The Lucy Loves Christmas Gift Guide
A round-up of 15 art, design & travel gift ideas with a Turkish twist
Hi everyone,
I hope you are all well. The beginning of December marks the official countdown to Christmas and so this month’s Lucy Loves column takes the form of a gift guide. I’m sure your inbox has been inundated with these in recent weeks, but I’m willing to bet that this is the only one offering a curated edit of arts, design and travel-inspired gift ideas with a Turkish twist.
One of the main reasons I launched The Istanbulist back in January was to introduce you to the people, places and things that make Istanbul so creatively inspiring. Straddling the Asian and European sides of the Bosphorus strait, it is home to a wealth of visionary designers, artists, jewellers and artisans that draw on the city’s intoxicating mix of Eastern and Western influences for inspiration. Among those I’ve profiled this year are the emerging artist Lal Batman, the interior designer Enis Karavil and Madame Malachite founder Irem Kinay.
As Christmas shopping can be a tad overwhelming, I have divided the below edit into three bite-size sections, each featuring five present ideas by brilliant Turkish brands or creatives that I think you’ll love. And yes, everything is available to buy online! But there’s more….
In the spirit of Christmas, I’m also gifting two lucky free subscribers a complimentary six-month paid subscription to The Istanbulist. As a paid subscriber, you will gain access to the full Istanbulist archive, open threads and chats as well as subscriber perks coming in 2024. To be in with a chance of winning a paid subscription, follow these simple steps:
If you’re not yet a subscriber, make sure you sign up for free below
Tell me your favourite gift idea and why in the comments below
The giveaway will be drawn at random on 9 December at 12pm (GMT). The winners will be announced via my story (@lucy_scovell) and will be notified via Direct Message and / or email. T&Cs below.
I wish you all the best of luck and a healthy, happy and prosperous festive season.
Love Lucy Xx
For the art lover
This year, I’ve had the opportunity to meet some brilliant Turkish artists, collaborate with visionary galleries and, of course, step foot into the new Istanbul Modern. These gifts are from five of my favourite artsy hotspots in London, Istanbul & beyond.
Top row L-R:
Porcelain jug by Santimetre for Pilevneli Gallery from Pilevneli Shop
Taurus (No. 20) by Turkish artist Yasha Butler
Bottom row L-R:
Clutch bag with Nevin Aladağ design from the Istanbul Modern
Bronze horned rhino sculpture by Duygu Ergor Baur from Anna Laudel Gallery
Fahrelnissa Zeid artist book from Tate Shop
For the aesthete
Turkey has a rich cultural heritage and tradition of artisan craft, but the contemporary design scene is no less impressive. If you’re looking to spoil the aesthete in your life, then these delightful (and mostly handcrafted) pieces might do the trick.
Top L-R:
A Ragno cashmere blend blanket with handcrafted metallic thread embroidery design from SANAYI313
Blue weekender bag with handcrafted multicoloured strap from Turquoise Tassel
Bottom L-R:
Turquerie candlestick holder by Les-Ottomans from Harrods
A gift subscription to The Istanbulist, featuring all things art, design & travel
Empress double diamond gold earrings by Bee Goddess from Bee Goddess
For the globetrotter
With such a diverse landscape, Turkey is a traveller’s dream. Since moving to Turkey, I’ve tramped the streets of Istanbul, toured the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia, explored the ancient cities around Izmir, and enjoyed a little R&R in a string of boutique boltholes along the Turquoise Coast. These are some of the things I’d like to have taken with me en route.
Top L-R:
Black and gold hand-embroidered Spice Route mules from Anatolian Craft
Bottom L-R:
Travel size bottle of Atelier Rebul’s signature 1895 Eau de Parfum from Atelier Rebul
Electric blue Evil Eye luggage tag by Madame Malachite from Madame Malachite
Red hand-printed cotton toiletry bag from Tulu Textiles
*All entries are free. The prize is non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash. It cannot be sold or given to an alternative party.
This prize is not sponsored, endorsed or administrated by, or associated in any way with Instagram. Competition winner announcements will only be posted by the @lucy_scovell official Instagram account. I will never contact you asking for personal bank account details. Should you be contacted by an account claiming to be @lucy_scovell, please block and report them immediately.