The Best Local Gifts to Give This Holiday Season

Looking to make your holiday shopping practices a little more intentional? Supporting homegrown brands partially feels like a moral obligation, but when they’re this innovative and sought-after, the decision is easy.

Here, we name 11 Canadian gifts on our own wishlists, from a cashmere-blend coat and botanical bar soap to a juicy, year-round rosé and leisure sport essential.

Rudsak Kourt W Women’s Wool & Cashmere Coat

A really great coat has the power to change one’s entire outlook on winter — we really believe that. This wool-cashmere silhouette from classic Canadian outerwear brand Rudsak comes fitted in all the right places and cut from a sophisticated espresso hue that’ll make her feel fab even if the weather isn’t exactly cooperating.

Sangre de Fruta Botanical Bar Soap

A brand beloved by the high Goop goddess herself, Bowen Island’s own Sangre de Fruta holds beauty and eco-conscious practices in equal regard. This bar soap is almost too pretty to unwrap (just peep the botanically dyed paper!), but once your loved one does, they’ll be met by a fine perfume-like lineup of all-natural notes including rose absolute, ylang ylang and sandalwood.

Porter Digital Gift Card

Holiday gift-giving is easy with Porter digital gift cards. Purchase a gift card online and deliver it directly to your gift recipient’s inbox, or schedule it to arrive at a later date—we hear December 25 is a popular choice. Porter Gift Cards can be used for any flight to any Porter destination and in any denomination from $25 up to $500. It’s the perfect gift for any budget.

CELI Ridged Dome Ring 10K White Gold

A new-on-the-block brand to the Canadian jewelry scene, CELI makes some of the most versatile forever-pieces we’ve encountered in a while. Take this 10k gold ring for instance: it’s simple, it’s statement-making and it’s guaranteed to get wear for every kind of occasion.

Kotn Men’s Memphis Denim Shirt

A cool mix of classic and contemporary design codes, this inky-blue denim shirt has future favourite written all over it. Contrast top-stitching and nods to the very-of-the-moment chore coat means it’ll be on regular rotation as soon as he opens it.

Paume Overnight Hand & Foot Hydration Mask

Remember gifting your mom those weird drugstore foot masks and thinking they were *exactly* what she wanted? This deeply hydrating potion from Toronto beauty brand Paume is so much better. It’s fortified with shea butter, glycerin, panthenol and squalene, which take care of even the most battered winter toes.

Roots Nordic Striped Balaclava

Among a sea of black and grey winter coats, there’s that one maximalist friend who sees the cold season as their coming out. Gift them this Roots’ striped balaclava that comes in a series of can’t-miss hues primed for standing out.

Biko Luna Collar

Biko designer Corrine Anestopoulos knows highly covetable jewelry, and this collar, polished to high-shine perfection and a stunning accompaniment to a white tee, is no exception. Scoop it for the one-and-done adorner or the stack-’em-high types alike.

Keenan & Zoë Juno Block Pinot Gris/Pinot Noir

Let them savour summer a little longer with this juicy, highly gluggable rosé. Made by an on-the-rise winemaking couple dedicated to zero-zero natural yields in Summerland, B.C., it boasts balmy notes of cherry and pomegranate that any imbiber will love.

Chocolat de Kat Sourdough Toast Chocolate Bar

The holidays are for little treats, and Chocolat de Kat’s artisanally made bars totally deliver. Beyond the chic packaging, this Toronto-based brand completely transcends the typical convenience store flavours, opting for more nuanced profiles like this one, a milk chocolate base with honey buttered sourdough toast folded in.

Kid Sister Stainless Steel Gua Sha

For the person who has an entire Saved section of their Instagram dedicated to beauty hacks, this is the low-tech tool to slip into their stocking. Crafted from medical-grade stainless steel, this gua sha goes best with Kid Sister’s antioxidant-rich Super Ego oil for a completely sculpted mug.

Left on Friday Weekender Playsuit 27”

Athletic types — or let’s be real, even just athleisure fans — will pretty much live in Left On Friday’s elevated playsuit. Cut from the west coast brand’s compressive-but-comfortable fabric, it’s an easy reformer-class-to-kombucha-date transition with chic sneakers and a sweater tied around your shoulders.

Fairgrounds Playmaker Paddle 2.0 — Creamsicle & Dusk

If it feels like everyone is playing pickleball these days, it’s because everyone is playing pickleball these days. Up their game with this lightweight, vibration-absorbing paddle from Fairgrounds, a Toronto-based public racquet club with plans to open in Ottawa, Hamilton, Vancouver and Calgary soon. This essential gear and a covered court fee is a gift-and-experience in one.