Inspiring ideas - it's the fabulous Deco Christmas gift guide (part one)
It's that time of year again.. but fret not as we have been engaged in detailed product research so you can give gifts that won't be forgotten about within a day. Whether your loved ones and friends are practical, creative, or simply in need of some good stuff for their homes, we can help
With so many creative small UK companies selling interesting, useful, eco friendly products online, it's never been easier to give gifts that will be greatly appreciated and not left mouldering in a cupboard!
*Click on product images to see them in larger format
Click here to see Part Two of the Fabulous Deco Christmas Gift Guide
Want to encourage a youngster to get used to mending things? or help them ensure their bicycle doesn't fall prey to thieves with boltcutters? or indulge your partner with a sumptous organic cotton bathrobe? Well read on because we have excellent ideas for all ages.
Metallic Paper Bags from Velvet & Dash (from £12)
Above, from top left: metallic-look Uashmama washable paper bags for holding plants and nic-nacs from Velvet & Dash; Nudo Adopt - let your loved one adopt an olive tree in Italy and receive first cold press oil from it during the year; Litelok - a super present for cyclists as it's a new lightweight lock that's damn difficult to get through even with boltcutters. And it's made in Wales. Below, clockwise from left: Encourage a love of mending things with this Rebel Tech kit from Sugru, the mouldable glue people; We love the evocative Midnattsol design by Scandinavian homewares brand Isak; Atlas & I have personalised map covered diaries; Glasgow's fou furnishings' sumptuous bath robes are made from organic cotton.
Litelok bicycle locks (£85)
A perfect gift for a cyclist..given that some half a million bicycles are stolen in the UK each year and hardly any are found. Industrial designer and keen cyclist Prof Neil Barron has invented a composite material containing metal which he uses for his brilliant Litelok bike locks. Crucially they weigh just 2.4lbs and withstand over five minutes' heavy duty assault from boltcutters/hacksaws and other such tools of the thieving trade. They come in three colours, and have a lock that snaps shut so you need the key only to open it. Liteloks are manufactured in Wales and can be recycled. They cost £85 or £160 for two. Cyclists...these are what you've waiting for. litelok.com
Sugru Rebel Tech Kit (£10)
A useful gift or stocking filler for the tech junkie in your life from Sugru, the mouldable silicone-based glue people whose mission is for us to mend more so less goes to landfill. Their new Rebel Tech Kit offers 14 brilliant ways to fix, hack and improve gadgets so we get the most out of our technology. Genuine lifehack heaven, it's packed with small DIY projects to help with everything from improving the sound on our speakers and fixing fraying cables to securing your tablet computer anywhere. Adds a new dimension to smart technology. Sugru
Midnattsol tableware by Isak. From £6.67
It's always nice to receive lovely china, whether it's a pair of mugs, plates or a milk jug. Scandinavian brand Isak has recently lauched its Midnattssol collection, featuring an evocative design inspired by the midnight sun in greys/black/white. Choose ceramic tableware, as well as enamel pieces including a coffee pot and cooking pots. Products (manufactured in Sweden and the UK) are intended for outdoor as well as indoor eating. The tall slender handleless carafes are particuarly lovely. Isak
Atlas & I personalised leather vintage map diaries. From £55
We may use our phones for a lot of things but millions of us still want an actual diary to carry around with us. If you know a diary aficionado, indulge them with a personalised leather map diary, hand-cut and stitched by London-based Atlas & I - of course they keep the leather cover and put in the replacement diary pages each year. Soft Italian leather is digitally-printed with the area of a vintage OS map of your choice - you might want the village where your loved one lives or the place they were born. We like this, a present that has years to run! Atlas & I
Organic cotton bathrobe by fou furnishings. £59
When it comes to towelling bathrobes of sumptuous softness, no one does it better than Glasgow's fou furnishings, which uses top quality organic cotton. Perfect for relaxing in after a bath or keeping warm on a chilly morning, fou's robes are generously sized for maximum cosiness. fou furnishings
We didn't want you to have to scroll down for ever, so see part two of our 2016 gift guide
