This year, more than just being extra in need of giving and receiving treats (we are), or simply for putting out a de rigeur holiday shopping guide of unique gifts, it felt worthwhile to write a list in support of the places and things we believe in—little shops, makers with generations of history, and products that give back to or magnify the cultures from which they’re made. Experiences may remain the greatest gifts. But courtesy of our team at PRIOR, some of our favorite travel-inspired gifts are items we’ve come across out in the world, or brought with us on our journeys.
Southwest-Style Iglesia Incense Burner with Piñon - Incienso de Santa Fe
PRIOR founder David Prior recently brought back this special little set from his travels to Santa Fe. Piñon is a type of incense specific to made of the seeds from an evergreen tree that grows in parts of New Mexico, southern California, Arizona, and other places nearby. “Piñon smells like winter in northern New Mexico,” writes founder Kelly Burlison. “It is best described as the smell of a campfire or hearth fire [and] has a smooth Southwestern aroma and distinctive fragrance that is unlike other pines.” The incense holder is modeled after the 15th-19th century Mission-style churches built by the Spanish Conquistadors throughout South America, Mexico, and the southern US. Available Online
Panettone - Marchesi, From Roy, and Biasetto
A prized specialty made famous by the northern Italian town of Pinerolo in Italy, this squishy, fragrant, dome-shaped, and eggy sweetened bread is made with one of the most fickle doughs known to mankind—making all panettone, but especially good panettone, rare and relished. More bakers than ever are getting in on the game, pushing the bread in new directions from its classic dried-fruit-studded foundations. Some especially well packaged and delicious ones are made by Milan’s famous pastry shop Marchesi 1824, Luigi Biasetto in Padova in Veneto, and From Roy, where the chocolate flavor is especially decadent. Unlike the supermarket versions which can last years unopened, these more refined options have a shelf life of just a few short weeks.
Table for Two Tablecloth - The Yellow World with Summerill & Bishop
Chic as well as festive, these lightweight tablecloths layered with bright colors were inspired by German-American painter Josef Albers’ famous, mid century abstract artwork. Founder of The Yellow World, Evie Henderson, collaborated on the design with Notting Hill’s kitchen-focused homewares shop Summerill and Bishops. The Yellow World features limited edition pieces co-created with artisans across the world. Available Online
Olive Wood and Sterling Silver Honey Drizzler (Plus Native Honeys) - Fortnum & Mason
Handmade with traditional British silversmiths Broadway Silver, founded in 1901, this elegant little twirler is an upgrade for sweetening a toast or cup of tea, cheese board, or some roasted meats or vegetables. Gift it with a jar of native honey, like the Fortnum & Mason’s Wood Sage Honey from England’s Dungeness shoreline, Irini’s Greek Raw Honey, or Ilanga’s Mokarana Honey from Madagascar. Honey Drizzler Available Online
Beirut 1975 Candle - Ya Habibi Market
This simple, long-lasting candle (one will diffuse for up to 55 hours) emits woodsy and sweet scents of bergamot, charred chestnuts, and “patinated city walls”, with tobacco-y base notes. Made in Paris, its sales benefit the Lebanese-based NGO Beit El Baraka, a humanitarian agency which assists local families with food, medical services, and education. Available Online
Cabin Luggage - Floyd
Striving for something compact, durable, and different—Bavarian founders Bernd Georgi and Horst Kern designed these carry-on friendly bags in ode to mid-1970s Venice Beach bohemia. The colorful wheels and sleek designs are meant to throw back to the skateboards, surfboards, and streetwear, and motorbikes of the era. Each has a dust cover or laundry bag, multiple compartments, and the option to choose your own wheel color. Available Online
Trio of Nesting Florentine Paper Boxes - Atelier GK Florence
A place to store travel mementos and ephemera, stacked atop one another or divided among the house, each box is handmade in Italy with patterned geometric paper printed by the oldest typographers of Florence. The single handles are made from vegetable-tanned Tuscan calfskin, and the details are all brass. (Atelier GK is a shop PRIOR has commissioned for Clubhouse gifting.) Available Online
