Christmas shopping needn’t be an overwhelming chore. This is a shared belief of Nic Hennessy and Sue Walsh of Newbridge gifting emporium NearlySisters Curated, who are experts when it comes to helping customers find the perfect gift. They’ll even wrap it up instore to be taken home or shipped directly to the recipient. Think of it as another form of self-gifting, taking the stress out of gift-buying so you can enjoy the festive period, hassle-free!
“Shopping for a gift for someone special should be a pleasurable experience,” says Nic. “We want our customers to feel a warm welcome when they come into the store, not feel stressed or overwhelmed, but to be able to truly focus on the people they’re buying for.”
“We offer guidance when we know a customer would like our assistance,” adds Sue. “And once that happens, we take that bespoke service to the next level and can curate the perfect gift for their loved one, even personalising it, gift-wrapping it and sending it directly from the shop to their door if the customer wishes. It’s our way of making gift-buying an enjoyable experience.”
As the annual Christmas gift hunt gets underway, Nic and Sue have put together the ultimate gift guide edit, featuring six beautifully presented Irish-made gifts they’re certain recipients will treasure well into the new year…
Clare O’Connor Scarves, €149-€249
Clare’s beautiful scarves and accessories are Irish designed and made in Como, Italy in small print runs, and her 100% organic bamboo collection is made in Ireland. They are all limited editions of her paintings, season-less and collectible, in line with slow, sustainable fashion. Clare’s collections are available in silk, cashmere, wool, modal, linen and bamboo, which are all natural fabrics. Each piece has a beautiful finish with stunning colours and comes in bespoke packaging. Clare is also a reiki master and attuned to energy; her intention is to channel positive and uplifting energy through her paintings, which she uses as a basis for the design of her wearable art. Plus, a scarf is worn around the neck, which is your throat chakra, where you speak your truth.
A Luxurious Wardrobe Staple From The Linen Shirt Company, €150-€200
Irish linen as a fabric is world renowned and part of our heritage. Anneliese Duffy, designer and founder of the Linen Shirt Company, has been captivated by its beauty for many years, endeavouring to create collections that can bring your wardrobe from winter to summer with ease. Reimagining this beautiful natural fibre in a contemporary and stylish way, the Linen Shirt Company shows how linen can be trans-seasonal as well as extremely functional for all types of wardrobe collections. Pictured: The Mia shirt, €160.
The Peelo Cloud Clutch, €170
Creative director Julie Peelo launched her Dublin-based design studio in 2020. Julie spent 20 years working in the fashion industry, previously for Diane Von Furstenberg, Juicy Couture, Marni Milan, and John Galliano Paris, and has combined her experience and passion for fashion to create her contemporary bag and accessory line, Peelo. The Peelo Cloud clutch is fun and practical with its handheld studded wristlet. Its soft style lends itself to being comfortable to wear and yet still has plenty of room inside to carry everything you need on an evening out. The clutch has been designed to be worn both casually with jeans for a weekend brunch or dressed up for a night on the town. It has a simple Peelo logo embossed on the exterior and gold foil Peelo embossed on the interior.
A Meaningful Trinket From Little Light Jewellery, €59
In 2020, Céilí Flood lost her best friend – her sister’s husband, Keith Sheridan, who left a huge gap in their lives. While she was grieving during the pandemic, her sister was sent personalised pieces of jewellery from family and friends who wanted her to know they were thinking of her. Seeing how much these gifts meant to her sister at such a difficult time, Ceílí was inspired to create her own jewellery range of beautiful pieces that hold special meaning and memory for the recipient. Each piece from her Little Light Jewellery collection comes with a unique poem written by Céilí and her sister. Pictured: Nurture necklace, €59.
Hawthorn Handmade Skincare Calm Body Care Gift Set, €55
Founded by Elaine Kennedy, who hails from Claremorris in Co Mayo, Hawthorn Handmade Skincare is made on Elaine’s family farm in the heart of the west of Ireland. These 100% natural products not only nourish the skin, but also the senses. Create an oasis of tranquillity with the newly launched Calm range. The perfect trio of calming essential oils, lavender, geranium and clary sage will soothe body and mind, while skin-nourishing ingredients like shea butter and hemp seed oil will restore your outer glow. Treat yourself or a loved one to this 100% natural body care gift set containing a 120ml Calm Body Scrub, 120ml Calm Body Balm, and three bath bombs. We also stock discovery gift sets for €25 that allow you to sample this beautiful range – perfect for a stocking filler or teacher’s gift.
NearlySisters Traditional Wool Socks, €20
Made with grá in Ireland, these traditional wool socks will keep feet toasty and warm on those cold, dark days and evenings. Designed for comfort, these stylish, unisex, no-itch socks are a super-cosy staple they’ll turn to all winter long.