1. The fragrant gift
Launched by a passionate couple, Dandy Craft offers natural cosmetic care products (with no controversial ingredients) to ladies and gents alike. Founders Solène and Michel-Ange were, respectively, a communications manager and a chemist, and wanted to “demystify the traditional cosmetics industry” with their venture. They make their own products in Esch-sur-Alzette, including shower gels, shampoos and creams with natural fragrances. The products--of course--come in recycled aluminium bottles.
Shop . Until 9 January the shop is also present at the Smile concept store at the Cloche d’Or.
2. The bejewelled gift
Give a gift that sparkles with a creation by goldsmith and jeweller Nancy Fis, who opened her workshop in 2019 and incorporates organic and plant motifs into her rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets. Fis sources her gold and silver mainly from a German refinery and a Peruvian fair trade cooperative, and can also rework your existing jewellery.
Nancy Fis creates and manufactures a whole range of jewellery, mostly inspired by plant motifs. Photo: Romain Gamba/Maison Moderne/Archives
Shop or visit Fis’s workshop (appointment only). Some products are also available from Letzshop.
3. The educational gift
Languages.lu was founded in 2009 with the aim of making learning and practising Luxembourgish more fun. Founder and director Daniela Clara Moraru got the idea from her nephew Alex, who was spending his holidays with her in Luxembourg. Check out the 365-page calendar (with no dates) that you can leaf through for gradual improvement, or a pack of cards with expressions in Luxembourgish.
Order .
4. The responsible cleaning gift
Sarah and Nicolas sell a range of washing products on their website. Photo: Romain Gamba/Maison Moderne/Archives
For the neatnik in your life: a cleaning product from Wasch. Created in Luxembourg by Nicolas Devaux and Sarah Weyssow, the company seeks “to preserve our planet” with biodegradable and non-toxic substances. Among the products are stain removers, detergents and more.
Shop or find Wasch products in some 40 local sales outlets.
5. The sweet-tooth gift
After completing her training in Paris, Lola Valerius opened her own chocolate factory in 2021 in her hometown of Esch-sur-Alzette.
Valerius offers a whole range of chocolates with subtle and original combinations that looks like works of art (you almost don’t want to eat them… but you do!)
Visit the shop: 37, Avenue de la Gare, L-4130 Esch-sur-Alzette
6. The stylish gift
For a stylish gift in the colours of Luxembourg, visit one of the boutiques run by Jacques Schneider. The artist--also a Knight of the Order of Civil and Military Merit of Adolphe de Nassau for his commitment to culture--offers a distinctive wardrobe of t-shirts, sneakers, shoes and hoodies.
Visit the shop: 9, Rue de Louvigny, L-1946 Luxembourg. The products are also sold at a concept store in the Cloche d’Or shopping centre.
7. The aromatic gift
A handmade candle from the Atelier Virginie Depoorter is just the thing to make your home cosy and sweet-smelling. Poured by hand in a workshop in Helmsange, the candles use waxes with natural plants such as soya, rapeseed and beeswax, and their wicks are lead-free. The artist draws inspiration from her travels to create a unique world of scents: the winter range highlights orange and chocolate, Christmas tree, powdery cashmere and spicy zest.
Shop or in certain shops via distributors Wanderscheid, Fleurs Wüst, Lucien Schweitzer, l’Épicerie du fin gourmand and the De Vous à Elles boutique.
8. The useful gift
At his workshop in Kaerjeng, born-in-Luxembourg Luc Guillaume creates a range of wooden everyday objects. He describes wood as a “noble and warm” material: the pens come in dozens of variants (ranging from €60 to €130), while the key rings, spice mills, bottle-openers and -stoppers are worth a look, too.
Luc Guillaume works with Luxembourg or European wood. Photo: Préludes Bois
Shop (you have to contact him directly) or at Luxembourg House: 2, Rue de l’Eau, L-1449 Luxembourg.
9. The children’s gift
Imagination! Spark yours (and your child’s) with handmade costumes, designed--and customisable--by Jo de Santis, who uses sustainable materials for her creations. The artist set up shop in 2022, moving her studio to Luxembourg from the UK. Tiny word of warning, though: the customised costumes require measurements and can take from one to six weeks to deliver. (Off-the-shelf versions are available, too.)
Shop .
10. The all-in-one-(box) gift
Can’t decide? Luxembourg-based Jado sells a “wonderbox” made up of local artisanal products: tea, candles, honey, pralines, etc. The company also does gins and other spirits with customisable bottle labels.
Shop .
This article in Paperjam. It has been translated and edited for Delano.