. Price in Silver: $36, Price in Gold: $45
African Queen Necklaces If you’re looking for something a bit more extravagant, feast your eyes on the African Queen Necklace. Created by Saskia de Vries, this handcrafted piece is a mixture of the rich design traditions of Asia and Africa with a distinctive American style. Large focal beads are strung with Ghanaian brass orbs, Japanese seed beads, and Asian pearls.  This striking necklace comes in six shades of green, red and blue.  Price: $95

Inspired yet?  Visit IndieShop.com to find more unique necklaces in all  shapes, colors and prices!  Come back for next week’s Indie Design  Holiday Gift List:  Great Gifts for Kids!

Looking Good and Doing Good: Fair Trade Products from Artisan Emporia

We are very excited to be partnering with Artisan Emporia not only because they bring us wonderful, unique products, but they’re also making a difference in the lives of artisans around the world.  They work to “build sustainable trading relationships based on mutual respect, cultural curiosity and shared aspirations.”  They follow the Fair Trade Federation’s standards "to ensure that the artisans we work with receive an honest and fair price for their products while sustainably preserving their cultural traditions.”  Sounds like a win-win situation to us!

Patched Hat The right hat actually can make us think better, be more creative, and definitely look good. Well, that’s been our experience. Patched Hat from Artisan Emporia is one of those hats.  It is made of soft cotton by Mayan women of the Lake Atitlan region in Guatemala.  They use flowers, bark, and leaves from in and around the mysterious lake to make the dyes for these hats. The results are 5 deep, rich colors (Ash, Graffiti, Burgundy, Moss, Flame).  The appliquéd shapes are funky and unusual, and they add insulation to make this an even warmer hat.
Infiniti Scarf This scarf really lives up to its name.  We could only come up with a million things to do with this continuous loop of incredibly soft cotton jersey, but we’re sure the uses are indeed infinite.  It’s a shawl, a hat, a hoodie, a poncho, a baby support, and on and on.  Designer, Patrizia Pizzatti, works with the Guatemalan artisans to create this comfortable, lovely and versatile fashion accessory.
Chalina Necklace Chalina actually means a scarf with a big knot tied in it.  And the Chalina Necklace from Artisan Emporia is just that, made from hand painted ceramic beads.  Look closely at the photo of this accessory - the level of detail astounding.  The women of “El Quinto Sol,” an artisan group in Guatemala, string and weave thousands of beads and semi-precious stones, much like artisans have done for hundreds of years in the region.  It’s a piece of jewelry and a work of art.
Urban Backpack Artisan Emporia also sells a wide variety of bags: yoga bags, hobo bags, shoulder bags, and backpacks.  The Urban Backpack is that perfect combination of smart design and great style.  It holds a lot more than you’d think, and the shiny black flap is actually made from a recycled motorcycle tire flap.  It is made from organically dyed cotton with the look, feel, and durability of soft canvas.  The single shoulder strap even has a pocket especially for your smart phone or MP3 player.  It’s a great travel bag, whether you’re trekking in the mountains or making your way across NYC!

You can’t get these items in any clothing boutique.  We actually met up with Artisan Emporia at the Brooklyn Flea, one of New York City’s premier flea, artisan and food markets. Their products were rich, interesting, and unlike anything else at the market.  And we loved the direct connection between our own urban markets and the artisan markets in other parts of the world.  So if you can’t get to Guatemala or Vietnam, where many of Artisan Emporia’s products are created, you might be able to get to Brooklyn.  And you can definitely get to IndieShop.com from wherever you happen to be.

Indie Winter Wonderland: Great Handmade Accessories

The winter weather is finally here, and it’s time to turn over our closet from our beloved soft tee shirt collection and sandals to our favorite sweaters and warm boots.  Looking for special gift ideas? Here are some items we would love to receive ourselves:

Moody Ruby We totally have a thing for scarves because they can dress up any outfit, any time of year.  The reversible Moody Ruby Silk and Cotton Scarf designed by Juli Raja is perfect for the winter.  The black side with a dramatic hint of intense red is just the thing when you’re getting ready for a night on the town.  The reverse side is finely patterned with creams, grays and reds, a great look with a suit. This scarf is handmade by artisans in India from silk and cotton threads, making it light, warm and super soft.  No itchy scarves for us!
Snowflakes for All Occasions Handmade jewelry runs the spectrum of fun and funky to fine and pretty.  These Recycled Vintage Snowflake Earrings pretty much cover all of those bases, plus they are made from recycled materials.  Designer Saskia de Vries uses recycled vintage copper pieces and hypoallergenic niobium ear wires in this pair of earrings.  And they dangle from dainty chain links, so when you wear them, they move like falling snowflakes.  No matter what the weather forecast says, you will want to wear these earrings day and night.
Melt Your Cold Heart If someone or something other than winter tried to turn your heart cold, don’t keep it all inside.  Instead, sport this edgy yet dainty Cold Black Hearts Necklace made by Lauren Haupt and show the world you are completely over it.  Oxidized silver hearts stand out against the delicate sterling chain to create a dramatic effect.  Wear this necklace with a v-neck top or over a sexy sweater dress. And who knows what the season will bring to the door of your cabin in the wood, or your apartment in the city for that matter.
Crystal Calm Persuasion If you love the winter as much as some of us do, you’ll be happy to go outside with the ice and snow.  Although if you’d rather be sunning yourself on a Caribbean Island than skiing down a mountain at Breckenridge, we do understand that too.  Either way, the energizing beauty of the Crystal Calm Bracelet by Cynthia Rybakoff will give you just the lift you need this season.  This bracelet is made of chunky natural crystals strung on knotted grey silk with a sterling silver toggle clasp.  Every crystal is slightly different from the next, and so each bracelet is distinctly unique.  Just like snowflakes. Changes in seasons and wardrobes can be a challenge each year, but with the right accessories you can add a bit of that holiday spirit to every outfit, even on the coldest winter day.