Gold Coast Christmas gifts: the 10 best locally made presents for feel-good gifting
Give a little more this Christmas by supporting small business. We’ve found 10 locally-made present ideas for feel-good gifting.
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Give a little more this Christmas by supporting small business. Amber Macpherson has found 10 locally-made present ideas for feel-good gifting.
Posh PJs
GOLD COAST FOOTWEAR COMPANY SAVING UNSUNG HEROES
No need to iron your best outfit for Christmas Day — when you un-box a pair of Homebodii’s pyjamas, the temptation to lounge in comfort is too much.
The Arundel-based label began in 2012 with a range of luxury bridal sleepwear but has expanded into comfy PJs made just for you.
“We do a lot of personalisation, people can come in and pick out a style of pyjamas and have them personalised to their taste,” Homebodii founder Ingrid Bonnor says.
“We offer embroidery so you can have your name or an emoji, we have sustainable fabrics and matching sets for mums and daughters.
“And we giftbox it, so presentation is really important to us.”
Ingrid says the button up black with white piping set is a bestseller, closely followed by a style in a quirky print.
“One that’s been really popular this month is the pug pyjamas,” Ingrid says.
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FULL LIST OF CHRISTMAS CAROLS ON THE GOLD COAST
“My daughter has a pug called Ruby so it started as a labour of love for her, but they got picked up by Nordstrom in America and they’re going crazy over there.”
Not to mention back home, too — the company sold more than 10,000 pairs of pyjamas this year and had to double the space of its head office.
Most pieces are made from natural materials and start at $59.95 for a set.
“We have various fabrics — we have the cotton voile, madal, antibacterial, classic satin, and viscose, and different price points to suit.”
Homebodii opened its first brick and mortar shopfront at Pacific Fair last month, decked out with bespoke gifts and complimentary in-house monogramming.
“It’s going really well,” Ingrid says. “People love the experience — there’s scented candles and jewellery, it’s all about the sensory experience.
“Customers can pick the font, pick the thread (for their embroidery), you’re really involved. We love that.”
Sunglasses
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If you haven’t noticed, it’s really bright outside — so choose a present that’s as practical as it is fashionable. Raie Eyewear is a Gold Coast-based sunglasses company inspired by the aesthetics of yesteryear, and its unique style has already earned it some prominent fans. “Worn by some of Australia’s leading influencers including Isabelle Mathers and Saskia Jenkins, Raie Eyewear is a fashion-forward brand inviting a modern twist on trending ’90s style sunglasses,” Raie Eyewear founder Gemma Lyndon says. “With the dangers of the Gold Coast sun always kept in the back of my mind, Raie Eyewear is made with 100 per cent UV protection, protecting your eyes from UVA and UVB radiation.” The sunglasses are $119 each and come in two styles — Bambi or Evie — in black, white or speckle.
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Lip service
THE GOLD COAST’S BEST BEAUTY SALONS AS VOTED BY YOU
Locally made, cruelty-free and eco-friendly? Makeup for Christmas never sounded so good. Gold Coast beauty brand Neek has a range of ethical products for priming and pampering, but founder Angelique Ahearn says a new bundle option is a great gift idea for Christmas. “Neek’s soul shopper set includes a new vegan shine lip gloss called adore, your choice of a vegan lipstick — choose from pash, mystify or sunset shades — and a Neek cotton shopping bag in dusty pink,” she says. No need to worry about wasteful wrapping paper either. “It comes ready for gifting, wrapped in reusable herb bags,” Angelique says.
Beach towel
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The original merchants of round towels, Tweed Heads company The Beach People has gone back to its roots with an all-round people-pleasing gift idea. Coming in a fashionable circular shape (because rectangles are so last century), the Deia towel is 150cm in diameter made with super soft cotton. The blue fish scale print on top is made for lounging while the absorbent flip side will soak up your wet bod. It doubles as a picnic rug and can fit two people comfortably, so call up your buddy for a leisure session in the park or by the water. Pair it with The Beach People’s popular picnic basket, featuring insulated lining and enough room for a champagne bottle, and you’ve got yourself a Christmas picnic.
