A Very Considered Christmas
With an extremely testing year nearly behind us, in which the local economy has been holding on for dear life, and what could be a possibly very difficult Christmas coming up, I wanted to delve into the local, small independent businesses that make the area (near & far) so unique to bring about some much needed Christmas cheer.
Hoping to inspire some more thoughtful choices around gifting this year, and highlighting businesses that are so much more special than your usual autopilot Amazon one click, add gift wrap option.
This list is by no means exhaustive, but just a selection of favourites from the many many wonderful businesses in the area, that I personally use, are ran by friends, and also some that were suggested to me from yourselves!
So here we go! Grab yourself a cuppa, maybe a mince pie if that’s your thing, and make a start on that Christmas list, with some wonderful local, loved & laboured over gifts & ideas.
Regeneration Yoga
A local business making beautiful, natural & sustainable yoga products, inspiring a natural connection to yoga practise. I have one of these mats myself, & it very quickly became my favourite. This weekend they are offering 25% off their online store.
Built Up North
BUN originally started out rebelling against the norm of gym fashion & creating alternative workout apparel & streetwear. Always fun, occasionally offensive, even the product descriptions are worth a read. Not for everyone on your Christmas list.
Surf Yonder
From gift vouchers for surfing lessons, to camps, to boards, hats & everything in between. As a small family business Sally is always thinking sustainable & supportive & regularly collaborates with indie screen printers to bring you effortless, cool designs for her merchandise. Perfect for any cold water woman.
All the Right Movies
All the Right Movies is an online hub for movie lovers everywhere, with almost 40 episodes available to listen to on the likes of Spotify. Diving deep into films ranging from The Dark Knight to classics such as Jaws, these guys really know their stuff. They have a Patreon membership, with exclusive content & episodes especially for members, which would be a perfect gift for any movie fan. Plus some timeless cool t shirts & merchandise on their online store.
Tint Brow Bar
Jess has single handedly altered my perception of low maintenance beauty. Being so fair she is the only person I have ever trusted to tint my brows, & I’m so glad I did. Her studio in Newcastle city centre is a beauty small haven of calm & she plays banging playlists all day. Always professional, always smiling Jess offers a bespoke brow treatment, alongside lash tinting, Ellebana, as well as gift vouchers & stocking Soap Brows. One of my favourite pick me up places!
Hello Sunshine Creative
Thoughtful, personalised, & incredibly stylish prints, gift cards, trinket dishes are Erin’s signature. You can basically send her any photo & have it recreated as a special keepsake. I adored this one she did for a girlfriend’s 30th back in July.
Naruse Design
The Naruse Design studio is ‘an energetic, experimental and bold design label that has the vision to create an ambience of nature inside the home’. With an ethos against mass consumption, these gorgeous textiles are all made with personally sourced British & Japanese materials, by founder Shiori.
Daint Jewellery
A friend of mine from Australia nominated Daint for this blog, & upon seeing Kim’s products & ethos I immediately knew it was a perfect match. Beautiful handcrafted sustainable, & dainty timeless jewellery designs, her products would make a wonderful & thoughtful gift.
Viso Facial Bar
Viso is the North East’s first dedicated facial bar offering tailored spa grade facial treatments, using only 100% vegan & organic products alongside ethically sourced & sustainable equipment. With a no fuss, less is more approach to self care this is the perfect gift for anyone who is interested in natural beauty. One place that is high on my list to visit.
Proven Goods Co
Anyone who has been to Proven, can probably just smell the doughnuts just reading this & if you haven’t been, it’s well worth a trip! As well as incredibly inventive festive flavours they also sell cool tote bags, t shirts, reusable cups, greetings cards & coffee! If I just got doughnuts for Christmas I wouldn’t be mad about it.
Nord Bottle Shop
Nord Bottle Shop boast an impressive, freshly stored array of beers selected from independent breweries around the UK. Located in Whitley Bay they also have an outside seating area so you can enjoy a freshly poured beer & relax. In terms of Christmas gifting, they offer a subscription box, packaged gift boxes, plus their tote bags & clothing is really cool.
Slush
Designed, screen printed & hand dyed in Morzine, Slush boasts unique, beautiful & vibrant clothing. Whether you bike, skate, ski, snowboard, or just like the vibe then Slush is for you. Every time I swear a Slush tee I get asked where it’s from. Plus this year they are offering a range of gift vouchers, perfect for Christmas.
Bleu Acier Print
I first encountered Erika, Master Printer & founder of Bleu Acier, through a series of movement classes I ran in collaboration with Built Up North mentioned above. The amazing thing is she was doing my flow classes all the way from Tampa, Florida. When she read I was writing this piece, she sent me her website. I just LOVE social media for reasons like this. Bleu Acier is a limited edition fine art print publisher & collaborative workshop, working with artists on limited editions & multiples that possess the strength & drive of their work in other media. They are currently offering 20% off for the holidays.
Sophie Pasola Makeup
Sophie & I met through yoga, of course, how else? She creates stunning make up looks, as well as brow lamination, lash lifting & tinting, & yep, you guessed it, gift vouchers. We’ve got A LOT of socialising to catch up on, & if you know anyone who, like me, is incompetent at applying anything more than a quick flick of mascara….you might want to grab a gift voucher & leave it to a professional like Sophie. Plus she’s great crack on Instagram so check her out.
Wildflower
Back in my studio photography days we always used to visit Hannah at Wildflower to create gorgeous arrangements for us. Her shop in Ouseburn is a botanical paradise. The wreaths are stunning & for Christmas hand selected gift boxes, wreaths, ceramics, candles & more are available. Definitely worth a visit.
The Owl & the Pussycat
Based in Whitley Bay & offering a click & collect service, this antique & vintage store is full of perfect, unusual & interesting finds for that hard to buy for person.
Kay Carter Studio
I wasn’t familiar with Kay Carter, but when I checked out her website as I received recommendations for this piece I just loved her designs. Stunning, colourful & perfect to brighten up any coffee table, or dressing table.
Dedicated to…
Another nomination all the way from Australia, but I just had to include it, as I thought it was such a wonderful & individual idea. Dedicated to creates custom poems, or greetings cards, framed & wrapped. After almost a year of isolation imagine receiving a dedicated poem!? So lovely.
Wellness Space
Based in Sunderland, & one of the wonderful studios where yours truly runs classes, Wellness Space offer a varied timetable, an online video hub, t shirts, tote bags, retreats, & events with other local businesses. A membership, retreat or a cosy hoody is the perfect present for any yogi on your list.
The Modern Yoga
Based in Newcastle (I have you all covered, don’t worry) & another wonderful studio I have the pleasure of working with, The Modern Yoga offers a varied timetable, with plenty of weekend workshops & trainings to get stuck into. A class pass or workshop would be a perfect gift for any yogi who wants to dive a little deeper into their practise.
Of course, as I mentioned above, this list is in no way complete. There are many many more amazing little businesses out there who I’m sure would appreciate a little support this year, as well as being a little more easier on our own budgets.
After all, it’s the thought that counts.
Thank you, as always, for reading, I’d love to hear if you used any of the above businesses, or even any that I haven’t heard of.
Good luck & happy shopping.
