MAN WEEK is a temporary hiatus from our usual focus on all things generally pretty / pastel or Pinterest-worthy! As the week plays out, we’ll be profiling a bunch of clever local designers and creative dudes, making things we think will appeal to the 3% of male readers who actually visit this website regularly (we love the 3%!).
Today, though, we’re kicking the week off with an epic MAN inspired gift guide and GIVEAWAY, just in time for Father’s Day.
You’d think it would get easier every year, but in fact, each year it becomes even more challenging to pull together an inspired edit of gift ideas which you haven’t seen before, and which we can also wangle for an epic prize pool. Because gift guides just seem way more fun when you have a chance to WIN the things in the pictures!
That said, we also hope you will be inspired by this extensive gift guide if you find yourself shopping for the man in your life this week. There’s a cross section of locally designed pieces, alongside items sourced from a handful of our favourite local retailers and brands. We are SUPER grateful to all the designers, retailers and brands listed below who came to the party, generously offering up their wonderful wares for inclusion – please do check them all OUT!
To be in the running to win one of the amazing items pictured here for our 2015 MAN WEEK gift guide, simply leave a comment on today’s post, stating in 40 words or less who your ‘main man’ is, and why they deserve one of these awesome gifts. Please also include your POSTCODE. Leave your comment before 10.00pm Melbourne time this Wednesday 2nd September 2015.
Please be patient if WordPress struggles to keep up with the entries this morning, as you have three days to enter. Twenty-six winners will be selected and contacted by email next Monday Sept 7th 2015.
The Full Father’s Day 2015 Giveaway Line Up!
Hunter Lab Anti-Ageing Elixir ($54.00), Hand and Body Wash ($38.00), Daily Face Fuel ($49.00) Cleansing Facial Scrub ($39.00) and Matte Lip Ammo ($22.00).
Hunter Lab is a simple and sophisticated brand new skincare range for men, and it’s made in Melbourne.
Kartell waste basket ($85.00) from Space.
This sleek cylindrical waste paper canister in smoke grey from Kartell is a stylish solution for either home office or work space.
Line table lamp by Douglas and Bec ($585.00) and Everyday Needs navy bookends ($39.00) from Douglas and Bec.
We have long admired the elegant handcrafted furniture and lighting from New Zealand design team Douglas and Bec, who also have a store in Fitzroy, Melbourne. Their brand new ‘Line’ collection of table and floor lamps with handblown glass is inspired by sculptor Alexander Calder.
Half hurdle chair ($340.00) and Blocchi stationery holder in black ($44.00) both by Dowel Jones.
Dowel Jones are one young local design duo to watch. Their impressive furniture range and desk accessories are all made by hand in Melbourne.
Spinner Engenero suitcase 75cm ($599.00) from Samsonite Australia.
When hunting for a stylish hard shell suitcase with a contemporary look, we couldn’t go past the new Spinner Engenero case from Samsonite. We love it’s slick matt metallic finish and super strong self-reinforcing rippled exterior.
Play:1 Speaker in black ($329.00) from Sonos.
OK SO we included Sonos in last year’s MAN WEEK gift guide also, but we just couldn’t resist including them again this year! Sonos are hands down our favourite solution for super stylish speakers and wireless sound, all controlled via your smartphone.
Olympus STYLUS SH-2 ($449.00) from Olympus Australia.
The elegant new Olympus Stylus SH-2 travel camera incorporates impressive Olympus technology in a lightweight, compact camera, including a 24x compact zoom lens, optical image stabilisation, built-in wi-fi and smartphone live view for remote shooting.
Saiko D bicycle lock ($36.00) from Tokyo Bike.
We love this simple, solid, brushed metal D lock from Tokyo Bike.
Mophie Juice Pack Air for iPhone 6 cover (from $99.95).
If your iPhone dies at 4pm every day you could a) consider curbing your Instagram habit, OR b) invest in this sleek, surprisingly lightweight Mophie iPhone 6 cover which also charges your phone, offering 100% extra battery power with the flick of a switch. We’ll take option b, thanks.
Fitbit Surge in black ($349.95).
The Fitbit Surge is the ultimate fitness watch, with GPS tracking, heart rate monitoring, all day activity monitoring and automatic wireless sync with your smartphone or computer.
Wrong for HAY Ori salt and pepper mill in black ($73.00) and Anglepoise Original Type 1227 desk lamp in bright chrome ($398.00) both from Cult.
HAVE YOU SEEN the accessories section at Cult!? It’s just the most stellar lineup of contemporary, functional bits and bobs. We love anything and everything by Danish design house HAY, as well as Cult’s range of occasional and task lighting, including classic desk lamps from quintessential British lighting brand Anglepoise.
Iittala Vitriini glass box in grey ($80.00), Stelton Pure Black Chef’s Knife ($130.00), Kristina Stark botan watering can ($96.00), Eva Solo To-Go black grill ($260.00) all from Top3 by Design.
Top3 by Design is a one-stop-shop for all manner of gifts, but they’re particularly handy at this time of year, with a great line-up of options for design-minded men. We especially love the Eva Solo To-Go portable grill (almost too sexy to use) and Kristina Stark’s striking botan watering can.
Hermetus bottle opener x Kiosk ($15.00) and Stanley Vacuum Insulated Bottle ($70.00) both from Third Drawer Down
Melbourne’s most quirky and entertaining gift ideas can usually be found at Third Drawer Down, who have stores in both Fitzroy and Prahran. A fun edit of functional and sometimes silly gift ideas, on any budget.
Le Creuset Satin Black Cast Iron Reversible Grill ($259.00) from Teddingtons.
Teddingtons are a Sydney based retailer with an extensive range of quality kitchenware and home accessories from brands including Le Creuset, Alessi, Chasseur and many more. We love their slimline cast iron reversible grill from Le Creuset – so sleek!
Henry Wilson Vide Poche Rond ($110.00) and Adidas Los Angeles runners ($130.00) from Incu.
Incu are one of our favourite Australian fashion retailers – you might recall last year we interviewed Sydney brothers Brian and Vincent Wu, who founded this much loved local independent retail chain back in 2002. Alongside a great edit of international brands, Incu also support local designers and makers, like Henry Wilson, whose ‘Vide Poche Rond’ in hefty solid aluminium is the desk accessory for the man who has everything.
Nak Nak The Box boxes in small ($99.95 each) from Resident GP.
Resident GP are a Melbourne based online store with an impressive range of functional, contemporary designed objects for the home. These stylish new perforated storage crates from Taiwan-based NakNak Design are exclusive to Resident GP and available in a variety of great colours.
Whisky glass set ($100.00) from Denver and Liely.
Denver and Liely is a young Melbourne based design team whose love of great whisky has led them to develop their very own glass to maximise the drinking experience. The hand-blown shape of the D&L glass is designed to funnel the aroma of this distinctive drop, revealing the whisky’s full character and enhancing the taste – APPARENTLY!
Vittoria Espressotoria coffee capsule machine ($99.00) from Vittoria Coffee.
The Espressotoria System is a compact, automatic coffee machine from Italian coffee brand Vittoria. Until Sept 8th, any purchase of 6 packs of espressotoria coffee capsules comes with a free ‘Capino’ capsule machine.
