There’s no place like the Bay Area in terms of creativity with tons of awesome local artists and brands. Shop local this Holiday Season for some unique and fun gift ideas! Here are some local brands and artists that we have rounded up for you.

For the “Always Hungry”

Christopher Elbow sells beautiful handmade chocolates with innovative flavors right out of San Francisco. Christopher Elbow has been in the cooking industry since 1992. When he started focusing and chocolate and perfecting his flavors, demand was high so he opened his shop soon after. They sell chocolate assortments, gourmet chocolate bars, chocolate confections, and drinking chocolate. They have a couple of Holiday Collections that would make the perfect gift or stocking stuffer! Christopher’s confections have been featured on Oprah, Food Network and Food & Wine. His personalized approach along with a sincere passion for perfection has led to his latest holiday collection – the perfect gift for the sophisticated sweet tooth.

 

Pacific Cookie Company is our go to place when we are feeling like a good cookie! They’ve been making cookies for over 25 years and have perfected the balance between chewiness and deliciousness. They sell affordable gourmet cookies made with quality ingredients and have quiet the local following already for their great customer service and clean working practices. For the holidays, they have Holiday cookie sets, trays, gift boxes, and their awesome “Tower of Yum” cookie gift towers. Their cookies make for perfect gifts, food gatherings, or to leave out for Santa!

 

Nomiku is the “secret weapon of top chefs and home cooks everywhere”. Not only is this Sous Vide easy to use, they also provide a meal delivery option that is perfect for those of us that love good food but are always short on time. What is Sous Vide? It is a method of cooking food in a vacuum-sealed water bath so everything can be cooked without losing any of the original flavor or juices. Their meal delivery kits are individually portioned and ready to eat in 30 mins without any additional preparation. Sounds like a gift you might end up keeping for yourself instead of giving away.

 

Cowgirl Creamery is the perfect gift for all foodies and cheese lovers in your life! One of our favorite cheesemakers, Cowgirl Creamery offers a cheese club where members can receive three cheeses curated by the cowgirls each month, for three, six, or twelve months. The first month’s cheese collection includes a beautiful, handmade cutting board and three cheese markers so you can help mark the type of cheese to remember your favorites. Perfect to have at your own dinner party or any that you’ll be attending this year!

For the “Dress to Impress”

Hope Vanessa is beautiful handmade jewelry made in Santa Cruz. Their pieces are made with gold, silver, or rose gold and many have colorful crystals and stones to add some color. Half of the profit from the jewelry goes towards the “Bangladesh Surf Girls and Boys“- a non-profit in Bangladesh that empowers girls and boys through surfing, education, mentorship, skating, and lifesaving. Buy a unique piece for your loved one while supporting a great cause!

 

Third Love makes some of winter’s most comfy lounge wear. They have collections made from seamless bamboo or organic cotton. we tried out one of their loungewear sets that includes a seamless lounge pants, tops, and bra which was super soft and smooth. They also provide 100% fit guarantee bras that come in half sizes and different shapes for the perfect fit. Anything from Third Love would make a perfect gift for any woman in your life.

 

Ryan DeBonville’s scarves is what will be keeping you warm this winter! Hand Crafted Knitwear made in San Francisco, we love how warm and thick the material of his products are- perfect for the windy weather coming our way. He has a selection of Wool Cowls, Scarves, Beanies, and Throws all made by him. He also takes custom orders so make sure to inquire if you have a special piece in mind!

 

All Birds are like sneakers that feel like slippers. Based in San Francisco, All Birds Runners and Loungers are made with New Zealand Merino wool that minimizes odor, regulates temperature, and wicks moisture. They come in a variety of fashionable and trendy colors so find the perfect go to shoes for fall and winter or grab a pair for someone that loves comfort with style.

 

Marine Layer is a San Francisco clothing brand that uses materials from SF or LA and are ethically and sustainable made. They have over 25 custom fabrics with their signature fabric MicroModal made from recycled beechwood. The result is a sustainable, eco-friendly, and super soft material. With their one-of-a-kind fabrics, they’ve made one-of-a-kind clothing line that incorporates all things Bay Area: comfortable, practical, yet stylish clothing for men and women.

For the “Baby Mamas” (and Papas!)

Tea Collection is our go to place when looking for some cute gifts for the kiddos on our list. This San Francisco brand designs the most darling baby and kids wear in seasonal and fresh colors. While being super cute, they are also very practical pieces that are great for everyday wear and play! For gifting we love their rompers, play dresses, and pant/shirt sets.

 

EllieFunDay is a social enterprise that designs organic baby blankets, hats, stuffed toys, swaddles, and other accessories. Their mission is to empower marginalized women through dignified employment and fair-wage with all their products being handcrafted. They have their own non-profit, handcrafted for life that ensures their goods create a positive impact that gives back to the communities that make the products.

For the “Animal Lover”

Brindle Market is a small business founded with the goal to provide some awesome and cute clothing wear while simultaneously supporting the animal rescue community. A portion of the profits from every purchase is donated to organizations that rescue, rehabilitate, and prepare animals for their forever homes. They have some great choices in t-shirts, totes, and hoodies to choose from.

 

Wildebeest brings stylish functional products for people and their dogs. They make fun versatile pet gear for the modern family and has been delivery California-made essentials since 2011. Every Wildebeest product is their own original, designed in San Francisco, California and locally made with your animal’s best interest in mind. We love how colorful and useful their products are such as their non slip food mats and to go water bowls.

For other “Unique Gift Ideas”

Curio Wolf makes the sweetest little bags and pouches right in San Jose. What makes them so unique is the fact that creators Katie and Summer paint and create their own original artwork, which is then printed on to fabric to make the bags. They gather inspiration for the artwork from the most intricate and quirkiest parts of the natural world: leaf skeletons, mineral structures, and even the underbites of their dogs. Curio Wolf sells their bags and pouches on their own, or you can purchase full gift sets, like their watercolor artist sets.

 

Unoeth sells handmade leather bags and accessories handmade with Ethiopian leather. They are a father-daughter business run by Dagne and Xiomara who love to travel. From their adventures, they discovered they always yearned for travel bags that had a classic style look with a story. Their quality and timeless pieces can be used for years lasting through many trendy styles and fads. All Unoeth pieces are handmade, 100% Ethiopian leather crafted by artisans and small businesses in Addis Abba, Ethiopia making no two pieces exactly alike. This would be the perfect gift idea for any avid traveler friend or family member.

 

Rumpl utilized new material technologies use in other active and outdoor gear to perfect their modern everyday blanket. Their high-quality, versatile blankets can be used to keep you comfortable and warm wherever you go. Select from their puffy blankets, fleece blanket, or their new sherpa blanket that is super soft! They also have some great products perfect for stocking stuffers so be sure to check out their Holiday Sale!

 

Steamy Tech is the ultimate gift for all those into gears and kits. They make steampunk inspired items with wooden gears and electronic items that are both fun and very hands on. Some cool items they sell are Fidgets, games, wearables, or other gear related items like Coasters or DIY Kits. We think the coolest item they have is “The Box of Making” which is a bi-monthly subscription box filled with new projects for you to make yourself at home. All supplies you need to make the items are included as well as detailed video instructions on their website. Super fun!