The Ultimate Sydney Local’s Gift Guide

For the friend who loves a statement moment, Katharina Lou is an easy win. The brand is all about bold, slow-made pieces with inclusive sizing and thoughtful details—clothes designed to be worn, reworn, and kept. Their viral styles have a loyal following for a reason: they’re fun, flattering, and built to last.

If you’re buying for someone who loves clothes with a bit of story behind them, Pseushi lands well. This inner-west based fashion brand favours pieces made from high-end fabrics—designed to be properly lived in (and better with age). Think of it as gifting a future favourite tee or long sleeve, the kind they’ll reach for without thinking.

The queen of cool girl sunnies, Poppy Lissiman has all kinds of eyewear sorted. From sleek cat-eye styles to banana coloured speedies, a set of these is a killer gift for anyone who takes accessorising seriously. There's also a colourful collection of bags, apparell and accessories, in case you are after the full kit. 

For anyone who loves beautifully made, slow-fashion pieces, High Tea With Mrs Woo is a lovely option. They’ve been crafting clothing and accessories from natural fibres since 2004, with an emphasis on ethical production and designs that last. Easy to gift, especially for someone who appreciates quality over trends.

Dal 1992 is a new Sydney label rethinking hosiery with a slow-fashion lens. Founded by designer Pixie McElroy after scouting Italian factories, the brand focuses on sheer stockings and knee-length styles knitted in Italy from recycled and regenerated materials.

Each pair carries a repeated monogram and comes in signature colours like dusty blu, marron and scarlett. A thoughtful gift for anyone who's into quiet luxury and fun accessories.

My Friends Are Yours is a Sydney-based slow fashion brand, producing solely Australian designed and manufactured collections—it doesn't get more local than that. Think fun going out tops in flirty designs and fabrics, minis that show a little skin, and overall collections that are super on trend and current. 

Jillian Boustred is a Sydney label known for classic, flattering pieces made with a genuine commitment to local, ethical production. Most collections are crafted in Australia, with a focus on quality fabrics, thoughtful silhouettes, and wardrobe staples designed to last. It’s a great pick for someone who values style with substance—fashion that feels good to wear and good to support.

Timeless basics, office siren pieces, and fits that move seamlessly from day to night—By Neil Vernon is the place to go if those words strike a tone. You might recognise their off the shoulder, sheer and button down styles, hanging off the back of every model off duty look in Sydney. 

Citizen Wolf is a great pick for anyone who loves their clothes fitted to a T. Their tees and staples are tailor-made in Sydney—laser-cut, hand-finished, and built to feel good on every body. A solid, thoughtful gift for someone who lives in smart-casual basics.

Chunky jewellery is back in full force, and Haus Of Dizzy isn't doing things half mast. Bold colours, in-your-face prints and playful statement pieces are the foundation of this First Nations-run accessories brand, and they go hand-in-hand with some pretty powerful political messaging. 

There's nothing more special than recieving a true one-of-a-kind item—and while it's not quite as good as if you'd whipped it up it yourself, Sunny's Slow Made Goods are made to order. Each piece is crafted with a high level of attention to detail: quality, comfy, using natural and recycled materials. 

Karameleon is a Bondi-born label built on nostalgia, bold prints and a love of vintage. Designer Kara Otter left the fast-fashion grind to create something more playful and conscious—think Y2K-influenced swim, mini skirts and rhinestone tees made in small runs, plus a growing vintage arm for one-off finds. It’s a fun pick for someone who loves colour, personality and pieces with a bit of attitude.

If you’re shopping for new parents or little ones, Halcyon Nights is always a sweet pick. Their baby clothing, kidswear, bedding, and gift sets are created each season with independent artists from around the world—colourful, imaginative, and never cookie-cutter.

Sydney burger icon Mary’s has teamed up with Byron Bay label Something Very Special for a three-part summer capsule—ideal for your mate who lives in streetwear.

Expect unisex shirts, baby tees, short shorts, hats, playful accessories, and a limited-edition trio of Mary’s Special hot sauces (mild, medium, spicy) for the person in your life who puts chilli on everything.

POSSE leans into quiet, feminine pieces which can be worn across seasons. The label is grounded in slow fashion, working with responsible makers and focusing on refined cuts, soft textures and details you notice up close. If you’re gifting someone who loves clothes they can return to year after year, POSSE is a strong match.

