Collection by Kelsey Keith
Holiday Gift Guide 2014: Give Globally
Even the most airline-mile-hoarding world traveler has to come home sometime, so we've rounded up a bevy of gifts from global artisans to inspire wanderlust every day.
02 Optic Alarm Clock by Joe Colombo for Alessi, $84 store.dwell.com
This sporty little battery-powered number works on a bedside table, or even on the road. Its curvy plastic case brings a dose of Italian industrial design to time-telling—for the true globetrotters, set it to Majorca time and start dreaming about your next vacation.
Japanese Cast Iron Bear Bookends, $265 shop.nickeykehoe.com
Los Angeles decorator Nicky Kehoe's shop is chock-full of international treasures, from African feather scupltures to Spanish wool throws to cast iron accessories from Japan, like these ursine bookends.
Spotted Rug in black, $69 someware.com
Give some seriously laidback vibes with this 19.5"x3-" rug that was handwoven and dyed by artisans in Santander, Colombia. The accent carpet is made from fique, a plant fiber that, similar to agave sisal, is native to South America.
Wooden Tumbling Tower, $28 shopterrain.com
Games: fun for the whole family. This hand-crafted one is made of eco-friendly Monkey Pod wood and, like Jenga, is based on a traditional building block game from Africa.
Sake Pitcher by Japanese Ceramics, $44 stillhousenyc.com
From Maarten Baas to Jens Faber, we love a rough-hewn take on a traditional silhouette. This affordable, snowy white pitcher is made in Japan (in an area known for its mastery of porcelain) from high-fired ceramic with a glazed interior.
Navy backpack by Mismo, $540 at stilleben.dk
One of Copenhagen's reigning design shops, Stilleben, now offers online retail for its pitch-perfect array of tabletop pieces, art, and home goods. Danish brand Mismo doesn't come cheap, but it's built to last. We like the roll top, brass detailing, and leather straps.
Senegal Baskets by Eileen Fisher, $138 garnethill.com
One of our favorite insider secrets is the home line that Eileen Fisher does for Garnet Hill. (Check out the bath towels, for one.) This set of three fair-trade baskets, made of natural cattails and strips of reclaimed plastic, were commissioned by Fisher and are handmade by the Wolof weavers of Senegal in partnership with the Peace Corps.
Light Object 001 in Black by Naama Hofman, $582.85 larcobaleno.com
Naama Hofman—a Tel Aviv-based lighting designer we featured in Dwell's April 2012 issue—combines art and technology in this minimalist lamp. The bent metal rod is secured to an acrylic pipe that houses approximately 120 LEDS and can be placed tabletop in numerous positions or hung on the wall.
Liquid Body Flask by The Principals, $45 areaware.com
Be ever-ready to hit the road with this designer-made, mirror-finish, six-ounce steel flask. Its unique manufacturing process lends it an inflated liquid look, not unlike a Mylar balloon or foil drink packet.