Our ‘Shop Independent Holiday Gift Guide’ for 2023 is here!
It’s officially November and here at The Emperor’s Old Clothes we are beginning to think about what we are going to gift to our friends + family this holiday season. As a team, we are passionate about supporting small and independent businesses and believe that this is the way forward in supporting fellow artisans and creatives.
Things are pretty gloomy right now in the world, with the cost of living crisis hitting small businesses very hard here in the UK so we’re hoping this gift guide can bring some extra joy as it is even more colourful than ever.
During these difficult times it is so vital that we continue to support businesses that pay a living wage and support their team all-year round. Whether that’s focusing on their personal development, encouraging creativity and expanding on their current skill-set – these are the individuals and businesses we believe need our support.
Not only will you be supporting local talent, you will also be buying from people who care about the environment. Gifting from the high-street often means you will be purchasing mass-produced, low quality items that are damaging to our planet and have been created using exploitative working conditions.
We’ve had so much fun collaborating with independent brands who share the same ethos as us – as ever we hope our ‘Shop Independent Holiday Gift Guide’ for 2023 inspires you to be more mindful of where you spend your money this holiday season.
We’ve curated amazing products that range from clothing, homeware, ceramics and more. We hope you love these products as much as we do!
Orange Bowl A3 Risograph Print by Printer Johnson | £25
YUK FUN Print Club Riso Art Print by YUKFUN | £15
Drunken Blooms A2 fine art print by Lucy Sherston | £65
YUK FUN Cat Riders Riso Art Print by YUKFUN | £15
Chilli Peppers A4 Risograph Print by Printer Johnson | £16
Flower 1 – Seeds of Ideas to Come A2 by Lucy Sherston | £65
Walnut Mug by The Kindred Workshop | £35
@thekindredworkshop
Mutsa is a potter and clay jewellery maker based in Sheffield specialising in slow made clay goods, handcrafted in small batches. She spends many hours out in nature foraging for wild clay for her functional art pieces, mugs and earrings!
Prices from: £12.50 – £35.
Shop all ceramic art here.
Follow them online
Stepped Chevron Mitts (yellow/pink) by KMOODS | £30
@kmoods
Kathleen is a knitwear designer and maker based in Scotland who creates the most colorful, fun and cosy knitwear. She also offers custom colourways for those who are looking for a darker or more subdued gloves, beanies, socks etc.
Prices from: £10 – £45.
Shop K.Moods here.
Stepped Chevron Mitts (red/blue) by KMOODS | £30
Autumn Rib Beanie (Blue + Lime) by KMOODS | £32
Cat with a pink flower, ceramic dish by Anna Soba | £25
@annasobaillu
Brighton based artist Anna Soba is an illustrator who is obsessed with cats, plants, tigers and nudes. She dabbles in different mediums including clay, lino printing, monotype printing, murals, window displays, hand painted clothing and more.
Prices from: £0.70 – £160.
Shop all Anna’s art here.
Illustrated ceramic vase by Anna Soba
Tasty tomatoes, medium trinket dish by Anna Soba | £18
Illustrated Ceramic Vase with handles by Anna Soba | £56
Red Pencil Party Print Bucket Hat by YUK FUN | £40
@yukfunwow
YUK FUN is an independent label making illustrated stuff for awesome people who love colour, animals and fun! Founded by Lucy Cheung and Patrick Gildersleeves in 2014. They work from their home studio in Portslade-by-Sea screen printing, making clothes and drawing.
Prices from: £6 – £260.
Shop YUKFUN here.
Christmas Cards 2023 by YUK FUN | £13 for 5
@lucysherston
Brighton based illustrator Lucy’s work lies at the intersection between abstract and figurative. Using hand drawn and painted textures alongside collaged graphic shapes she aims to create playful moments evoking a mood or a feeling.
Prices from £3.80 – £85.
Shop Lucy’s art here.
