The VanMag Wish Book: 47 Very Cool Things to Give This Christmas From Very Cool Vancouver Stores

You can’t say we’re not dedicated. In mid-July (and mid-heat-wave), we started reaching out to our favourite shops and tastemakers to find out what was hot (in a less literal sense) for the holidays. But if that’s what it takes to bring the best giftables in Vancouver to you, as selected by our editors, so be it. Consider this hyper-curated list of dozens of locally sourced goods our gift to you, whether you use it to guide your holiday shopping or are content to simply dream. (And if you’re looking for even more excellent local buys, check out what’s on the wish lists of Vancouver’s most interesting people here… or what Vancouver’s coolest kids are asking Santa for this year.)

Nice Spice

Take a cue from Vancouver’s African restaurant boom and get cooking with The Contemporary African Kitchen ($65). indigo.ca

An  Astronomical Treat

Say Hello Sweets’ Space Rabbit freeze-dried ice cream ($9) is made from organic coconut milk: an out-of-this-world snack. federalstore.ca

Paws Up

How do you make a lucky cat ($50) luckier? You produce it in candy-like colours. (Bubblegum pink attracts “true love.”)  foohungcurios.com

Robe Rules

Block Shop robes (from $219) pair lightweight Indian cotton with bold patterns. nettlestale.com

Baby Got Pack

Our collective fanny-pack era continues. The  Fjällräven Kånken hip pack ($55) comes in hues like blackberry and sunstone orange. fjallraven.com

Going for Green

Wild harvested Canadian kelp is the active ingredient in Kelpy plant food ($44)… and the gourmet grub that monsteras crave. thegardenstrathcona.com

The  Scrubdown

All-natural Mifa eucalyptus body and hand wash ($35) is the sort of practical essential that feels like a luxury. (That scent! Spa-like!) mifaandco.com

In Bloom

The freshest faux flowers we’ve ever seen: these laser-cut acrylic stems from Other Shapes ($55). zebraclubvan.com

Day by Day

The perpetual Ring a Date calendar by  Giorgio Della Beffa ($195) has been a timeless design since the ’70s, in more ways than one. vanspecial.com

Face It

Skwálwen Botanicals Kalkáy wild rose  replenishing face mask ($650) turns  Indigenous plant knowledge into a luxurious skincare experience.  holtrenfrew.com

Squeak Up

Danish-made Maileg mice are Dilly Dally’s bestsellers; these adorable ski bums ($60) are new for holiday 2024. dillydallykids.ca

Sound It Out

The scratch-resistant, aluminum-shell Beosound Explore outdoor Bluetooth speaker ($349) is audiophile- approved, but rugged enough to clip onto your backpack and hit the trail.  bang-olufsen.com

Sleeve It to Me

The camel-coloured vegan leather Monos Metro laptop sleeve ($110) is simple and sophisticated, and features a trolley sleeve to slip neatly onto a suitcase handle on-the-go. ca.monos.com

Earn Your Stripes

The perfect cotton button-up—like this  Oxford-striped one made by Vancouver brand POMP ($185)—is the gift that gives year-round. powerofmypeople.com

Floral  Fantasy

Liberty of  London’s collab with Herschel makes for a  grandmacore weekender bag ($210) with a modern cool factor. herschel.com

Denim  Darling

For the boyfriend who stubbornly wears his jean jacket all winter, there’s Duer’s (very cozy) new Tech Fleece denim coat ($179).  duer.ca

The Hideaway

At least this Holiday Tree cat cave ($124) won’t do any shedding. bonesps.com

A Little Fishy

You could get them a zip vest from Patagonia…  or you could get them these surprisingly delicious tins of responsibly harvested fish (from $8 a tin). patagoniaprovisions.com

Rainbow  Connection

Wrap a rainbow of Smooth Gel Ink Knock Type pens ($19) from Muji for the colourful stationery nerd in your life. muji.ca

Fly Bar

A soggy bar is for suckers. This fancy (and gentle!) French olive oil soap from Savon de Marseille mounts onto the wall ($90 for the mount; $48 for a two pack). thesoapdispensary.com

Sharp Choice

This handsome traditional Higonokami folding knife ($46) may look tough, but its ideal uses are practical and gentle: sharpen a pencil, open a package or cut fruit. aiandomknives.com

Boo Boo Busters

Fact: kids love stick-on bandages. These Welly Bravery bandages ($18) are high-quality and highly fun (and suitable for adult owies, too). petiteforet.co

