Living
Souvenir Savvy: Travel Keepsakes Worth Keeping
souvenir introI Heart City T-shirts? Terribly tacky. Monument magnets? So corny. Leaning Tower of Pisa underpants? Perish the thought. Allow us to suggest something unusual, meaningful and memorable instead.
0/16
Living
Souvenir Savvy: Travel Keepsakes Worth Keeping.
montrealMontréal Memento: Quebecers have a long history of handicraft, and you’ll see the tradition being kept alive today by local artisans making contemporary and traditional wares, from beaver pillows to vintage jewellery. But some things stand out, like these uniquely French and strikingly flat Rapapla cloth dolls by Erica Perrot – they’ll make perfect souvenirs for little ones on your list. raplapla.com, amazon.com
1/16
Living
Souvenir Savvy: Travel Keepsakes Worth Keeping.
londonLondon Looks: Forget the mass-produced landmark souvenirs you find in dodgy tourist shops – keep an eye out for one-of-a-kind varieties like these cute DIY paper gardening kits for table tops and window sills, depicting scenes from the capital and countryside, or even wooden playsets and DIY chocolate moulds featuring iconic structures for under £20. poshtottydesigns.com, choconchoc.co.uk, another-studio.com
2/16
Living
Souvenir Savvy: Travel Keepsakes Worth Keeping.
dutchDutch Design: When in the Netherlands, go with what the Dutch do best: design. If you’re a modern-minded enthusiast, we recommend innovative and playful versions of traditional designs like these wooden cutting boards depicting Amsterdam’s canal houses, or creative wallpaper with lifelike images of the famous Delft blue porcelain. greetingsfrom.nl, studioditte.com
3/16
Living
Souvenir Savvy: Travel Keepsakes Worth Keeping.
provenceProvençal Pottery: Few things are more representative of Provençe than rustic handmade pottery. Lay your hands on famous Faience pieces, but if you prefer something a little more specific, consider local kitchen tools like a Provençal garlic grater. You’ll love telling curious friends, “Oh! That’s a gratte ail that I picked up in Provençe!” chez-tante-edith.com
4/16
Living
Souvenir Savvy: Travel Keepsakes Worth Keeping.
italyIcons of Italy: In a country synonymous with iconic buildings, fine craftsmanship and artistry, you’ll find functional, modern interpretations of the past on offer …if you hunt intelligently. A series of 5 desk accessories featuring Italy’s monuments by Andrea Rekalidis, and cooking utensils with holes in the shape of Italy by Inga Sempe, are our all-time favourites. bozu.it, ingasempe.fr
5/16
Living
Souvenir Savvy: Travel Keepsakes Worth Keeping.
reykjavikReykjavik Rocks: Conjure up memories of volcano-rich Iceland and capture the local spirit by bringing back a keepsake made of lava rock. We suggest a hand-assembled timepiece that mixes the dark black of lava and volcanic ash – buy from reputed studios in Reykjavik. And if you’re feeling particularly splurgy, you can even customise it for additional Króna. jswatch.com
6/16
Living
Souvenir Savvy: Travel Keepsakes Worth Keeping.
greenlandGreenland’s Gemstone: Calling all gem addicts on the lookout for magical rocks: behold deep pink Tugtupite (aka reindeer blood stone) mined primarily in Greenland. This rare rock becomes brilliant when exposed to light or heat, and according to local lore, it has aphrodisiacal properties. Buy from reputed crystal dealers and check certification. goldfingers.dk
7/16
Living
Souvenir Savvy: Travel Keepsakes Worth Keeping.
swedishSwedish Saltlakrits: No trip to Sweden is complete without a bag of saltlakrits, or salt liquorice. Be warned, however, that the sharp salty flavour can be a little strange on the palette, though the Swedes swear by it. Visit Lakritsroten in Stockholm for speciality supplies, or if you like your liquorice grimacingly salty, look for Djungelvrål in supermarket aisles. [Photo:Nordic Republic/Flickr]
8/16
Living
Souvenir Savvy: Travel Keepsakes Worth Keeping.
FinnishFinnish Find: The Finns take their ‘Tar’ seriously, and perhaps you should, too, to evoke memories of Finland. Sweet ‘n smoky but not overpowering, Tar or Terva is NOT the one used to fill potholes; it’s derived from Pine sap, and you’ll find it infiltrating all sorts of stuff from pancakes to soap. Search for Terva Sirippii, or antiseptic tar soap, in supermarkets. [Photo: Taryn Domingos/Flickr]
9/16
Living
Souvenir Savvy: Travel Keepsakes Worth Keeping.
marrakechMemories Of Marrakech: From pottery to pâtisserie, there’s something for every taste in the city’s souks. For discerning fashionistas, we recommend bright Babouches, traditional handmade slippers in soft leather that go from simple to sequined and super loud. Find them at Souk Smata and choose a tight fit – with extended wear, they’ll feel like a pair of custom shoes. [Photo: Frédérique Voisin-Demery/Flickr]
10/16
Living
Souvenir Savvy: Travel Keepsakes Worth Keeping.
indianIndian Artefacts: Artefacts abound in the subcontinent, but we choose traditionally crafted brass or silver décor wares for their vintage appeal. Featured here is an 18th century-inspired kettle-shaped brass vase laboriously etched by master craftsmen. Note, however, that it takes some elbow grease to maintain metal before you fall hopelessly in love with it. goodearth.in
11/16
Living
Souvenir Savvy: Travel Keepsakes Worth Keeping.
japaneseJapanese Omamori: These silk brocade yearly amulets with hidden Japanese inscriptions bestow wearers with good luck, protective powers and blessings. Expect to pay up to ¥1500 per piece at Shinto shrines or Buddhist temples. TIP: Never open omamori – there are consequences – and once expired, return to places of purchase. [Photo: Japanexperterna.se/Flickr]
12/16
Living
Souvenir Savvy: Travel Keepsakes Worth Keeping.
seoulSymbols Of Seoul: No matter how charming, sometimes a single souvenir is not enough to capture the entire travel experience. That’s where a collection of destination-specific oddities comes in handy, like this handpicked box of everyday objects that reflect Seoul’s cultural scape, featuring Korean water tumblers, hamburger-shaped Post-Its – even a collagen mask. Get inspired – build a box of your own. aboxfrom.com
13/16
Living
Souvenir Savvy: Travel Keepsakes Worth Keeping.
singaporeSingapore Savouries: Tickle your taste buds with a tin of Singapore Heritage cookies and Drunken Durian mooncakes highlighting local flavours at Cookie Museum stores in Marina Square and Takashimaya shopping malls. And don’t forget the famous Singapore Sling cocktail – also produced in delicious marmalade form by Straits Preserves. thecookiemuseum.tumblr.com, straitspreserves.com
14/16
Living
Souvenir Savvy: Travel Keepsakes Worth Keeping.
kiwiKiwi Keepsake: Next time you’re in New Zealand, check out possum fur accessories bearing Lothlorian and Merino Mink brand names. They’re warmer than sheep wool but lighter in weight and won’t burn as easily. Oh! And don’t bother alerting PETA – Brushtail possums are classified as pests; culling is approved by the World Wildlife Fund.
15/16
Living
Souvenir Savvy: Travel Keepsakes Worth Keeping.
poll16/16
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.