The 2020 ESEA Christmas gift guide
We bring you a range of Christmas gift ideas from independent ESEA folk - happy shopping! Click on the names for the link to the shop.
By Amy Phung
ART
Karlie Wu
As if Karlie needs an introduction! Well I’ll do it anyway because did you know, in addition to being a besea.n co-founder, Karlie is also a Glasgow-based artist whose stunning work explores themes of nostalgia and cultural identity? I really love how each painting is like a window to a moment in time, a glimpse that seems at first everyday but actually resonates deeply with her personal experiences. Explore Karlie’s website because her paintings would be a really special gift for any art-lover. Karlie is also selling a selection of artwork including the above tiger print and a “Villain Hitting” T-shirt with 20% profits going to besea.n!
Amy Phung
Amy Phung besea.n limited edition Clementines print
Clementines signify good fortune and abundance in East and South East Asian culture and I was inspired to create this work to celebrate the creation of besea.n and the incredible community I’ve am so grateful to be a part of. This print is a mixture of watercolour and digital art, glicée printed on Hahnemuehle Fine Art 308gsm paper with archival quality ink. 50% of all profits from the sale of Clementines will be donated to besea.n. As of this moment, we are working on besea.n on a voluntary basis, balancing this work on top of our usual jobs and personal lives. With every purchase of this work, you’ll be helping besea.n to continue elevating ESEA voices and hold our media accountable. Please visit Amy’s Instagram for more information on this piece
Natasher Falconer
Natasha Falconer is a superb artist hailing from Scotland whose vibrant art will light up any space. Every piece tells a story and is guaranteed to be a talking point for anyone who sees her work. Watch out for our interview with Natasha coming soon. DM Natasha via Instagram for information on prices and how to order.
Bert and Roxy
Jessica Yeong’s original block prints and illustrations are inspired by nostalgic and ordinary everyday scenes. How she managed to make something so simple in form yet impactful by effect is something to wonder at. The clean lines and simple colour palettes would make a lovely gift for anyone who has an understated sense of style.
Chop stick and poke
Georgina Leung’s art includes colourful nods to the Asian diaspora with light-hearted interpretations of everyday life. She also makes beautiful flash tattoo illustrations which would make a fun gift for anyone who likes a bit of ink. I’ve ordered from Georgina several times and the quality has to be seen to be believed. Her art always puts a smile on my face.
Sarah Kwan
Sarah Kwan is a prolific artist whose work includes illustration, murals and sign-writing. Her most recent ‘East Meets West’ series explores the connections between Scottish and British Chinese culture in a fun and playful way - with decorative patterns and bright pops of colour.
Winnie Nip
Winnie Nip’s illustrations are so delightful, if you’ve ever enjoyed an Asian snack or simply love a colourful piece to brighten up a room, you really can’t go wrong with her upbeat drawings. Winnie also channels a lot of her experiences growing up in a takeaway into her art, giving her creativity an extra layer of meaning. Having ordered from Winnie before, I can say her attentiveness is second to none, she’s such a pleasure to buy from.
Joey Yu
Joey is an illustrator and animator who has worked with the likes of The New York Times, Guardian, Tate, The British Council, Hermes, Debeers and Lulu Guinness. Her expressive work and observational sketches elevate the everyday and would make a lovely gift for anyone who appreciates original artwork.
We Love Yoyo
Yoyo creates beautiful art and flash tattoo pieces, each image telling a story within a few delicate lines and shapes. Every painting gives food for thought, I really enjoy how evocative their creations are.
Liss Warner is an illustrator, photographer, filmmaker and wanderer, whose professional life has led her from Thailand to the Maldives to London. Her personalised illustrations can be commissioned via the Etsy store, and you can check out more of her work on Instagram.
FOOD
Cookbooks will make up a good portion of presents under the tree for many and we couldn’t fit all the ones from the chefs we love here. So please head to our ESEA chefs to follow article for ideas and also keep an eye out on our Instagram where we will be sharing some more over the next few days. For other food-themed gift ideas, how about…
Have you ever tried rempah? A complex paste of spices used as the foundation of many Malay, Indonesian and Peranakan dishes, it’s so difficult to prepare, you’ll rarely find it in shops in the UK. That’s where Rempapa Spice Co come in. Founded by Shu Han Lee, this South East Asian curry paste has been bottled to give you an easy way to enjoy an authentic taste of South East Asia. Give someone special the gift of good food this Christmas. It’s gluten-free and vegan friendly too!
The Little Yellow Rice Co sell a mouthwatering array of sauces including Malaysian Shrimp Chilli Oil and Sambal Ikan Bilis. Grab a collection of their classic Malaysian condiments and give 2021 a new flavour. Their shop also stocks candles and comfort boxes to make winter a bit more snuggly.
What better accompaniment to your new stack of sauces than some vegan, probiotic, gluten-free, high-in-fibre and protein-filled tempeh? Not to mention a brilliant source of vitamin B, iron and calcium. Unlike many pasteurised tempeh which is imported from outside the UK, Protempeh create fresh, unpasteurised tempeh that maintains high probiotic content and enzymes needed for a healthy gut. There are endless methods for cooking tempeh so why not consider introducing this brilliant food to your loved-ones for a healthier Christmas Day and beyond?