You can never go wrong with accessories, and BAAC Studio stocks beads that will go with any and every outfit. These aren't your mothers pearls—designed and made in Sydney, each piece celebrates natural materials and textures, for the everyday. 

If you're a northern beaches local needing a quick gifting fix, or just after a one-stop-shop for all your favourite brands, Peggy Concept Store is a must visit. There's a stacked list of designers on offer, including St. Agni, Nagnata, Maison Balzac, Wynn Hamlyn, SIR, and Silk Laundry. Perfect for the well-dressed lady in your life. 

Perfume or cologne is always a safe bet, and Ocma's genderless, conceptual scents are bound to go down well—no matter who you are gifting. 

If Korean streetwear, emerging designers and cutesy graphic pieces are on the cards, we're emptying our wallets. Shim House has a range of heavy duty pieces—graphic tees, knitwear, shoes and accessories, as well as prints and art pieces from Zero Per Zero. 

An unapologetically cool florist-meets-gallery, Date Night Studio is the spot for gifts with a certain edge. Here, you'll find sculptural, attitude-filled arrangements and shelves stacked with small-batch olive oil, artisan chocolate, candles, incense, tarot decks, and design-forward mags—perfect for that friend who is 100% design-led and all about aesthetics.

Sydney-born Mesa Collections creates small-batch tableware for people who love hosting—or just love a good-looking table. Their collections blend classic shapes with playful details, from custom linens to heirloom-style silverware, all designed to make everyday meals feel a little more special. Everything’s produced in limited runs, with unsold pieces folded into their rental library for stylists and home cooks to enjoy. 

Not quite your usual stocking stuffer—Nonna's Grocer has a collection of hyper-realistic candles shaped like food. For $60 or less, you can cop half a dozen eggs, semillon grapes, and even an heirloom tomato—waxed and wicked. 

Poldy Pots is perfect for the mate who loves handmade everything. Their collection centres on mugs and blates—each one crafted start to finish, with shapes, glazes, and details that shift slightly from piece to piece. It’s small-batch, personal, and super spesh, unlike anything else in their collection.

For the friend who obsesses over beautiful objects, Near & Far is a dream. The store curates design pieces from around the world—silk and fabric orb lamps, kinetic diffusers, hand-cast metal key rings, graphic coasters and towels, and French-inspired table linens. Everything feels considered, sculptural, and a little special, making it a strong stop for design-forward gifting.

Quiet luxury doesn't get any more luxurious than this—Cillie's extra special scented candles and throws will have your bestie's home looking straight out of a design mag. The candles come in two sizes, with a custom glass base, and the throws are made with merino wool—pretty and cosy. 

Whether you've booked a room or not, the Paramount House Hotel has a stack of trinkets and homewares in their lobby shop which make for ideal stocking stuffers. There's everything from stickers, zines, toothbrushes, mugs, wine bags, cook books and hats, to gift vouchers for the rooms upstairs. 

Dreaming of eurosummer? It might not be doable right now, but with Alex and Trahanas you can deck the halls with garments, accessories and entertaining pieces that are all about the Meditteranean. And what makes a better gift than a set of dishes straight out of an Italian villa?

If you are gifting a bouquet, why not take things up a notch with a stunning display vase? Poho Flowers is doing both exquisite homewares and florals—their Sydney customers can also cop same day delivery, so you don't have to stress about leaving things to the last minute. 

If you are after something more ecclectic (and down for a hunt), Mitchell Road Antiques is Sydney's destination shop for all things vintage and antique. Furniture, curated apparel piece, trinkets and homewares—if it's dated, you'll find it here. 

Provider Store is ideal for anyone who loves thoughtful, slow-made home gifts. Founder Tara Bennett pulls inspiration from Japan’s sustainable craft traditions, working with local and international artisans to create considered ceramics, candles, and textiles—many made in-house at their Surry Hills studio.

Their natural soy candles are a standout: hand-poured into Japanese ceramic jars you can refill in-store (from $17) or reuse as teacups and mugs. Everything is sustainably sourced, ethically produced, and built to last, making this an easy place to find a gift with meaning.

This Chianti-red canvas tote by Ante is built for the friend who always seems to be carrying half their life around. It’s sturdy, roomy, and cleverly designed with two internal pockets sized for sake bottles (yes, even 1.8L ones), space for up to 30 vinyl records, and an extra zipped pocket for the small stuff.

