DL’s 2021 Toronto Holiday Gift Guide

Advent Calendar by Chocolat de Kat

A collaboration with local stationary brand The Paperhood, Chocolat de Kat’s advent calendar isn’t just for kids (in fact, we’d recommend keeping it for yourself). Each box is filled with a compilation of 24 of the chocolatier’s fan favourite flavours (plus some seasonal picks). Bonus, the ornamentally decorated carton even has an old Toronto streetcar on it (for nostalgia’s sake).

$85 at chocolatdekat.com (or at the One of A Kind Show).

Curves Rug by Sean Brown

Earlier this year, we chatted with Sean Brown about his new handmade rugs — tufted replicas of classic R&B and Hip-Hop records (plus a couple genre outliers) to decorate your living space. Since then, his brand has blown up — and his offerings have expanded. From Sade’s Love Deluxe to The Beatle’s yellow submarine, it’s the perfect gift for a music-lover who might be running out of space to store their vinyls.

From $320 at curvesbyseanbrown.com 

Cakes by Kwento

Until recently, Kwento was an online-only affair — just in time for the holidays, the indie cake company has opened up a brick-and-mortar location on College street. Their cakes can be made to order, but they also keep a variety of sweets and treats in store — including their infamous Smiley Cakes. From $55 at Kwento.

Catch-All by Mary Ratcliffe

Furniture designer Mary Ratcliffe recently expanded her practice to include small handmade homewares, including these stunning catch-alls in a variety of shapes and colours — from Calcatta Gold to Oxide Shale (pictured here). Each one is handmade in Ratcliffe’s Toronto studio. From $55 at maryratcliffe.studio.

Limes by Corey Mintz 

Good Egg, the infamous Kensington Market boutique peddling cookbooks and cookwares galore, has officially moved back into its old digs (which it had to vacate in 2018 due to a landlord dispute). But Good Egg isn’t just a shop — it’s also a publishing imprint, so far with only two short, but impactful titles: Blood (2020), by Jennifer Mclagan and Limes (2021) by Globe & Mail food reporter Corey Mintz. The limited-edition paperback details 30 lime-heavy recipes — perfect for those who like to buy in bulk. $20 at Good Egg.

Soaps by Sssoaps

These small-batch soaps made by Toronto artist Sandro Petrillo contain only natural ingredients — moisturizing emollients such as shea butter, powerful additives such as Brazilian red clay and pumice stone, and a plethora of essential oils to create down-to-earth, subtly beautiful suds. The cold-process soaps drop in batches and often sell out, so don’t wait. From $8 at sssoaps.co.

Slow Mix by Lark DFF

Michelle Donelly and Mark Puchala, the power couple behind Lark DFF— whose lovely Toronto home we profiled last year — have been hard at work expanding their offerings of water and alternative milks in sustainable, refillable packaging and distributing to local restaurants and hotels. You can still get their products delivered right to your door: the brand follows a milk-delivery style program, dropping off bottles of delicious bubbly water and picking up empties when necessary. Choose from a wide variety of 6-packs for delivery, starting at $18 at larkdff.com

Soapstone Bud Vase by Elizabeth Lenny 

Elizabeth Lenny worked as a studio assistant for Sabine Marcelis before establishing her own practice in object-making. Soapstone is a soft, malleable rock that lends itself particularly well to sculpting — as exemplified in Lenny’s new collection of shapely bud vases and bookends, which she aptly titled Soft Rock. No two pieces are alike, so you’ll know you found something truly unique. $120 at Mjölk.

Alpaca Ornaments by Cambie

We couldn’t resist including these alpaca-shaped ornaments from local textile specialists at Cambie Design on our list. Each one is hand-made of soft baby alpaca wool, and adorned with hand-sewn embellishments. We guarantee they’ll look cute on your tree, or wherever else you feel like hanging them. $5 at Cambie Design.

 

Mercury Bureau Twin Candle Set

Shane Krepavich of Mercury Bureau crafts hefty limited edition pieces by hand in his Toronto studio. Each twin candle set is made of raw, sand-cast aluminum and comes with two equally useful pieces: one to hold a candle, and the other to snuff it out. When not in use, the two objects nestle within each other to create a whole new form. $99 at Average.

2022 Calendar by Vernon Studio

The 2022 calendar by Vernon Studio — a local graphic design collective — showcases innovative new features to allow you to better keep track of time. Once the day is done, you can fill in the number for a seamless visual reminder of the current date. Daily dots in each square can be used to mark recurring or special events — complete with a legend at the bottom, so you’re always ahead of the game (of life).  $40 at 313 Design Market.