top of page
Search

The Ultimate Christmas Gift Guide: Unique Gifts from Inspiring Brands

Updated: Dec 3, 2024

Christmas is the season of giving, and what better way to show your loved ones you care than with thoughtful gifts from independent brands? I’ve curated this gift guide featuring some of the incredible businesses I’ve had the pleasure of working with and feel houred to call them all clients. Each brand offers something special, making your gift-giving memorable while supporting small businesses.


Carter Clothing

The concept for Carter Clothing was born out of a desire to be able to dress really well with minimal hassle. We created a collection of easy to wear items that pretty much all work well together, meaning that you can look 'put together' without thinking about it.

Gift idea: The Retro Polo Cotton Shirt – A stylish and versatile wardrobe staple with a classic feel and retro edge, perfect for effortless everyday wear.



Nixi Body

Nixi Body creates sustainable and stylish period underwear designed to help women feel confident and comfortable during their cycle. Made with eco-friendly materials, their products are not only kind to the planet but also provide reliable protection for modern, active lifestyles.

Gift idea: The Eco Luxe Period Pants Bundle – A thoughtful and practical gift for someone embracing sustainability and self-care.




Tailored Athlete



Designed for athletes who demand style and performance, Tailored Athlete’s clothing is made for men with muscular builds. Their sleek fits and premium fabrics are ideal for active lifestyles.

Gift idea: The Ultimate Stretch Shirt – A wardrobe essential for gym-goers and professionals alike.


Lore Buta



Lore Buta is an independent, cosmopolitan resort-style brand created in London by designer Loredana Buta. Each item is made to order. Inspired by a love of the sun and a desire to elevate life’s sun-soaked key moments, the brand radiates optimistic beauty through its luxurious designs. Perfect for those who cherish effortless elegance and holiday-ready glamour.

Gift idea: Aria Silk Dress – A chic and versatile piece designed in Liberty floral silk.


Kocool



Kocool is a women-centric performance athletic brand created to empower and inspire women to achieve their best in sports and fitness. Co-founded by Alexandra González, Kocool celebrates multifaceted, resilient women who embrace their passions, whether it's boxing, training, or balancing busy lives. With stylish and functional designs, Kocool is perfect for those who see sport as more than a hobby—it’s a way of life.

Gift idea: The Godess Collection Leggings & Crop Top – Designed to move with you, these leggings combine style and comfort, making them an ideal gift for active women.


Sorsa Clothing



Sorsa combines classic style with contemporary design to create menswear that celebrates individuality and comfort. Their pieces are crafted using quality materials and expert manufacturing techniques, ensuring a balance of softness and durability. Sorsa’s clothing is as enduring as it is stylish, offering timeless designs that never go out of fashion. Perfect for anyone looking for understated, high-quality menswear at an affordable price.

Gift idea: The Nam Stretch Shirt – A sophisticated yet practical piece that combines style and comfort.


L’Atelier London



L’Atelier London blends modern femininity with a touch of bohemian style and timeless elegance. The brand’s beautifully crafted pieces are a statement of sophistication and individuality. Inspired by Parisian chic with a dash of gypsy flair, L’Atelier translates diverse aesthetics into carefully designed pieces that exude both glamour and authenticity. Signature prints are hand-designed by skilled artists in their small studio, bringing fresh and unique style to your wardrobe.

Gift idea: The Serafina Blue Dress – A versatile, eye-catching piece that combines elegance with free-spirited charm, perfect for any occasion.


Bibevie



Inspired by her own daughter’s struggle with poorly fitting bibs, Rhian created a line of eco-friendly, super soft baby clothes that feature matching bibs designed to stay in place and complement the outfit, rather than hide it. These adorable and practical pieces make life easier for parents while keeping babies cute and comfortable.

Gift idea: The Matching Bib & Baby Outfit Set – A practical and adorable gift set that solves the bib problem while keeping babies stylish and comfortable.


Nevontaii



Nevontai is a dynamic fashion brand from BMX pro Kris Kyle that effortlessly blends casual streetwear with chic night-out looks. Inspired by the strength and determination of the ancient Novantae tribe, Nevontaii embodies ambition, creativity, and vision. With versatile pieces that transition seamlessly from day to night, Nevontaii™ is for those who aren’t afraid to make a statement.