For the mate who orders martinis like it’s a personality, Bar Planet’s online shop is dangerously good. You can grab their bottled martinis (dirty or classic, in both single-night and party sizes) plus tees, caps, crewnecks, and enamel pins that lean into their quirky divebar energy. Easy gifting territory for anyone who loves a late-night sesh.

Barrel One has a stack of easy gifts for your coffee-obsessed mate: caps, hoodies, long sleeves, socks, and key rings. They’ve also got diner-style mugs, beach-ready totes, reusable cups and a set of bistro plates or flat-white cups if you want something for their kitchen. Add a gift card if you’re playing it safe. 

Another Mucho Group special, Cantina OK!'s online shop is a goldmine for marg lovers, with single-origin, small-batch mezcals sourced from the producers the team meets on their travels through Mexico, plus merch like tees, hats, totes and glassware. If you’re gifting someone who’s serious about agave (or curious to go deeper) this is the place to start.

Skittle Lane’s Monster Tee is a great grab for any friend-slash-coffee-enthusiast who loves a clean, oversized staple with a bit of personality. It’s locally designed and made in Sydney using 100% cotton, with artwork by SCCO Studio and printing by ASYD—so the whole thing is genuinely homegrown. Boxy fit, dropped shoulders, and no fuss.

For the friend who’s equally obsessed with good bread and a good jog, A.P Bakery has you covered. Their merch swings from everyday staples like reusable bread bags and “Fully Baked” caps to limited-run Run Club tees and performance collabs with Toplum.

There's ventilated running caps, heavyweight jerseys, and sport socks with proper tech details—plus classic pieces for anyone who just loves the A.P vibe. 

If you've got a bagel lover on your hands, Lox In A Box has one of the most charming merch ranges around. You’ll find everything bagel seasoning, fish-shaped lemon squeezers, branded beanies and socks, long sleeves, hoodies, a very cute cup and saucer, and even a cult “Fish Bottle.” All that's left is the schmear.

Happyfield’s merch shop is a treasure trove for anyone who's a lover of sunshine yellow and brekkie burgers. Think retro track jackets, graphic tees, colourful socks, reversible bucket hats, mugs, plates and even Croc charms. You can also wrap up their pancake mix, maple syrup or a gift card if you want something they’ll put to good use on a Sunday morning.

Hawke’s is a handy stop when you need a gift that’s easy, Aussie, and guaranteed to get used. Their beer lineup covers everything—lager, pale, XPA, mid-strength, Pacific—so you can build a fridge-friendly present without overthinking it.

The merch is solid too: caps, tees, totes, bar mats, tinnie coolers, even air fresheners and tea towels from the Lucky Prawn universe. Ideal for the mate who loves a backyard session or just likes repping local.

Good Ways Deli has a small but very giftable general-store lineup: sturdy work shirts, classic deli mugs, their house hot sauce, and small-batch jams (the onion jam is a sleeper hit). You can even throw in a Hario V60 if you’re shopping for a filter-coffee person. Easy, useful picks for anyone who loves this neighbourhood deli.

Cord hats, small batch bevs, t-shirts and tea towels? Yulli's merch selection is an inner west local's fantasy. If you've got a friend who can't stop raving about a particular brew, why not let them rep the brand proudly? 

Two easy wins for the music lover or desk-coffee fiend: a bold Superfreak slipmat for their turntable, and a matching mug for their morning brew. Small, fun gifts that add a bit of personality without overthinking it.

We've all got a friend who takes pasta night a little too seriously, this collab is an easy win. These two brands have come together to cook up a seriously next-level sauce: pairing Doom Juice’s La Rossa red with Sorry Nonna’s new Carolina Reaper pasta sauce. 

Grab the jar on it's own, or bundle it with a limited edition tea towel and a bottle of Doom Juice red. 

A solid option for anyone easing into the no/low space. This bundle pairs ZZVINO’s <0.5% grape-based alt-wine—made with chardonnay and shiraz skins, plus a mix of berry fruit—with their oversized tote. It’s organic, sustainable, and vegan, and the bag is big enough for market runs, beach days, or emergency snack storage (aside from being super cute). 

