The Nice List: Our creative gift guide to the best independent makers this Christmas

Billed as a small press and a Risograph print studio in Paris, Fidèle offers a mighty collection of Riso-related goodies to get your hands on. We love the time and care afforded to each item as well as the workshops and Riso education Fidèle offers.

Combining an unmistakable knack for storytelling and a background in standup comedy, Maddie Fischer’s irregular illustrations tell otherworldly fantasies with humorous flare. Offering a range of products on her online shop from prints to graphic tees, Maddie’s products are always clever and playful. Pre-orders for her beautiful 2025 calendar start soon so get in line!

Out Of The Blueprint is an Edinburgh-based studio supporting young artists all over Scotland, selling Risograph prints made by its artists-in-residence on its online shop — some recent favourites of ours have been Lauren Cory’s cosy Scottish landscapes.

Store Store is a shop and educational space hosting a weekly After School Club for young people. It sells unique products designed by its After School Club participants alongside lifestyle products made by designers working in London and Rotterdam. All proceeds go back into the programme.

Dedicated to all things print, PageMasters offers an affordable and high-quality Risograph printing service from its little workshop in Lewisham, London. All realised in the typical vivid and warm Riso style, PageMasters presents a dazzling collection of zines, posters, cards and more.

Managed by Hani and creative director, Orfayo, Wish Cards are a warm and wonderful way to pause, reflect, take a breath and celebrate the moment. Each card comes equipped with a match, a strike-pad and a candlewick to make your very own wish — make it a good one!

Prints, prints and more prints! London-based illustrator, animator and curator, Joey Yu’s cross-disciplinary prints are sure to melt the heart of anyone this Christmas. Like this Fishing print, they’re all cute, colourful, and veritably hang-uppable. What more could you ask for?

With yet another festive treat, UAL has once again partnered with Tate Modern to produce a range of products, taking contributions from students across disciplines. These unique cards are exclusively sold at the University of the Arts London’s not-for-profit organisation, Not Just a Shop and Tate shops.

Using his experience with Dark Horse Comics, Nike Skateboarding and more, illustrator and mental health advocate Jason Sturgill produces tongue-in-cheek stickers, prints, calendars and more. Big smiles guaranteed.

Maria Midttun is a Norwegian illustrator living and working in London. Her playful sketchbook-like works adorn everything from bowls to envelopes. But printed on stunning quality paper and replete with Riso printed drawings and collages, Maria’s 2025 calendar is that special gift that keeps on giving!

Working with communities affected by the ongoing occupation of the West Bank, SkatePal has used skateboarding as a medium to educate, support and uplift young people in the region. Selling skateboarding tees, accessories and patches featuring the organisation’s sun logo, all proceeds from the shop help to directly support their ongoing work in Palestine.

A knitwear-lovers playground, Saffy’s shop is an exquisite showcase of the cosiest hats, scarves and wallhangings – we especially love the wiggly worm scarf! Inspired by narrative textiles and storytelling, Saffy explores themes of humour and eccentricity using knitting, crochet and felting techniques.

For every personal craft project, first commercial success and painful unrealised work, the cutting mat has been there. Now, this faithful companion to every designer has been realised in beautiful, wearable glory. We love pretty much everything from Present & Correct, but this year we can't get enough of these Cutting Mat Socks, designed by Nik Bentel (see desktop folder wallet to the right for more from Nik!). This pair might be the perfect gift for any and all creatives.

Based in NYC, surrealist outfit Nik Bentel Studio is a collection of designers playing with our idea of everyday objects. Whether it’s a desktop folder icon wallet or the iconic Lidl croissant handbag, there’s truly something for everyone. Ranging from furniture, clothes, handbags, homeware items and toys – the only question that remains is, what next?

We have not been able to stop thinking about the Romanesco Bag from knitwear powerhouse Ranti Studio. With comfy clothing items you could tuck into, who needs a blanket this winter?

We’ve all got that stylish friend thats impossible to buy for. Pupari (run by London-based silversmith, Jordan) has solved that issue with recycled solid sterling silver crafted into handmade rings. The shop boasts the cutest little horsey ring as well as an effortlessly cool goggle number.

One for the wardrobe — independent clothing brand and all femxle collective Rhi Dancey make a range of fun and unique pieces. Their collection of clothing and accessories is perfect for any fashionistas amongst us!

Inspired by his long meandering walks through British countryside, Man in the Woods produces surprisingly punk and pastoral patches that are sure to add a splash of colour to any item.

Hares Hoard is a designer looking to fight those winter chills in classic... scratch that, mediaeval style. Hoard’s crafted scarves colourfully explore the historical culture of Great Britain, playing on and subverting the aesthetics of good-old football scarves.

Jeweller Constance Pope aka Lovecut Silver can stamp anything you like on her handmade rings cut from recycled sterling silver. Plan out a personalised message for your loved ones or, for the more crafty types, book them into one of Constance’s ring making workshops where they can learn about the art of jewellery making and make a band of their own.

Hanna Whitehead is a ceramic artist crafting all sorts of funky forms. We particularly love her decorative extruded hangers. Made in a variety of colours and patterns, no two hand-crafted hooks are the same.

Candles that look so good you’ll want to eat them: Nata Concept Store has been crafting the (soy-based) candles of your dreams. Its pasta collection boasts all the shapes, from realistic ravioli to swirls of tagliatelle – these will fit right into anyone’s table spreads.

Whimsey aplenty! Leeeeeetoy stocks the shelves with the cutest little vinyl toys from another dimension. Combining pop colours, cultural references, and even glow-in-the-dark elements, this hodgepodge collection is sure to entertain your inner child. These aren’t your parents’ toys!

With quite possibly the cutest ceramics you’ve ever seen, illustrator and ceramicist Rosa aka Coolest Slug has an online shop full of beautiful tableware, candle holders and even ceramic clocks, carefully decorated with her adorable illustrations – we can’t pick a favourite!

Paulin is on a mission to show that decorative clocks never go out of style. Wrangling a cohort of contributing artists, Paulin has put together a collection of joyful clocks bursting with colour.

Take some techniques from slab building and woodwork, throw in some inspiration from post-war Hollywood cinema set design, and you’ve got pop sculpturist Annie Strachan. Using sustainable processes involving recycled card and paper pulp, Annie produces wonderfully textured, brilliantly weird lamps and household items like her Red Tulip Floor Lamp.

Born and raised in a “pizza shop in Udine, Italy” creative director and illustrator Marianna Fierro is serving up a selection of tantalising food-themed textiles and home goods using only the freshest ingredients. Bright popping colours bring to life these truly unique items and excite that Italophile inside all of us. Bellissimo!

Marblehead is fighting gender stereotypes, celebrating queer culture and looking after the planet, one sticker pack at a time. With magnets like these, they encourage us to stay groovy, stay weird and above all, stay you!

Illustrator Rachel Sender’s weird and wonderful Moody Magnets will make anyone’s fridge door more fun! Glazed from stoneware in delicate pastel swirls, each friendly face is completely unique. You may also want to consider this gift as a mini work of art for someone’s wall — these smiles stick to screws with their magnetic force.

Award winning illustrator and animator Cari Vander Yacht produces felted wool decorations brimming with colour, life and character. From a furry Cup Noodle to Eddie The Skiing Cat, these totally unique trinkets are sure to turn heads this Christmas.