Under-the-radar gifts for everyone
What makes a great gift? Thoughtfulness is a quality that is both ubiquitous and much coveted in a time when our digital footprints are getting wider every day. We share enough of ourselves to reveal our habits, wants, and tastes. If you are the type of person who remembers the specific colorway your friend wanted their Uniqlo sling bag when you went out window shopping six months ago, props to you. You’re a good, thoughtful friend.
But this guide is not for you.
Drew Barrymore said it right: The best gifts are the things you want for yourself. Whether it’s the best version of an essential or something that made your life marginally better, let this be the guide for your taste to carry forward because at the end of the day, you can defend what you like to anyone who says otherwise.
The life-giver: A shoe horn
A shoe horn is not the first, second, or third thing you would write down in a wish list. Some people have lived their entire lives without it. But trust me, your black derbies, Adidas Sambas, and Salomon XT-6s will thank you. Shoe horns are designed for you not to crush your shoe’s heel counter, which will then extend its shelf life. It’s an investment.
If you want a little more cred, get the Mabuhay Maynila x Atmos Philippines shoe horn while it’s available.
The elegant choice: A good coffee table book
Print matters as design objects, am I right? This is for someone who wants a little accent in their low table they thrifted in the Japanese surplus.
You can always get a book published by Rizzoli or Phaidon at Fully Booked, but why not go a step further? Check out Spruce Gallery for some hard-to-get international titles, or Art Books for some locally-published deep dives.
The pocket partner: Lip balm
We do not need to discuss whether our lips should be healthy in 2025. But sometimes, we forget.
Burt’s Bees Lip Balm is a reliable option to bring on the daily, but if you are looking for something more hardworking, getting Aesop’s Cedar & Citrus Lip Salve. Just make sure you have one for yourself, too.
The essential: A plain white tee
Hear me out: Everyone needs a plain white tee. I know, I know… a white tee as a gift? But have you ever tried popping a little white tee collar underneath your sweater? Magical.
Uniqlo still holds the undisputed position as a haven for basics, and its cotton crew-neck T-shirt is never bad. Try the Supima cotton for a better, more premium feel. Otherwise, get a three-pack from Hanes; it gets the job done.
The jovial option: A gift kit that makes sense
Gift kits are a literal and metaphorical mixed bag; you’re hoping they like one or two of the things inside to make up for the things they don’t.
While many brands offer gift bundles, I recommend shopping gift kits from Ritual, a home goods and apothecary shop that sources its products fro m around the Philippines. Their gift kits are practical, tasteful, and also open to introducing new things your friends might enjoy, especially if they cook.