Drunken Blooms A2 fine art print by Lucy Sherston | £65
Iso Trap Beaded Purse (Colbalt Blue) by norimori | £54
@_norimori20
Crystal discovered her love for making beaded accessories and bags in May 2020 and has been creating with beads ever since! Getting lost in creating for hours is laborious but also extremely satisfying. Seeing individual beads transform into a unified shape made of thousands of beads personifies beauty in its intricate simplicity.
Prices from: £10 – £72.
Shop Nori Mori here.
Iso Trap Beaded Purse (Colbalt Blue) by norimori | £54
Beaded Card Holder/Beaded Wallet (Pastel + Colbalt Blue) by norimori | £26
Large Wavy Candelabra (Mint Green) by florencemytum | £110
@florencemytum
Florence Mytum, based in East London, creates work that celebrates colour, texture and form. Each piece is individually handmade from stoneware clay in their studio, and decorated with bold colours and tactile surfaces using bright, handcrafted glazes.
Prices from £28 – £35.
Shop her ceramics here.
Wiggle Mug (Chartreuse + Pink) by florencemytum | £35 each or 4 for £125
Slime Green Tape Measure Scarf by Knit and Destroy | £58
@knit_and_destroy
Kandy is a designer and artist working primarily with knitted textiles. Kandy’s work often involves a play on scale, with inspiration taken from everyday items, storytelling, novelty and knitting related objects and ephemera.
Prices from £8 – £58.
Shop their knitted textiles here.
Slime Green Tape Measure Scarf by Knit and Destroy | £58
Who you calling a drip?! Paint Scarf (Pastels) by Knit and Destroy | £48
Design your own pyjamas + bed jackets by The Emperor’s Old Clothes | from £69
Green + white gingham pyjama set in UK 30-32 by The Emperor’s Old Clothes | £159 – not yet listed on website, get in touch to purchase
Hot pink cheesecloth trapeze bed jacket in UK 14-16 by The Emperor’s Old Clothes | £129 – not yet listed on website, get in touch to purchase
THE EMPEROR’S OLD CLOTHES
And of course there’s us! As many of you will know we create one of a kind clothing + accessories from vintage + dead-stock fabrics with a design your own service and ready to wear collections for a UK living wage in Brighton + Hove, UK. Our order deadline for design your own clothing for pre-Christmas delivery is 19th November 2023 (however you can still order design your own garments after this date by adding ‘jump the queue’ at checkout). You can also design your own accessories, purchase our ready to wear pieces + treat your loved ones to gift vouchers here.
Sizes UK 4-6 – 30-32. Shop The Emperor’s Old Clothes garments + our all new accessories here.
Prices from £12 – £200+
Pebble Cork Bowl by mindthecork | £45
Decorative Cowboy Boot by eghstudio | £8
Beaded Card Holder/Beaded Wallet (Pastel) by norimori | £26
Cyclamen Mini Card by Printer Johnson | £1.85
@mindthecork
Jenny encourages you to bring nature into the home with her sustainable and contemporary cork vessels and accessories. From vases to bowls, planters and cardholders you’ll find something beautiful for your home.
Prices from £18 – £49.
Shop mind the cork here.
Pebble Cork Bowl by mindthecork | £45
Pebble Mini Cork Bowl by mindthecork | £25
Ceramic Figure by eghstudio
@egh.studio
Emma is the creator and artist behind egh studio. She began as an illustrator and her love of animals has lead her to creating quirky animal figures to fill your home and bring as much joy as they bring her! The ceramic figures are made in batches that are released and announced via instagram.
Prices from: £8 – £40.
Shop Emma’s ceramic art and animals here.
Ring Bear Ceramic Figure by eghstudio
Decorative Cowboy Boot by eghstudio | £8
African Black Soap by Loverems | £4.50
Patchouli & Pepper Body Butter by Loverems | £12
@loverems
Created seven years ago, LoveRems was founded as a result of the founders experience with eczema. LoveRems is a natural skincare brand based in the UK, which produces natural and chemical free skincare for all skin types. All their products are made using pure ingredients provided for us by mother nature.
Prices from: £3 – £25.
Shop individual creams or gift boxes here.
