Creative gift ideas and shopping made easy, this festive season
We’ve compiled some of our favourite gift ideas and stocking-stuffers, ranging from exclusive apparel, designer glassware, arty totes and Christmas desserts-with-a-difference. As well as some top tips for making your trip in and out of the CBD easy peasy, with cheap parking and late-night shopping.
Reko Rennie cap ($34.95) and socks ($19.95) – available at NGV design store
- Rekospective: The Art of Reko Rennie range at NGV design store.
Currently on at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Rekospective: The Art of Reko Rennie showcases the bold and thought-provoking art of Kamilaroi artist, Reko Rennie. To celebrate, the NGV design store has a range of products featuring the striking street-art inspired designs of Rennie, including tote bags, tees, keyrings, caps and socks.
We think this socks and cap combo makes a top-quality stocking-stuffer this Christmas.
MoMA: Yinka Ilori Glassware (set of 2) – available at ACMI Shop, $165
- Yinka Ilori Glassware, available at ACMI Shop.
These gorgeous glasses by British-Nigerian designer Yinka Ilori are definite statement pieces. The Oorun Didun Cups are named for the Nigerian expression for ‘sweet sun’, and their design was inspired by nature – and the feelings that arise from encounters with the natural world.
Perfect for a special person with style oozing from their very pores, this is a gift that speaks to celebrating summertime with cool drinks on long balmy evenings – and looking fabulous while doing it.
Craig Charles — ‘Spirit of the Animals’ Tote – available at shopKHT, $50
- Craig Charles — 'Spirit of the Animals' Tote. Available at shopKHT.
The Koorie Heritage Trust recently released their Collection Range at shopKHT – cups, totes, tees and other products featuring designs from artists whose work is in their permanent collection.
We think this ‘Spirit of the Animals’ tote by Yorta Yorta / Mhutti Mhutti artists Craig Charles makes for a perfect beach-tote for summer swims, or a stylish bag to carry those extra market purchases.
Wattleseed Pavlova kit – available at Big Esso by Mabu Mabu, $28
- Wattleseed Pavlova kit – available at Big Esso by Mabu Mabu.
Look, we can’t guarantee yours will come out like this, but with a trio of spices and sugars made with native ingredients, you can be assured it will taste delicious – whatever your culinary skills!
Big Esso by Mabu Mabu stock the Kara Meta range of products, which feature Australian native spices, herbs and flavours, including this fabulous Wattleseed Pavlova Kit. Inside, you’ll find jars of wattleseed cocoa powder, lemon myrtle sugar and strawberry gum sugar, as well as an easy-to-follow recipe card. Follow the instructions to make a gorgeous, truly Aussie pavlova dessert for 8-10 guests.
A definite crowd-pleaser!
Town Camp Designs – Aboriginal Weapons t-shirt, $45 – available at Murran Melbourne
- Town Camp Designs – Aboriginal Weapons t-shirt. Available at the Murran Melbourne pop-up in the Atrium.
We love this ally-friendly tee by Town Camp Designs, featuring artwork designs of different Aboriginal weapons, by Christopher McMillan. The reverse side of the tee lists the names of the weapons in language, and it’s a super comfy and soft cotton that’s sure to become a staple fave.
This, and other great products by First People businesses, makers and artists are available at the new Murran Melbourne pop-up, located in the Atrium at Fed Square throughout the festive season. Murran is a café, meeting and gallery space, co-working space and retail store that operates out of Geelong, led by Ngarrimili, a social enterprise who work to nurture and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and businesses around Australia.
Come and pop in to say hi to the team from Murran who are running this festive-season exclusive pop-up at Fed Square until Christmas – and check out the range of books, jewellery, apparel, teas, handcrafts and other new products being delivered daily.
Free gift-wrapping – available in the Atrium, Thursdays and Fridays 5pm-9pm until Christmas
- Free gift-wrapping is available in the Atrium on Thursday and Fridays from 5pm–9pm until Christmas.
If the sight of a pile of presents and a roll of gift-wrapping paper is causing anxiety, let us help. Pop into the Atrium after 5pm on a Thursday or Friday eve, and let Mr Smart Melbourne wrap your gifts for free.
Mr Smart uses beautiful gift-wrapping paper, sustainable ribbon, and wraps without sticky tape using a fancy folding method, so the paper can be easily reused or recycled.
So, you can feel good, while you’re saving yourself from tackling that present pile. Win win!
Late-Night Shopping, Thursday 12 + 19 December, 5pm-9pm
- ACMI Shop will be open for Late-Night Shopping, on 12 and 19 December until 9pm. Photo: Phoebe Powell.
Mark your diary for Late-Night Shopping at Fed Square on 12 and 19 December when all our design stores and museum shops will be open late, enabling you to shop after work, then head straight to the Atrium for free gift-wrapping.
While you’re waiting, you can visit Santa for a family pic in the giant Santa chair – or if you pop in on a Friday evening, you can hear a program of Christmas choirs Hark-the-Herald-Angels Sing and fill the Atrium with the First Noel and lots of fa la la la la la – la la la-ing.
Kids will love the huge inflatable cutesy croc, koala and cockatoos in the Atrium – an installation of Aussie-themed festive cheer by Melbourne artists, The Huxleys.
Shop or Dine, $10 parking after 3pm, daily
- Free gift wrapping by Mr Smart Melbourne is available in the Atrium each Thursday and Friday evening.
We are guessing that if you’re doing all your Christmas shopping at Fed Square, it might be a bit tricky to carry them on the train home? Yes, well we’ve thought of that too.
You can park in the Fed Square car park after 3pm any day of the week, and when you spend $15 or more in one of our design stores (or participating restaurants or bars), you can park for only $10. Cheap cheap!
Align this offer with a Late-Night Shopping date, and that’s you shopped, wrapped and home again in one night. Merry Christmas!
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