Best Places In LA For Unique Holiday Gifts

Thoughtful and unique gifts are hard if not impossible to find on the shelves of your average chain stores. To find something truly special, you have to visit some of the more charming and unique shops that dot the LA landscape. Supporting local is where it's at and we've found the best places to get you through your gift list with ease.

Black Market LA
2023 Sawtelle Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(310) 966-1555
www.blackmarketla.com

For the design loving, hip clothing wearing guy or gal on your list, let the friendly staff of this lifestyle boutique help you find something too legit to quit. Located in the West LA neighborhood known as Little Osaka, they offer a blend of art, design, culture, and fashion. This tiny space is packed to the gills with stylish threads and ridiculously cool, unnecessary yet "got to have it" novelty items. Don't be surprised if you walk in to shop for someone else, and walk out with something for yourself along the way.

Jemma Sands Jewelry
Undrest LA
8627 Melrose Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90069
(310) 360-0055
www.jemmasands.com

Jemma Sands is a line of handcrafted jewelry designed to evoke the beauty of the Pacific Ocean on the woman who wears it. Her pieces offer effortless luxury and the unpretentious vibe reminiscent of a beach loving lifestyle. Every piece of jewelry tells a story originating from the designers love of the water. Inspired by sea glass she collected as a child, pieces made with gemstones such as tourmaline, labradorite, moonstone, and others are used to create one-of-a-kind pieces. For the tropical wanderer or water baby in your life, Jemma Sands jewelry is the perfect accessory for her sun-kissed skin.

Yolk
1626 Silver Lake Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(323) 660-4315
www.shopyolk.com

If you've got little and big kids on your list, this quaint little shop is like pure sunshine in your shopping day. They stock a randomly strategic selection of home décor, accessories, jewelry, books, and a big section of cool kid gifts so you don't have to resort to cookie cutter gifts stocked high at the malls. Pay particular attention to the fun kitchen and bar section, a real crowd pleaser for your "foodie" friends.

Made by DWC
325 Los Angeles Street
Los Angeles 90013
(213) 225-8020
www.dwcweb.org

MADE by DWC offers one-of-a-kind handmade gifts using recycled and repurposed materials with a commitment to connecting social profit to environmental sustainability.
The product line includes treasure such as all-natural soaps, repurposed journals, hand-designed greeting cards, and more. They were created locally by homeless and low-income women at the DWC in Los Angeles' Skid Row community. Product development workshops equip these women with social and vocational skills in a supportive environment where women rebuild self-esteem, discover talents, develop skills, and earn income. Every cent of proceeds from MADE by DWC go directly to programs and services for homeless and low-income women at the Downtown Women's Center. For a gift that gives back, this is a homerun.

Spitfire Girl
1939 1/2 Hillhurst Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 912-1977
www.spitfiregirl.com

If trying to shop for the person who has everything is mission impossible, Spitfire Girl will come to your rescue without fail. With an eye for the rare, unique, and awesome, this boutique is loaded with gift items you won't find anywhere else. Everything from jewelry, journals, books, home décor, art, and even porcelain beaver skulls with gold-plated teeth can be found here. Be sure to pick out the perfect wood printed greeting card for that added wow factor.

Duoma LA
Rose Bowl Flea Market (Space 302 At Stadium Tunnel 22)
1001 Rose Bowl Dr
Pasadena, CA 91103
(323) 560-7469
www.duoma-la.com

Imagine walking through a lush, landscaped garden full of succulents, desert, forest, moss and air plants. What if you could take it with you? Duoma LA essentially offers gardens in a glass with some of the most striking terrariums available in the city. If you're looking for a low maintenance and highly enjoyable way to liven up your indoor environments, Duoma LA is it. They've got a garden in a glass to suit all sorts of tastes and sizes of indoor spaces.

Co-founders Duong and Mark (the "Duo" and "Ma" behind the brand) are trained landscape architects and designers. So, it should come as no surprise that their garden creations exude style, aesthetics, and inspired design. These terrariums are crafted with nothing but the best material, resulting in a diverse and interesting plant palette. This is the kind of gift that incites adoring gazes by anyone lucky enough own one.

You can catch Duoma LA at the Rose Bowl Flea Market on the second Sunday of every month from 9am – 3pm as well as at the Downtown Flea Market (yellow lot at 246 S. Spring Street) on the fourth Sunday of each month from 10am – 4pm.

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Joy Bitonio has the phrase "Joie de Vivre" tattooed on her shoulder, a reminder to enjoy life every single day. She has a voracious appetite for fun, adventure, food, good cocktails and works out like a madwoman to keep it all together. Check out her other articles on CBS L.A. She also covers fitness on Examiner. Follow her on Twitter.