Gift idea: The Nevontaii Signature Hoodie – A bold and versatile piece, perfect for laid-back street style.


Adaptive Clothing UK



Adaptive Clothing UK is on a mission to combine function with fashion, making it easier for parents and carers to dress children with physical limitations. Their range of adaptive and sensory clothing is designed to provide comfort, ease, and independence while maintaining vibrant and contemporary styles. With no itchy seams, irritating labels, or uncomfortable fabrics, Adaptive Clothing UK ensures children with autism or sensory issues can wear clothing that suits their needs. From school uniforms to fun swimwear, every piece is thoughtfully crafted for both practicality and style.

Gift idea: The Adaptive Swimsuit – Comfortable, practical, fun, but with added sensory-friendly features for a stress-free dressing experience.


This festive season, why not gift something truly special? Whether you're looking for stylish apparel, thoughtful designs, or brands that give back, these fashion-forward businesses offer the perfect present for everyone. Celebrate the creativity, passion, and hard work of these talented entrepreneurs by supporting them and gifting their amazing products this Christmas.

And if you're thinking of starting your own fashion brand, I’m here to help! Whether you're just getting started or need guidance to bring your vision to life, I offer tailored 1:1 mentoring, expert design support, and resources to help you launch with confidence. Let’s work together to make your fashion dreams a reality! You can book a free no obligation chat here or message me on info@thefashionexpert.com


See you in the front row!

Michelle.



How To Get back On Track With Your Fashion Brand.

We've all been there...that feeling when we lack the motivation to drive forward with something that's important to us. When we have taken a break from something like our business it can be hard to get back into the swing of things. We often feel a whole mix of emotions like guilt, doubt and laziness which leads us to ask ourselves are we really cut out for this?


The good news is this is completely normal and to be expected. The even better news is you can turn these thoughts around to get past this roadblock and here I share my top tips to move you forward.





Accept Perfect Doesn't Exist


So many fashion startups are waiting for that "perfect time" when things will be quieter, you'll be richer, the kids will be older, your 9-5 is less hectic and you've lost that extra stone (OK maybe that one is just me!). But guess what? That perfect time just doesn't exist because there will always be something new to come along and fill that time gap, to spend your money on, eat your attention etc. The best fashion startups I have seen flourish are the ones run by parents with full-time jobs because they get shit done. They accept it's full-on and hectic but they do it anyway and make it work. So if you're sitting there waiting ask yourself this - how will you feel in 6 months time if someone else launches your idea? Gutted right? Accept this won't be easy but it will be worth it.


Remember Your "Why"


It can be hard to stay motivated 24/7 so in times you're feeling a bit "meh" remember why you started this. Imagine it's a year from now and you've launched, how will you feel? What will life look like to have brought that amazing idea to market? How will you feel seeing people wearing your collection? How many lives will you improve by bringing your innovative idea to life? How will building a legacy for your future make you and your family feel?

Remembering the bigger picture really helps put the day to day tribulations in perspective and refocus your attention on the reasons you are pursuing this. If you need some further help thinking bout your why then I recommend you read "Start With Why" by Simon Sinek https://simonsinek.com/product/start-with-why/





Go Easy On Yourself


It's so easy to forget that life happens and can often get in the way of our best-laid plans. Acknowledge that sometimes you need to take some time out from your business. That may be due to illness, perhaps your family needs you, maybe your job is super busy or maybe you're just exhausted and need to take some time off. This is OK and it's important to give yourself permission. The main thing is to put a time limit on it and understand you'll get back on it by a specific date.


Make A Commitment


Have you heard the saying "what get's measured gets done"? If you make a commitment to yourself and write down goals which you then regularly review, you're far more likely to achieve them than if you're really vague about your plans. Think about your week and decide if there is any regular time slot where you can carve out some time to work on your business. Be vocal about this activity with friends or family so they know you have something important to do during that time slot and try to stick to it.

Using a planner can be a great way to do this and keep track of goals. I personally love the planner from Carrie & Co. https://carrie.co/product/perfectly-planned-2022/




Be Realistic


We only have 24 hours in the day so work out when you can realistically work on your business. Setting goals is great but if we constantly strive for perfection then this can feel really demotivating. Instead, look at your time and plan what you can realistically achieve in the day or week. Be the tortoise, not the hare and chip away at things one task at a time. Break larger tasks into smaller bite-sized chunks that you can work on when you have a spare hour. In a few weeks, you will have achieved far more than trying to tackle impossible large tasks.


