Christmas Shopping with Twice the Heart

Need help with your Christmas list? 

Okay, so it’s really convenient to enter the mall, where nearly everything is at your fingertips. But you have to admit, what you find inside doesn’t change much year after year. No matter how many times you insist that “It’s the thought that counts,” part of what makes gift-giving more enjoyable is finding the present that perfectly fits the person you have in mind.

If you don’t mind the crowds—malls can be just as crowded anyway!—and the thrill of the hunt is something you enjoy, why not try going to a bazaar? Bonus: If bazaar-going isn’t your thing, these makers can be contacted online, too!

1. The Eco Trio: The Soapranos, The Eco Filipino, and Katyà

It is pure magic when bazaars create lasting friendships and partnerships among participants. That’s what happened when The Soapranos, The Eco Filipino, and Katyà Bags Ph got together, creating The Eco Trio!

The Soapranos is an excellent source for handmade bars of soap, shampoo, and conditioner. Owner and Soapermom, Mary, even has a select cosmetics line that features gorgeous MLBB lipsticks! And because she’s a stickler for quality, her sumptuous blends come in limited quantities, assuring buyers that they get only the best ingredients in the products they use.

Bonus: if you want to give someone an extra special blend, Mary can help tailor one for you! Perfect for those who simply must have their own signature scent.

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/the_soapranos

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/thesoapranos/

Know someone who’s always on the go? The Eco Filipino has your back! Jill sells folding utensils that come in convenient little pouches that are easy to stash inside most bags, lunch kits, even pants and skirt pockets. And if you know anyone who cannot live without a straw, her colorful Silly Straws also come in their own pouches along with a brush cleaner. Made of silicone, these straws are perfect for most hot and cold drinks, and are wide enough to use even for milk tea with pearls. Great, too, for kids who tend to chew on their straws!

Another crowd favorite from this store? Her beeswax wraps! Packs come with three different-sized wraps that are good for a full year’s use, and are perfect for wrapping sandwiches or covering food for storage in the fridge.

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/ecofilipino

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/ecofilipino/

Rounding out the group, Tricia can provide the perfect packaging where you can put your presents! Katyà Bags PH has a well-rounded collection of bags and pouches in different sizes. Each bag is decorated with simple images and text reflective of the zero-waste lifestyle encouraged by the brand, as embodied by the tagline “Bring sustainable.”

Tricia also accepts customized orders, so if you have your own design in mind, you can contact her and talk about the details!

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/katyabagsph

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/katyabagsph/

All three can also be found online via https://thegoodtrade.ph and offline at The Naturale Market and The Retail Hub at Rockwell.

2. Anique-Anique MNL

Occasionally joining the Eco Trio, Anique-Anique MNL is headed by its two senior artists, Honey and Rosa. Between them, they create precisely what the name implies: arts and crafts these two artists excel in, centered on the idea of all things “Handmade with Love.”

One of Anique-Anique’s signature lines make use of upcycled plastic bottles and other materials. It is geared towards connecting with communities and creating livelihood programs that will help stay-at-home parents generate extra income for their families. Great for friends who love the idea that their purchases contribute to something more than just making them look good!

Offline, they join the Eco Trio at the Retail Hub at Rockwell, where their animal welfare shirts and eco-bead accessories are featured.

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/aniqueaniquemnl/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Anique-Anique-MNL

3. Recycled Thoughts by Lui Alcazaren

If you grew up before the age of computer-generated typography, you probably remember cutting up magazines to get words and letters to make your collages pretty. Lui has brought this art to the next level with his sardonic humor and hugot lines.

Made out of cleverly arranged and cut plastic bags, candy wrappers, magazines and advertisements, he laminates his creations, which can then be used as bookmarks or framed wall art. Lui can often be found in the BGC Art Mart, a monthly weekend bazaar near the Maybank Performing Arts Theater.

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/luialcazaren/

4. Kaupay

Lyle uses natural materials like stones and wood for her bracelets, necklaces, and earrings. Her accessories are created with specific purposes and meanings, from the colors to the materials, each one described in detail on printed sheets in her packaging. And, like most artisans, being knowledgeable in the materials she uses allows her to create pieces that can convey specific messages or intentions: perfect for whether you just wish to give something in your loved one’s favorite color or bless them with luck in their endeavors.

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/kaupayph/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/kaupayph/

5. HuntinFoWabbits

Friends who are RuPaul’s Drag Race fans will get more than just a giggle out of seeing lines from cast members laid out in the style of old timey colored tattoos! Vincent creates eye-catching stickers of cast quotes and images with his artistic repertoire extending to beautiful flowers and black and white still life images, animals, and scenery.

Bonus: He occasionally creates larger, limited edition prints of his artwork which he sells at the BGC Art Mart.

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/huntinfowabbits

6. Doodle ni Maria

Friends whose planner dreams go beyond stickers can count on the Marias of DNM. Here you can get colorful dashboards, themed stickers, and other bits and pieces to help dress up planners and make planner use more fun! Aside from the monthly DNM Doodle Planner Pack, she also provides buyers with regular stickers that can be used to mark specific daily activities like #LutoMode, #Kayod, or #BillsDue.

Want more? Ask about their custom creations! And if you have friends who enjoy sending and receiving snail mail, they have started a line of postcards, too.

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/doodlenimaria

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/DoodleNiMaria/

SHOPEE: https://shopee.ph/luirhys

7. plan.write.create

Well-decorated planners aren’t just about stickers and dashboards. Rhea sells calligraphy workbooks to help new planner decorators create customized text for their spreads. Together with her vinyl stickers, even newbie planneristas can put together planner pages that can make them smile as they go about their day.

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/plan.write.create/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/planwritecreate

SHOPEE: https://shopee.ph/plan.write.create

Tip: While bazaars are a great way to discover new products and vendors, another excellent way to find more artisans like those featured on this list is to look through the list of people they follow! More often than not, bazaar participants tend to befriend each other, creating an online network that is as fun and exciting to explore, as though you’d attended their events yourself.