Avoiding the Tartan Tat
If you've spent any time on the Royal Mile this August, you'll know the problem isn't finding a Scottish gift. It's finding one that isn't a bad AI-inspired Highland cow mug or a very synthetic, highly flammable squishy haggis toy made overseas - or as we Scots call it, 'Tartan Tat'.
There are so many good Scottish gifts around, but you do have to look beyond the obvious souvenir shops. Edinburgh - and the whole of Scotland - are bursting with great makers and what they make is far more interesting than something picked up from a shelf full of identical, clichéd souvenirs. Afterall, that's why I set up Made Scotland in the first place, my online store where I sell and help people find good Scottish-made gifts
Here's what I'd look for, and a few things to keep in mind if you want to take something authentically Scottish home with you.
Look for a name, not just a label
One of the simplest ways to work out whether something is genuinely made in Scotland is to look for the person or business behind it.
A hand-thrown mug, a knitted scarf or a small batch of soap should usually have some information about who made it and where. There might be a maker's card, a label or a little bit of information on the packaging.
'Made in Scotland' is useful, but it doesn't tell you much. 'Designed in Scotland' usually means it wasn't made here, they just want you to think it was. And if nobody in the shop can tell you where an item came from or who made it, I'd probably keep looking.
Wool and knitwear
Scotland has a long history of making wool clothing and furnishings, and it's one of the areas where buying something properly made is worth it.
If you're buying a throw, scarf or piece of knitwear, look for the Made in Scotland label too. you may find Scottish wool, lambswool or cashmere from an established Scottish mill but there's also a lot of good Scottish-made knitwear made using alpaca and merino wool, as due to our harsh environment, traditional Scottish wool can be quite rough for clothing. But knitwear that's made of imported wool but made here is still a great choice.
Ceramics and home pieces
There's a lot of really good pottery being made in Scotland at the moment. I love the Clod & Pebble pieces I sell on Made Scotland but you'll struggle to find that in the shops. But you can try ANTA for beautiful handcrafted, hand painted stoneware, the most beautiful mugs, plates, bowls and more. They have a shop in Edinburgh's Rose Street.
Scottish food and drink
Shortbread and whisky are the old favourites but there are plenty of other Scottish food gifts worth putting in your suitcase. Oatcakes, local jam, tablet and Scottish-grown (or more commonly, Scottish-blended) tea all make good gifts, particularly if you're buying for several people.
For those not in the know, tablet is the ultimate Scottish sweet treat - sweeter and firmer than fudge, and once you've had a good piece of it, you'll understand why people are so fond of it. If you've time for it to arrive in the post, you can always buy it online here.
Candles, soap and smaller gifts
If you're looking for something for a colleague, a neighbour or someone you simply want to bring a little something back for, candles and soap are good options.
There are lots of smaller Scottish makers producing these in relatively small quantities, often using good quality ingredients and fragrances. Like this dook salt soap, handmade in Portobello just outside Edinburgh. You can visit their lovely shop in Joppa or if you've time to have some delivered order if from Made Scotland
They're also an easy price point if you aren't looking to spend a lot on knitwear or textiles and great if you're buying one to give to everyone back home.
Need help finding Scottish gifts for you?
If you're in Edinburgh for the festival, time tends to disappear. Between shows, food, drinks and trying to get anywhere through the crowds, spending an afternoon looking through different shops isn't always realistic.
So if you need a shopping short-cut or a shopping guide you can always get in touch. I'm happy to organise artisanal shopping tours for visitors to Edinburgh or to hand deliver Scottish-made gifts to you in Edinburgh, subject to a minimum spent.
Made Scotland brings together products from independent Scottish makers, including wool and knitwear, ceramics, candles, soap and Scottish food. So instead of working your way through souvenir shops trying to find something good among the tat, you can browse a selection online in one place.
You can have a look at madescotland.com, and there are also gift boxes if you're sending something to someone who couldn't make it to Edinburgh this year. Or perhaps someone has had you to stay and you want to send them a gift from Scotland?
Alexandra Borthwick is a journalist, editor, and founder of Made Scotland (madescotland.com), an online store helping individuals and businesses find beautiful Scottish-made gifts - including bespoke corporate gifting.