Ester Spirits are perfect for the friend who has...opinions about cocktails. Their gift guide has your most alcohol obsessed loved one sorted—we'd grab the 2-sip martini box, with a 100ml Ester martini (their modern spin on the classic), two mini martini glasses, a can of olives, and coloured wooden picks.

There’s merch too—caps, tees, totes—and even a Negroni Masterclass if you want to wrap up an experience rather than a bottle. 

Winona Wine is a one-stop shop for design-y home goods, great snacks, and curated packs that make gifting stupidly easy. Murano glassware, Tsubota Pearl lighters, pantry favourites like Hotluck hot honey, Apostle seasonings, sardines, and Bahen & Co chocolate are just some of the goodies on offer.

Their bundles are also bang-on: the Ultimate Everything Pack covers wine, chocolate, whiskey, chips, BBQ sauce, and beer, while the Chocolate & Wine Pack brings together top-tier small-batch chocolate and a bottle from Italian Plastic. 

Grifter has turned their inner west branding into a full-blown gift shop. Alongside their iconic beers, you’ll find a huge lineup of tees (from Serpents Kiss to Pink Galah), trucker hats, beanies, posters, bar mats, coasters, stubby holders and even limited-edition drops like the Big Orange Goblin or the Serpents Kiss mirror. Great for the mate who reps Marrickville like a personality trait.

Got a hot sauce fan on your hands? What better place to shop than That Hot Sauce Shop—yep, that's the one. As Sydney’s first fully dedicated specialty hot sauce stockist, you'll be sure to find something for all tastes. They even stock the official Hot One's range, from the cult-favourite youtube series. 

P&V Merchants makes gifting easy, whether you’re buying an experience or something ready to hand over. Their masterclasses are always a hit—small sessions led by legends in the wine world, covering everything from sake to Jura to Georgian drops. Great for the friend who loves learning and sipping.

Their Gifts + Packs section is stacked too: chilled-red-and-candle pairings, cooking kits, non-alc Christmas hampers, panettone collabs, and summer-ready grab-and-go bundles. All the fun bits picked out for you, no guesswork required.

If you’re buying for someone deep in their Pilates era, Scout’s merch store is an easy solve. Think hats, tanks, tees, sweaters, totes, and hoodies—pieces they’ll actually wear to class (or to signal they go to class). It’s practical, it’s cute, and it’s very “Sydney reformer girl summer.”

If you’re shopping for someone who takes training seriously (or wants to), Lúthri’s clean, performance-minded supplements are a strong pick. The brand was founded by a father–son duo with deep Irish roots and an even deeper focus on integrity in nutrition—nothing flashy, just well-made products for people who care about how they feel and move.

Urban List readers also get $25 off their first order over $200 with URBANLIST25, and it stacks with their Welcome Kit offer. Handy if you’re gifting someone mid-“new year, new routine.”

Support an Indigenous brand this year with printed mats, activewear, and accessories from Jarin Street. Created to address the exploitation of Aboriginal art, and is committed to protecting First Nations artists and their work. 

We all need a reset after the year we've had—but if there are any particularly stressed people in your life, they'll appreciate a reset (literally) at Reset Studio. Pick from traditional cedar saunas, ice baths, a halotherapy salt cave, vitamin C-infused showers, and contrast therapy—snag a gift card online. 

Aqua Ignis Bathhouse in Blackheath is set inside a beautifully restored heritage-listed building—equal parts design statement and sensory escape. Inside, you’ll find a 38-degree magnesium pool inspired by Japanese onsen culture, a herbal-infused steam room, a hot rock sauna, and invigorating cold plunge pools—their giftcards make for the perfect switch off for busy people. 

While the main draw of Nimbus is their infrared sauna sessions, they're also stocking a range of merch and wellness accessories for any die hard fans. Why not pair a voucher with dry brush and body gua sha, to bulk out your gift. 

While most of us run through a stack of active wear each season, Rec Gen's sustainability initiative makes fitness gifting guilt free. Their committed to a zero carbon footprint, ethical transparency, positive humanitarian outcomes and corporate integrity—and the clothes are cute, too. 

A sauna voucher as a gift clearly can't be beat—the fun part of booking with The Sauna Project is that you'll have exclusive access to a hand-built, pop up sauna in Vaucluse (complete with ocean views). This is a truly one of a kind wellness experience.