Rough and Ready

You’re not allowed to bring coral home from the Great Barrier Reef (rude), but this organic, textured Yara vase from Ferm Living ($79) is close enough. fullhousemodern.com

Up in Smoke

Send some smoke signals with the Modern Bartender’s Smoking Cocktail set ($116).  themodernbartender.com

Raise the Bar

How good could a $20 bar of chocolate be? Buy this Casa Bosques cardamom bar, sourced from Pichucalco in Chiapas, Mexico, for someone else and maybe they’ll share and you can finally find out. oldfaithfulshop.com

Such Great Heights

These MTNPK Glassware highball glasses ($55) capture the ridges of Whistler and Blackcomb’s peaks; ideal for après. makevancouver.com

Jamming Out

The little alpine pattern on Parade’s matching, 100-percent organic cotton family pajamas (kid sets, $44; adults, $88) are holiday festive but also read as “West Coast” enough to rock year-round. parade.ca

Tippity Tap

Touch-screen gloves don’t work. These cozy merino/silk/cashmere cherry-red wrist warmers by Merz B. Schwanen do ($90). gravitypope.com

Spritz, Spritz

With notes of bergamot, white musk and amber, the genderless Xtra Milk fragrance ($120) pledges to “smell just like you.” gatley.ca

Who Wears Short Shorts?

Huha’s gender -neutral boxers ($28) are bestsellers, but the gusset-free, zinc-oxide liner is intended to create a comfortable experience for, well, hoo-has. 8main.ca

Let’s Twist Again

Plastic bottles have been recycled into this innovative, reversible knit Twist bag ($148) from Atacz. littlemountain.space

Beep, Boop

This AI revolution may be scary, but these cute wooden robots (craft kit, $32) are anything but. collagecollage.ca

Go the  Distance

The “Loose Laces Lose Races” mantra printed on this wine-coloured Coolmatic-mesh running cap from Ciele ($60) is an inspiration (or dire warning?) at any speed. runasyouare.co

Fresh Fleece

Cozy up in a snap with MEC’s plush Fireside fleece snap pullover ($100). mec.ca

Light One Up

There are fancy candles, and then there’s the Emma Shipley Caspian soy-coconut work of art ($175), scented like vanilla and sandalwood and poured into a fine bone-china container. goodgeplace.com

Glass Act

Vancouver glass artist Jemma Van Osch is your artists’ favourite artist; use this precious, ethereal glass bowl ($65) as the perfect front-door catchall. cocomain.ca

The Fake Out

Snag a bottle of the extremely convincing  alcohol-free St. Agrestis Phony Negroni ($84 for a 12 pack) from the Drive Canteen for the sober-curious cocktail lover in your life. thedrivecanteen.ca

No Flip, No Probs

Show some East Van pride with a tee from Slice of Life ($25) featuring the ’hood’s true icon: the always-chill Mr. Mattress. slicevancouver.ca

All That Glitters

These vintage ornaments from the ’30 to the ’60s (from $3 to $24 each) add a layer of instant nostalgia to the tree. @stepback_ca

Magic Box

Give a man some mochi and he’ll eat for a day. Give a man this Tiger mochi maker ($430) and he’ll chew for a lifetime. fujiya.ca

Leader  of the Pack

Chill out anywhere and everywhere with the Yeti Hopper backpack ($380)—the portable cooler is spacious enough for 20 beer cans and tall enough to fit wine bottles. kerrisdalelumber.ca

Wrist Watch

The H of this orange enamel metal Clic Clac bracelet ($550) stands for Hermès, but also for “Hey, look at my cool bangle!” mineandyours.com

Bling Bling

Acclaimed Vancouver jewellery maker Pyrrha adds a splash of colour to its chic, symbolic talisman pendants with the True Colors collection (from $355). hillsofkerrisdale.com

Black and White  and Cool All Over

Vancouver textile artist Tafui’s Eau Noir cushion cover collection (pieces from $190) is inspired by pebbles in the snow. shoptafui.com

Walk This Way

Mix and match colours to customize your own handmade, one-of-a-kind dog lead ($55) at Good Boy. shopgoodboy.com

Nature Calls

Too fired up from Monopoly Deal? Find peace with Cascadia ($55): the game’s goal is to create a harmonious ecosystem in the Pacific Northwest. strategiesgames.ca

Shine On

Can’t decide between pear-, oval- or emerald-cut diamond studs? The Zadel Jewellery 14kt Mini Multi-Shape stud earrings are a triple threat ($945). zadel jewellerystudio.com