The Dose: Local Love Gift Guide Edition!
We've been dying to do a local gift guide and shops we think are worthy of your time to visit - so this our down and dirty version of it this year.
For every dollar spent at a small business, approximately 67 cents stays in the local community, compared to only about 43 cents from a corporate chain store. This is because small businesses recirculate a greater portion of their revenue locally through wages, local suppliers, and community donations, creating a "local multiplier effect" that strengthens the local economy. 💥
Our goal is to encourage you to shop in person and IRL. Explore your neighborhood or the one you might be traveling to and discover what small businesses and their communities have to offer, as there’s so much more beyond what algorithms show. WE. ARE. HERE. FOR. IT!
Let's dive into some of our local love favorite gift-worthy picks and yes some of these folks have websites you can buy from. WE. ARE. HERE. FOR. IT.
In peace, love, and solidarity,
x We Thieves
1. Splurge! The Mizzoni Sweater $380 by DEGEN KNITS found at Shop Pod a local favorite on Oxford street nestled in the neighborhood behind our store. Aside from lovely home finds they are one of the few boutiques in the area that feature products from Degen - made by a local artist and def gift worthy and worthy of seeing in IRL.
2. Cambridge Letterpress Library Colletion from our Inman Square next door neighbors - Albertine Press. Their cityscape volumes range far and wide! With designs that highlight over 20 cities around the country and across the world; perfect for the globetrotter, newly resettled, or to celebrate hometown pride.
3. For home: Cozy Felted Wool Slippers from Haflinger - Found at our Mass Ave friends Cambridge Clogs. One of the oldest businesses in the area(they've been in biz over 30 years). Rare is it these days to find a physical Shoe Store - online shopping has decimated them, so to have these folks with a wall of wool socks, Birkenstocks, and quality comfort clogs is rare!
4. For the clothing lover: The Gleener (one of our favorite do-it-all tools for the care of woolens!) also pairs nicely with SOAK wash found locally in Inman Square, Cambridge, at Gather Here (currently - sold out online, but check in person. Plus there's a lot more giftables there to see if you've got knitter/crafter folks on your list!)
5. For map lovers: Antique Celestial Maps, Posters, and Prints from our Mass Ave next door neighbors at Ward Maps. Find all your MBTA merch there too! Owner Steven and long time employee Andrew can help with framing and custom work too!
6. For those who run cold and the perfect layer under wool and cashmere: Classic lightweight silk under-layers from New England OGs L.L.Bean. 100% silk, lightweight, thin, and yes insulating. Silk is a natural fiber packed with wonderful qualities especially when knitted. Rock under vintage T'shirts, wool sweaters, cashmere and I even sleep in mine! Add to your christmas list. Bonus if you find used on Poshmark or Ebay.
7. Wine lover: Wild Child Wine Shop in Union Square, Somerville, is a treat to visit. Gift special bottles of wine to friends and find some great gifts and treats to pair with. We are highlighting one our favorite special occasion bottles.
8. For the reader - and a great book shop to get lost in Narrative Book Shop in Davis Square, Cambridge. Proudly immigrant-woman owned & operated, with an emphasis on amplifying marginalized voices & experiences- Narrative is an independent bookshop offering a welcoming space for finding connection through community-minded events & a curated selection of new + used books across various genres.
9. Warmth and such good Hot Cocoa made in house from Inman Square fave Christina’s Spice Shop. Aside from the Cocoa you will find a myriad of spices and blends for any foodie in your life. The owners are purveyors and old-school merchants. Eataly can't touch this authenticity.
10. The bartender or wine connoisseur The Farfalli Wine Corkscrew from our good friends at Fred’s South End–It's a splurge but we are big fan's of the "buy it once buy it for life" cooking tools and there is always someone who needs that something special. Aside from the corkscrew find beautiful tableware, linens, and the best cooking tools your chef lover craves to add into their quiver.
Thanks for reading, shopping small, and supporting local. It is a form of activism in our corporate run world.