Ai No Mochi was created by best friends Hayyan and Kelly. Freshly made Mochi is hard to come by in the UK, and with innovative flavours such as salted caramel, vanilla cheesecake and raspberry coconut ripple, you can’t go wrong with a box of these sweet treats.
Cambridge resident Jin wanted to recreate the flavours and memories of his childhood in Malaysia and so The Baking Jin was born. With his background as an engineer, Jin brings the precision and care needed to create perfectly balanced and flavoursome bakes! I can’t imagine anything nicer than a pandan layer cake or black sesame Swiss roll as a Christmas table centrepiece.
Tangy’s Kitchen offers affordable, bespoke Chinese 1-2-1 cooking lessons in the home, so people don’t have to leave their houses! During lockdown, they also offer online lessons. Gift vouchers are available to purchase as birthday presents, Christmas presents or even wedding and anniversary gifts! Perfect for those who prefer gifting experiences - and what better way to do that than by learning how to make delicious, authentic Chinese food?
Fatboy zine documents recipes from the childhood of editor Christopher O’Leary, who moved from Hong Kong to Philippines and then to Liverpool at a young age. The current three issues feature ube ice cream, rump steak, and buttery fingers of plantain amongst other home cooked food, an ode to his mother. I love the combination of cookbook and diary, showing how food can cross physical and cultural borders, infused closely with our childhood experiences.
KIDS
Christmas Day is usually accompanied by a mountain of cardboard boxes and plastic wrapping flying in all directions, ready to be dumped on the roadside and taken to landfill, where it will sit for an indefinite amount of time. Did you know we produce an extra 30% of waste during the Christmas period? Contribute to a more environmentally-conscious Christmas for your favourite little ones this year by purchasing them a Whirli Toy Library subscription. Founded by Nigel Phan, subscribers can choose from over 1,000 toys for 0-7 year-olds. They can play with the toys for as long as they like, and when they’re done, swap them! Visit the Whirli website to find out more about how the subscription works. I have used Whirli myself so feel free to message me for a more in-depth review.
Ann and Kiki came together with a desire to bring greater awareness of underrepresented East and South East Asian voices within children's books. It's so important for kids to be surrounded by literature that not only shows a diverse range of backgrounds but to also see themselves reflected. This is where Lantern Books comes in. They stock a range of bilingual, Japanese, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese books.
BEAUTY
Majo Medicine is a natural, ethical and organic skincare brand making cruelty free, vegan products that are packed full of potent, high quality organic ingredients, which make the skin look and feel amazing. Founder Clare Uchima takes inspiration from her Okinawan roots to develop a range of goods powered by nature. Majo Medicine also sell a range of candles and clothing.
A subscription box service, each month LengBox delivers 5-7 full-sized Korean skincare products. Founded by Tiffany Ly, she was inspired to create LengBox when she suffered from problem skin and felt like every product available in the UK did not work. Korean skincare came to the rescue and the rest is history. Subscription boxes are a fun way to keep Christmas going beyond December! Get this for the beauty lover in your life.
Mask Time UK is a Korean sheet mask subscription service that aims to deliver high quality sheet masks to your door. Who doesn’t love a pamper? It’s been a tumultuous year so why not give your loved ones the gift of “me time” this Christmas.
LIFESTYLE
I’m in love. In love with everything created by Scout Editions. Founded by siblings Wai and Pui, the range of cute stationary decked with geometric shapes are fun and uplifting. Experimenting with print processes and formats, riso printing and hand-pulled screen printing, every item is unique, making great keepsakes. I want everything.
ALKEMI store is an independent lifestyle store where you can find things that are not only timeless and beautiful, but also very practical and long lasting. With the mission of presenting 'Beautiful Objects for Everyday Life', ALKEMI store showcases many independent brands / makers from all over the world. ALKEMI store also works with many local artists and makers, introducing and selling their works in the store. As well as a bricks and mortar set up based in Nunhead, London, you can also browse their website for clothing, homewares and jewellery.
Founded by Stephanie Suen, Homework Store’s line of soaps, shampoo bars and other personal care goods are handmade in small batches to maintain maximum freshness. Their ingredients are inspired by traditional Chinese medicine and are made using only natural or toxin free ingredients, minimally packaged in eco-friendly materials. Homework Store also sell a range of candles and homewares, a product line that is sure to enhance your sense of serenity. Their avocado shampoo bar with hemp and broccoli seed sounds like just what my hair needs!
Scrubber is owned and operated by Hong-Konger-Londoner and proud British East Asian Siu-see and husband Scott. Scrubber is an eco-friendly, natural deodorant brand newly launched this year. Their plastic-free deodorants are available in two fresh, gender neutral scents. Each batch is handmade in England from entirely natural and chemical-free ingredients: no aluminium, no sulphates, no parabens.
