Make Works gift list

Christmas is a time of year when many people find themselves desperately searching department store aisles looking for something that their brothers and mothers and boyfriends and dogs will enjoy.

Here at Make Works we're very concerned about how most things on the high street are made and we want to champion locally and ethically made products as much as we can. 

We know how tough it can be to find cool stuff the week before Christmas so we've collated a list of some of our favourite things that we're hoping to find in our stocking on christmas morning!

1. Woolfiller

Woolfiller can be used to darn holes and hide stains in all things wollen from jumpers, bags and jackets to carpets and rugs.

If you want to keep it subtle you can use a woolfiller in a colour that matches the garment that you're fixing, but if you want to brighten up your old jumper you can use bright colours to make splashes of colour, you can even use it to create patterns on a jumper!

Woolfiller's website

2. Technology Will Save Us Arduino Kits

If you still haven't tried out Arduino this is a great way to get started. There are lots of different kits available including a synth kit, instrument kit and gamer kit and they're all made in Hackney, East London. 

Technology Will Save Us website

3. Risotto Studio's Monster Calendar

Risotto Studio has put together this limited edition Risograph calendar. This is a great gift for any print aficionado and we sure do hope we'll get one in the Make Works office!

To find out more about Risotto studios' work check out their listing

4. Fairphone

2014 has been riddled with accounts of the terrible conditions under which our electronic devices are produced and how the raw materials for them are sourced. If, like us, the allure of the iphone is fading you should take a look at the Fairphone. Fairphone is a new type of phone; conflict free minerals, fair wages, open source, and no sign of built in obsolescence.

Fairphone's website

5. Tessuti Scotland silk scarf

Tessuti silk screen these beautiful scarves by hand in Leith, Edinburgh. You can find out more about Tessuti's work by checking out their listing on Make Works!

6. The Toaster Project

This is a book about Thomas Thwaites' endeavours to make a mass manufactured toaster from scratch. The Toaster Project sheds some vital light on the manufacturing and materials behind the products that we use everyday.

Make Works' Fi also wrote about The Toaster Project recently in her blog 'Fixing in the factory' which you can read here  

Thomas Thwaites' website 

7. Bare Conductive Electrical paint

Another cool gift for the maker in your life. Bare Conductive electrical paint can be used as liquid wire and conductive adhesive allowing you to make some pretty cool circuits.

Bare Conductive's website

8. Emily Millichip

Another Make Works maker! Emily Millichip is an Edinburgh-based independent fashion designer who, amongst other things makes these fantastic shirts, sure to remind you of sunnier climes! 

Emily Millichip also does bespoke and custom pieces, you can check out her listing on Make Works here!

9. Comradettes

Comradettes produce some fantastic clothes inspired by traditional workwear. Expect durability, high quality and bright colours. We've got our hopes set on the cigarette factory worksuit!

Comradettes' website

10. Hancock VA 

Hancock VA handmake rubber-bonded raincoats in Scotland. If you're feeling really flush, you should check out their bespoke service which come in some amazing colour combinations.

Hancock VA's website

11. Edition Scotland

Edition Scotland have a beautiful range of Men's hats and scarves that are knitted and hand finished in the Scottish Borders.

Edition Scotland's Website

12. Hilary Grant

Bold colours and scarves the size of blankets! Hilary Grant focuses on using high grade lambswool and a committment to craftsmanship.

Hilary Grant's website

13. Hiut Denim

In a town where 35,000 pairs of jeans used to be made each week, Hiut Denim has set up shop to use all of the skill sitting on their doorstep in Cardigan, Wales.

Their denim gift card allows you to give someone a pair of jeans made especially for them.

Hiut Denim's website

14. We are Panel and Kelvin Framers

These limited edition prints are designed and handmade in Glasgow by Edwin Pickstone, Bernie Reid, Maeve Redmond and Sophie Dyer. Need a frame? -not to worry, Kelvin Framers do a fantastic framing service and you can find out more their service here.

We are Panel's website

15. Walsh trainers

Looking to buy someone a pair of trainers for christmas and desperate to avoid sweatshop manufacturing? Check out Walsh Trainers - made in the UK by Norman Walsh and his team, who have been making trainers since 1945!

Walsh Trainers website

If there's anything that you think we should add to our gift list get in touch! If we think it's cool too we'll post it up.