African Black Soap by Loverems | £4.50
Patchouli & Pepper Body Butter by Loverems | £12
Ylang-Ylang & Lime Body Scrub by Loverems | £7.50
@flolondontheshop
Founded by Maawura Totoe, a British-born Ghanaian, FLO London consists of a selection of homeware items and accessories made from African print fabrics – including tote bags, placemats and scrunchies. All products are manufactured in Ghana and have been produced ethically, sustainably and fairly.
Prices from £16 – £160.
Shop FLO london here.
Cudjoe Notebook by FLO London | £24
Diaka Notebook by FLO London | £24
Orange Bowl A3 Risograph Print by Printer Johnson | £25
Chilli Peppers A4 Risograph Print by Printer Johnson | £16
@printerjohnson
Printer Johnson is a paper goods publisher, making colourful prints & stationery working from No.19 Shop and Studio in Norwich. Vicki Johnson and her team Meredith Adams, Mell Shinnie, Linda Willis, Mitch Forsyth, Beverly Gene Coraldean keep the shop and studios running smoothly! They work with local and national illustrators on their paper goods collections and stock a wide range of other indie-publishers, makers and more in our brick-&-mortar shop.
Prices from: £1.85 – £95.
Shop joyful prints and cards here.
Chilli Peppers A4 Risograph Print by Printer Johnson | £16
Smiley Heart Signet Ring (Silver) by Sken Studios | £135
Indifferent Daisy Signet Ring (Silver) by Sken Studios | £125
@skenstudios
Sabira is the founder of Sken Studios; a sustainable jewellery brand making playful, humorous pieces from their Manchester studio. Their joyful designs are all lovingly handmade in recycled silver by Sabira and carefully packaged using recycled materials – because they’re not only here for a good time, but a long time too.
Prices from £4 – £150.
Shop their Signet rings, kits and more here.
Signet Ring Kit by Sken Studio | £110
Boo Thang Candle by Tribal Unicorn Candle Bar | £33
Paradise Candle by Tribal Unicorn Candle Bar | £33
@tribalunicornuk
Tribal Unicorn Candle Bar is an ethically conscious lifestyle brand based in London that started back in 2018. Angelica creates colourful, hand-poured, hand-decorated candles are made with environmentally friendly materials for the ‘Candle Freaks’ who love dopamine decor!
Prices from £1 – £63.50.
Shop candles, gift boxes, wax melts and more here.
Cashmere Candle by Tribal Unicorn Candle Bar | £33
Bougie Candle by Tribal Unicorn Candle Bar | £33
Red gathered pinafore dress in UK 26-28 by The Emperor’s Old Clothes | £129 – not yet listed on website, get in touch to purchase
Walnut Mug by The Kindred Workshop | £35
Cashmere Candle by Tribal Unicorn Candle Bar | £33
Slime Green Tape Measure Scarf by Knit and Destroy | £58
Chilli Peppers A4 Risograph Print by Printer Johnson | £16
LoveRems Mystery Gift Box (Large) by Love Rems | £25
Autumn Rib Beanie (Lime) by KMOODS | £32
Tasty tomatoes, medium trinket dish by Anna Soba | £18
Stepped Chevron Mitts (red/blue) by KMOODS | £30
Boo Thang Candle by Tribal Unicorn Candle Bar | £33
Christmas Cards 2023 by YUK FUN | £13 for 5
Wiggle Mug (Chartreuse) by florencemytum | £35 each or 4 for £125
Red Pencil Party Print Bucket Hat by YUK FUN | £40
Pebble Cork Bowl by mindthecork | £45
Pebble Mini Cork Bowl by mindthecork | £25
Illustrated Ceramic Vase with handles by Anna Soba | £56
Anatsui Notebook by FLO London | £24
We hope you’ve enjoyed this year’s guide and have discovered lots of new brands to buy from this holiday season!
CREDITS
Gift Guide modelled, photographed, created + curated by Jodie Dafe (she/her) + Maxxie Travis (they/them) + Cecily Blondel (she/her) at The Emperor’s Old Clothes
