Give our beloved Bay Area the greatest gift of all this season: Shop local!
We've rounded up a pile of perfect presents at every budget from local artists, makers, small businesses, and brands. There's something for everyone: foodies, design junkies, culture vultures, style mavens, wellness warriors, littles, and wanderlusters. Plus, a few of our favorite NorCal nonprofits that deserve your seasonal donations.
Happy holidays!
Delicious Gifts for Food Lovers
(Courtesy of Diaspora Co.)
Usher in a Masala Renaissance ($95): From Oakland-based Sana Javeri Kadri's Diaspora Co., this six-pack of South Asian spice blends is guaranteed to knock their aprons off. No dish will ever be bland again with the flavors of chai, haldi doodh, garam, and more all sourced from small, regenerative family farms. // Shop online at diasporaco.com.
Gifts for the Cozy Home
(Courtesy of Latch Key)
Oakland-based Whitney Sharpe’s sculptural pieces in elegant geometric shapes are the right blend of fine art and whimsy. The Allelos candelabra ($180, top right) has perfectly rounded curves and a beautiful speckle finish. // Shop online at thelatchkey.com.
Fabulous Finds for Style + Beauty Mavens
(Courtesy of Jaxon Lane)
Get your guys on the road to healthy skin with Jaxon's Lane's travel skincare set ($50). It includes a pair of gel eye masks, moisturizer, sunscreen, and face wash all in a waterproof pouch. ICYMI: dermatologist darling Jaxon Lane is a SF men's grooming brand that uses advanced Korean technology and natural ingredients in its products. // Shop online atjaxonlane.com.
Creative Gifts for Arts + Culture Vultures
(Courtesy of OMCA)
Tell them you care while also supporting the work of Oakland Museum of California when you send this artist-designed You Are Grand notecard ($5) on eco-friendly stock. // Shop online at shop.museumca.org.
Thoughtful Gifts for Wellness Warriors
(Courtesy of No. 8)
The newest must-have item for all wellness junkies: nootropics, aka supplements that may have a positive impact on the brain, helping to enhance certain cognitive functions. The Bay Area founders behind No. 8 put all those good-for-you benefits into deliciousgummies geared toward focus (matcha and mint), energy (ginger and yuzu), sleep (elderberry and peach), and calm (lychee and pear). Give the best of all worlds with No. 8's Harmony Set of four ($198). // Shop online at8.health.
Practical Presents for Wanderlusters
(Courtesy of Casetify)
Before any traveler hits the road, they’ll want to make sure their devices are protected and prepped for potentially bumpy terrain. Casetify's Y2K collection of phone cases ($72-$98) are as extreme as they sound—bounce-proof, MagSafe, and designed to take serious impact. Plus, they come in an array of funky artist-designed prints like magic mushrooms, leopard, and groovy '60s themes. Look for the brand's first U.S. brick and mortar store to open in Santa Clara soon. // Shop online at casetify.com.
Give Back to Bay Area Nonprofits
(Courtesy of La Cocina Municipal Marketplace)
Gift equitable eats.La Cocina Municipal Marketplace is so much more than just a food hall: It’s a nonprofit that supports women, non-binary, and trans immigrants, and people of color to build food-focused businesses while providing food service jobs for residents in the Tenderloin. Support their unique model of sustainable, equitable entrepreneurship with a gift box featuring noms from those whose ideas were catalyzed in La Cocina’s kitchens. There are five options to choose from, from the $35 Petite to the $150 Outrageously Luxurious, each of which contains treats like NeoCocoa’s truffles, Sabores Del Sur’s alfajores, and Teranga’s superfood baobab bars. // 101 Hyde St. (Tenderloin); shop online at la-cocina-sf-store.myshopify.com.
Cool Presents for Kids
(Courtesy of @majo_ideas)
Launched by two design-loving mamas, Ligaya Tichy (founder of Wild Child) and art kit creator Alex Aranda, Majo Ideas' new collection of activity books featuring a range of artists ($21/one-time purchase, monthly subscriptions available) takes aim at helping kids develop skills and vocabulary in a whole new way. Volume 1 centers around color and includes sticker sheets, mini mailable postcards, and holographic vinyl. // Shop online at majoideas.com.