All ingredients are ethically sourced from fair trade sellers and are 100% vegan and palm oil free. Siu-see and Scott think that eco-friendly, natural skincare shouldn’t cost the Earth (excuse the pun), which is why they’ve priced their deodorants fairly, without compromising on quality ingredients.
Jennifer Lam and Jen Hoang started the online crafts business Stitch and Story in 2012 from a kitchen table with the aim of inspiring a new generation of millennials to learn knitting and crocheting skills. Jennifer and Jen set out to create a product that would inspire more people to learn to knit and emphasise the richness of stories behind handmade products. The Pusheen cushions and Charlie Brown sweater are on my wish list!
Since 2012, My China Roots’ global team of genealogists has helped hundreds of families explore their Chinese heritage. Their detectives scour the Chinese countryside in search of relatives, records and ancestral stories. They also have a range of online services such as a surname search (where you can find out more about your Chinese surname). Have your friends or relatives ever been curious about the origins of their family? Contact My China Roots to find out more.
Made in Chinatown brings together artists, community members and volunteers to create unique and beautiful products that share the hidden stories of London’s Chinatown. All profits from these products will fund future heritage and community projects in Chinatown. The first full range of Made in Chinatown products features the work of internationally exhibited artists Pui Lee and Ekta Kaul. Chinatown has been hit particularly hard during the pandemic and this wonderful initiative will hopefully go some way to reviving this precious neighbourhood and community.
I’m a bit of a ceramics fiend so was very excited to hear about Vivian’s shop where she sells really wonderful ceramic tableware featuring organic swirls and earthy patterns. Each unique piece is individually handmade and you can also order custom pieces from Vivian.
Bonny’s range of hand-poured soy wax candles include homely blends such as lemongrass, coconut, bergamot and green tea, roman chamomile, patchouli. I can’t wait to place my first order. Bonny also creates beautiful readymade and custom artwork, I really love the delicate details and use of deckle edge paper that lends her art a lovely tactile quality.
Created by Wingshan Smith, Tender Coven is an online coven community and monthly subscription spell box carefully curated to merge wxtchcraft with support for emerging artists. Each carefully curated box includes an eight page risograph zine, spell materials and witchy treats such as magical oils or ointments, loose incense, spell candles, tea, magical herbs, altar items, and so much more. Gift something magical for the wxtch in your life.
Indigo Magazine (@indigo.mgzn on Instagram) is a platform that showcases new voices from South East Asian arts and beyond. They believe in looking to the arts to shed light on the nuances of the region and to create new narratives, as South East Asians are often underrepresented or misrepresented in the arts.
They seek to promote emergent voices who generate change in South East Asian societies and cultures. Their issues are available for purchase from their online shop on the website.
CLOTHING
Based in Glasgow, Sophie Chen makes a beautiful range of slow fashion items that are created with care and guaranteed to look timeless and effortless. Slow fashion pieces are designed with sustainability in mind, focusing on long-lasting quality and fair treatment to the Earth and its inhabitants.
Started by designer Emily Tam, 1800 Gallons aims to create a more cyclical approach to design through the use of repurposed textiles. With a slow fashion approach, Emily’s pieces are built to withstand the test of time. The name comes from the amount of water needed to grow cotton to create one pair of jeans. Emily currently has a line of facemasks using deadstock denim with a silk lining to reduce maskne and skin irritation. We know that masks will be a continuing part of our future, why not gift something stylish and environmentally conscious this year?
May San is a British designer who travelled for months exploring the hill tribes of Northern Vietnam, where she stumbled upon worn and unused Flower Hmong aprons. Eager to create functional pieces to suit an urban user whilst ensuring that the historic depth and meaning of the embroidered patterns continued to be appreciated, she created a product line including face masks, accessories, jewellery and clothing. Visit her site to learn more about the tribes and the important meanings behind the patterns and symbols on the fabrics.
Maggie sells a wonderful range of knits in this independent hand knitting garment company that would make a cosy and colourful gift. I love the colour block designs that are guaranteed to make winter feel a lot less dreary.
JEWELLERY
An intersectional environmentalist and podcaster, Tori’s shop sells colourful polymer clay jewellery, usually speckled with metallic accents. All sales fund her work in climate justice and mental health advocacy. Tori’s collection is positively dreamy and the perfect way to give a meaningful gift this Christmas. Read Tori’s latest interview with besea.n to find out why we love everything she stands for.
Dose of Rose is a contemporary jewellery brand, designed and hand-crafted by founder Seohyun Han, each limited edition collection is inspired by real women who are true to themselves and are living an authentic life. Harnessing the uncomplicated beauty of polished metals and playing around with proportions and personalisation, this is jewellery designed to effortlessly elevate your everyday look. Every piece has a story to tell, what a unique way to give someone a timeless and beautiful gift.
Kate creates every single piece of jewellery in her collection by hand. Inspired by rocks and minerals, the use of resin means every piece is unique. I love how the material plays with light and the forms create a sense of movement. I can’t stop marvelling when I look at her work, this is truly the definition of wearable art.
Have any other recommendations for us of ESEA businesses that we need to know about? Get in touch on Instagram or Twitter.