Looking for a Scottish Gift
I was living in Singapore in my early thirties when friends began getting married. Whenever I looked for a wedding gift, I often wanted to send something from home. Something Scottish, thoughtful and genuinely good. But when I went searching online for a tartan blanket or another Scottish present, I found myself trawling endless websites full of tat. “Scottish gifts”, it turned out, often meant something made nowhere near Scotland at all.
Discovering Makers Across Scotland
Fast forward a decade and I was back in Scotland. As I travelled around, I began to notice how many brilliant small businesses were quietly making beautiful things here. Thoughtful, well made pieces with a real sense of place. Yet they were often hard to find.
These were the sort of discoveries that came from a road trip off the beaten track, a local market stumbled upon by chance, or a recommendation from a canny friend.
It struck me that if you didn’t have the time to wander through independent shops and markets, many of these makers could be surprisingly difficult to discover. Finding something beautiful and genuinely made in Scotland was often far harder than it should have been, and certainly harder than buying something generic from Amazon.
The Idea Behind Made Scotland
My background is in journalism and I spent years working in magazines. The part I always loved most was the storytelling. Understanding what motivates people, why they make what they make, and how their work comes together. The idea for Made Scotland sat quietly at the back of my mind for years.
So in 2023, I finally launched it. A place to discover Scottish makers and the things they create. I began finding makers everywhere from Dumfries to Dornoch, bringing together their work in one place and sharing a little of the story behind it.
A Curated Collection
A few years on, the collection continues to evolve. The aim for this year is simple: fewer things, chosen more carefully. Alongside long time favourites, there are new makers and new pieces joining the collection, including ceramics and other thoughtfully made things for the home.
Alongside the shop, I am working more closely with businesses looking for thoughtful Scottish gifts for their clients and guests. Over time I have built relationships with makers across the country, which allows me to curate gifts that feel authentic, well made and genuinely connected to Scotland.
Made Scotland will continue to grow slowly, with pieces chosen for their beauty, usefulness and craftsmanship.
I hope you enjoy discovering them.
