By Annie Daly, Adam Erace, Melinda Fulmer, Karen Gardiner, Stacey Lastoe and Jackie Snow
Trust us: They don't need another packing cube. Instead, this holiday season, give the globe-trotters in your life a reminder that the romance of travel comes from discovering new sights, scents and skills.
From a workshop where participants learn the centuries-old beading techniques of New York's Mohawk tribes to a bespoke perfume blending session in Lisbon or a pair of cozy slip-on shoes handsewn from wool sourced on the Central Asian steppes, we've tracked down a roster of globally inspired gifts that celebrate craftsmanship at home and abroad.
An Anxious Traveler's Best Friend
Braving an airport's -- or a destination city's -- throngs feels less fraught if your passport and other essentials are secure. One way to gift serenity to your favorite nervous traveler? This petite, bean-shaped fanny pack. (Or, excuse us, "crossbody bag," as brands have chicly rebranded such totes, once considered a fashion fail.) This handmade one comes from Lindquist, a Rhode Island-based leather workshop, whose motto is "to love an object is to understand its making." Bonus: The naturally-dyed leather will only get suppler with age. Faba Bag, $420
An Immersion in Native American Artistry
Traditional Native American belts made by Fire Loom Creations are painstakingly detailed, several feet long, and have a 2.5-year waiting list. But, if you're seeking a unique present before 2027, offer giftees a tour of founder Kelly Back's bead studio in the Mohawk community of Akwesasne in northern New York, where they can craft their own accessories on site. Using time-honored techniques, Back helps each guest loom leather-backed beaded cuffs inspired by a wampum belt symbolizing the treaty between the Haudenosaunee and Dutch. Fire Loom Beading Workshop, $174 for 1-2 guests
A DIY Workshop for Incense Lovers
Got a meditative giftee? These intimate incense-crafting workshops -- held in both Los Angeles and Brooklyn -- transport participants on an aromatic journey through time and tradition. Over an afternoon, Hyungi Park, a Korean-American multimedia artist, schools her students in the ancient art of stick and cone incense-making using natural ingredients like oak, sage and frankincense -- and gives tips for foraging your own materials at home. A keepsake zine and a spread of traditional Korean treats sweeten the experience. Hyungi Park Incense Workshop, $100
A Knitter's Pilgrimage to a Sweater Mecca
Novelty Christmas sweaters quickly wear thin -- literally and figuratively. Instead, treat a yarn-obsessed giftee to an immersive holiday on Scotland's Fair Isle, where they can craft their own heirloom knitwear under the tutelage of a local artisan. Using a combination of hand- and machine- processes, experienced knitters tackle sweaters, while novices focus on smaller items like scarves. This weeklong workshop also includes guided nature walks and farm visits. (Suggest your giftee ignore the sheep's resentful glances.) Fair Isle With Marie Knitting Holidays, about $4,128
A Dopp Kit for Road Warriors
These handmade toiletry bags won't just stylishly protect your frequent-flier's contact lens solution. They'll also score karma points. Custom-crafted from a pleasingly preppy plaid upcycled from the interior upholstery of circa-1955 Mercedes-Benz cars, the dopp kits help fund the work of Unshattered, an upstate New York-based nonprofit that works with women in recovery from addiction. Each one is unique -- just like your giftees. Toiletry Kit from 1955 Mercedes-Benz Interior, $150
Perfume -- and Memories -- That Linger
According to some neuroscientists, smells forge stronger links to emotions than other senses. Let someone you love ponder that theory with a session at Lisbon's OPAR perfumes, an artisanal scent lab in the city's heart. Founder Karolina Ol dzka and a team of perfumers guide clients on a scent-memory exploration in response to prompts about favorite places, wines and more, to arrive at an original fragrance tailor-made for your giftee. OPAR Perfumes Custom Fragrance Session, about $180 for 100 milliliters
Slip-Ons Straight From the Steppes
Kyrgyzstan might be on the other side of the world, but these unusually cozy wool slides will let someone you love transport themselves to the Central Asian country without moving an inch. Handmade in its capital, Bishkek, they honor a centuries-old tradition of sheep herding and wool craftsmanship. And should your giftees get the urge to make an actual trip, these finds -- breathable, easy to pop on and off, and equipped with a durable rubber sole -- will get them through the TSA line with no awkward untying. Kyrgies Outdoor Wool Slides, $79
An International Cooking School That Doesn't Require a Passport
Has an aspiring chef in your life been dropping hints about Le Cordon Bleu? Instead of funding a sabbatical in Paris, ease your giftee in with a few sessions at the Cooking School, part of the luxe new Pendry Natirar resort, one hour outside Manhattan in Somerset County, N.J. Lineups change monthly, but popular courses include "French Bistro" and "Brioche Brunch." The price? Roughly the cost of checked luggage on an international flight. Class at the Cooking School at Pendry Natirar, from about $135
--Photographs by Cason Latimer for WSJ/WIB Agency; Prop styling by Catherine Campbell Pearson
The Wall Street Journal is not compensated by retailers listed in its articles as outlets for products. Listed retailers frequently are not the sole retail outlets.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
November 14, 2024 21:00 ET (02:00 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2024 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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