Hopefully you can use these tips to stay motivated with your fashion brand. If you ned any further help then why not book in for a power hour to discuss your fashion brand and get help with anything you may be struggling with. You can see more about this here https://www.thefashionexpert.com/product-page/tailored-consultation-1-hour


Michelle Ramsay - The Fashion Expert®





What is a tech pack and why do you need one?

Let's explore what start-ups need to prepare to get their collections manufactured.




A lot of fashion start-ups make the mistake of approaching a factory with a rough sketch or photograph and expect the supplier to quote a price and produce a garment from this limited information. Unfortunately, this approach is very unrealistic and can be frustrating to factories that don’t have time to coach you through what is involved in product development and manufacture. A factory needs to know exactly what your design entails, and the way to convey this information correctly is to prepare a tech pack for each style.


What is a tech pack?


Sometimes referred to as factory packs or style packs, a tech pack is like a blueprint for any garment you want to produce. It creates a plan and good foundation upon which great collections can be made. It should contain 3 main elements, although this can vary depending on the complexity of the style.


1. The colour cad


This is a digital fashion flat drawing of the garment. It is in colour with accompanying textile Pantone codes and shows both front and back views. It also details fabrics to be used.


2. The tech sheets


These are black and white drawings of the garment and drill down further into the design details so the factory can understand how to construct the garment. The tech sheets communicate which techniques you want to use on things like prints and embellishments, and specifies information on any branded elements like zip pulls, badges and labels. Seams, stitching and buttons are referenced along with design details such as pockets, collars, cuffs, openings and fastenings.


3. Size specification chart


Often referred to as a “spec”, this size chart documents all the points of measure a factory will need to create a pattern, make your garment to the correct sizes, and calculate important information such as fabric consumption and an accurate price. Each point of measure is an industry-standard point on the garment such as chest, armhole, waist and length. It also covers some measurements you may not be familiar with such as front neck drop, back neck width and collar point.


A size spec is not the same as a size guide that is often displayed on retailer’s websites. These size guides are very generic guides on body sizes only, whereas a size spec concentrates on garment sizes and is tailored to each individual style.


A size spec is usually prepared in your desired sample size such as medium or large for initial sampling, then graded once you are ready to go to production.



All 3 elements are combined into one PDF document for each style.





What can go wrong without a tech pack? Trying to create a garment without a tech pack leads to many problems and can waste a lot of time and money for both the factory and the start-up brand. If you don’t tell the factory exactly what you want, they may have to potentially fill in the blanks for you. It’s best to be in control of those decisions from the get-go and avoid miscommunication or a very lengthy sampling process. Often factories just don’t have the time to devote to holding your hand throughout the process because that is the job of a fashion designer. Usually, start-ups neglect the correct design process as they are either unaware of what they need to create or trying to save money. But the money you invest in decent tech packs, in the beginning, will save you a lot of time and money in the long term. It will also show to prospective suppliers that you are serious and committed to your brand, and increase your chances of forging good relationships with them from the beginning. Get ahead of the competition by adopting the approach the fashion professionals follow for manufacturing their products and make sure you prepare detailed tech packs for your fashion brand.

If you have any questions, comments or feel you need help with tech packs for your collection or any aspect of launching your fashion brand then get in touch and we can discuss your requirements - info@thefashionexpert.co.uk or Book a free discovery call by clicking here.



Michelle Ramsay - The Fashion Expert®





​

​

Follow me on Instagram

© Michelle Ramsay Design Limited 2020  |  Registered In England Number 11252084
Registered company address 10 Stadium Court, Stadium Road, Wirral, Bromborough, CH62 3RP Registered In England Number 11252084

info@thefashionexpert.com  |  Tel: +44 (0) 7528 659 583

TERMS OF USE

PRIVACY

TERMS OF SALE

  • Instagram - Grey Circle
  • Facebook - Grey Circle
  • Twitter - Grey Circle
  • Pinterest - Grey Circle
bottom of page