Adopt a koala
GOLD COAST TO BE HOME TO NEW KOALA PRIORITY AREAS
Pro-tip: this is a present for adults that can grasp the concept of symbolic adoption, not children with a Blinky Bill obsession (trust me, you don’t want to explain to a five-year-old that there’s no koala under the Christmas tree). Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary offers sponsorship of native Australian animals, starting at $59 for a year of wombat and echidna conservation, going up to $99 to support koala rehabilitation. When an animal is “adopted”, the recipient receives a small animal plush toy, a printed symbolic certificate, printed fact sheet and quarterly updates about their chosen animal. It’s a wonderful gesture for the animal-lover in your life and an ethical, selfless present that will keep giving for months to come.
Festive frock
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Women everywhere agree there’s nothing more exciting than unwrapping an elegant new item of clothing on Christmas Day. Coolangatta fashion label Nine Lives Bazaar has a stylish red dress that will have you feeling festive every time you slip it on. Nine Lives co-owner Vanessa Cave says the Songbird dress is flattering and fabulous.
“This dress is equal parts glamorous and truly wearable with its wrap style and sweet cascading angel sleeves,” she says. “What I really love is that it’s a dress for everyone. It’s designed to suit a range of body shapes, with multiple buttons on the inside waistband to fit an array of waist sizes. This really is the ultimate frock for the festive season.”
Sweet merch
GOLD COAST BEER COMPANY SELLS TO MASSIVE BREW PLAYERS
How do you know someone’s a fan of Burleigh Brewing? They’ll tell you. And what do you buy the ultimate Burleigh Brewing fan? A T-shirt. The craft beer company has just released a range of merchandise for Burleigh beer lovers, meaning brew buffs can finally wear their pint pride on their sleeve. There’s two types of shirts for women, starting at $35 for a stencil print Burleigh crop tee in white, and three different coloured shirts for men for $40. There’s also hats, coasters and a tote bag, as well as a longboard collaboration with skate brand Kippy. Couple some merch with a six pack of Burleigh Brewing beer and you’ll be the toast of the table.
Swimwear
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Whether it’s the ocean or your relative’s pool, an Australian Christmas isn’t complete without a dip. Gift some gorgeous swimwear this Christmas and it’ll definitely get good wear. Gold Coast label Eau Paix Vie’s bikinis are bright and colourful, just like an Aussie summer. “Our vibrant designs emulate the happiness that comes from enjoyable days under the sun,” Eau Paix Vie co-founder Carly Wilkins says. The sets are made from durable European fabrics so they will last for years to come. “We only use highest quality extra long life Italian fabrics so you can be sure your colours will last the longest,” Carly says.
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Rum
WEATHER FORECAST FOR CHRISTMAS DAY ON THE GOLD COAST
Everyone knows Ink Gin but its cousin Husk Rum deserves some time in the sun, too. The Tumbulgum family-run distillery in northern New South Wales grows and harvests sugarcane to produce a Caribbean-style agricole rum, with a taste that’s very different to traditional molasses rum. “It’s a very complex spirit, one that was very under-appreciated. You drink it neat or on the rocks, or in a punch, with a tiny bit of sugar and lime,” Husk marketing manager Harriet Messenger says. “The (Northern Rivers) region is reflected in the spirit.” So if you’re at Dan Murphy’s and thinking of gifting a spirit this Christmas, choose the locally-made Husk Distillers Pure Cane and support the producers in your own backyard.
Chocolate
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You can’t go wrong with chocolate but sometimes your giftee is worth more than a box of Favourites. Parkwood chocolatier Little Cocoa has the answer with a selection of incredibly more-ish pralines hand made with love. The 12-piece gift box is made especially for Christmas with festive flavours including rum and raisin, cinnamon and gingernut, blackcurrant gelée and many more. It’s probably best to order a second box for yourself, though — owner Alicia Chapman says just the smell of a fresh batch of treats is too hard to resist. The chocolates can be ordered online and delivered, or pick up can be arranged by calling 0451 977 172.
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