Don’t find yourself shopping on the same websites as you do every year.
Give your loved ones the gift of something truly unique. Most years, you find yourself on the same websites, looking at the same kinds of products for your Christmas shopping. However, if you’re wanting to mix things up a bit this year, why not shop local, and shop Irish? The EPIC Gift Shop is much more than a place to pick up a few souvenirs – it’s home to some of the most gorgeous Irish brands on the market, and in some cases, one of the few retailers where you can see these items in person. Find the likes of Irish Socksciety, PawPear, Don’t Kill My Vibe, Gosh! Toys, The Irish Handmade Glass Company, Mella’s Fudge, Nicholas Mosse, Stories by Ola, Nine Arrow, and so many more. Below find our gift guide to a more sustainable, more Irish Christmas.
Kids
If you can’t tell your Jellycats from the Squishmallows, perhaps avoid them altogether when shopping for your gifts for children. The alternative? Gosh! soft toys are the new adorable accessory, and much more cost effective too. Designed to suit people whether they are 5 or 95, they come in a handy carrier box, so they are easily transported from place to place, and it gives that extra touch of luxury too.
Of course, there are plenty more items to buy at the EPIC Gift Shop for the kids – books, musical instruments, jigsaws, clothing – we think Santa takes a bit of inspiration from us personally.
Gifts for Her
It’s no secret in the last couple of years, Irish-made jewellery has seen a huge surge in popularity. Never has it been so cool to wear emblems of Irish design and culture, whether that’s through the shamrock motif, or the traditional claddagh. At the EPIC Gift Shop, you will find multiple brands that sell this exact style of metal-wear, whether your preference is gold or silver. From Don’t Kill My Vibe, a quirky Gen Z esque shop with pieces adorned with Irish text (think grá, mo chroí) to Solvar, a family-owned jeweller since 1941 specialising in designs that embody Ireland’s rich culture and heritage, using 9 Karat gold.
This kind of gift is a no-brainer, but is still thoughtful and will have your loved one beaming – just make sure you choose the correct metal, and you’re golden (or silver).
Gifts for Him
Buying for men can be tricky at times, it’s true, but you can’t go wrong with a funny print. Ray Hurley’s work strikes the balance of quirky and eye-catching, an ideal addition to a gallery wall, something that will easily kickstart a conversation. Hurley himself hails from Cork, and captures the witticism that the Irish are so known for – his prints are a crowd pleaser, and I dare anyone not to crack a smile upon seeing one.
If the man in your life is simply without space on his walls, shop our wider range – whiskey stones from Rustech Wood, Irish interest books, sweets, colourful and quirky socks – you name it.
Stocking Stuffers
The main gifts are bought and ready to be wrapped to go under the tree, but what about those all-too important stocking stuffers? Don’t find yourself unable to fit anything into your stockings – EPIC sells the exact kind of trinkets and knick knacks that make stockings such a special part of Christmas, whether you dive into yours on the 24th, or first thing on the morning of.
One of our top sellers from the last year, thanks to the Labubu craze, are these Erin Knitwear sheep, affectionately known as LaBaaBaas, They come in a variety of designs, both seasonal and fashionable, and in our opinion, they boot the terrifying Labubu right out the door for cuteness.
You will also find a range of tasty Irish treats at the shop, whether they’re from Butlers, Mella Fudge, or Treat Yo Self.
Decorations
One of the most magical traditions coming up to Christmas is decorating your tree, and remembering where every beautiful piece came from. Trinkets and memorabilia get passed down from generation to generation, and if you want to be apart of someone’s future decorating ritual, why not gift them a new ornament to hang, a piece they will eventually give to the next generation, and they will pass on again and again.
At the EPIC Gift Shop we have a gorgeous selection of decorations, all Irish in theme, spanning from elegant and precious, like the baubles from the Irish Handmade Glass Company, to quintessentially Irish with the passport, the post box, or the basket of groceries from Paddy Box. Our latest addition to the shop is Maple Moon, which hails from County Down, and creates colourful ornaments for your tree that will have you longing for rolling hills and tea and biscuits. A sure conversation starter on Christmas day when you’re all gathered around!
If this Christmas gift guide has put you in the mood to shop, you can check out our full selection on our online shop, or for an even bigger selection, come on into chq – you can access the shop without a ticket into EPIC. The shop opens daily from 10am – 6:45pm.
