As some of you may know, I have a soft spot for businesses run by women entrepreneurs. For women who decide to build something of their own and for those who put their ideas, talent and hard work into creating things that deserve to be discovered.
For this year's Christmas selection, I decided to do things a little differently. If there's one thing this year has taught me, it's that less is definitely more, in so many areas of life. So this year's guide includes a deliberately small selection of recommendations.
I personally invited a handful of women entrepreneurs, creatives and professionals whose work I admire to be part of it. They said yes, and I'm grateful to each of them for taking the time to share their own recommendations and ideas of what meaningful presents can look like.
Some create beautiful objects, some work with fashion and design, others share knowledge and ideas. Different backgrounds, different industries, different approaches, but something in common: women building things they believe in.
You'll find a few fashion brands here, partly because I love fashion, but also because I believe clothes and accessories have the power to empower us. I have never considered this superficial. To me, what we wear is a personal, non-verbal language, a way of expressing something about ourselves without saying a word. And when the brands behind those pieces are making conscious choices to be as sustainable as possible, as the ones I've selected are, it's even better.
Then there are the books. Especially nowadays, with AI becoming such a big part of our lives and other less encouraging realities shaping the world around us, I think recommending books is more important than ever. We need ideas, knowledge, different perspectives, perhaps more than anything, the habit of critical thinking and the habit of collecting information from reliable sources only.
And last, but certainly not least, the things we bring into our homes. I believe our homes should reflect the way we live. Beautiful objects, well-made things, quality over quantity, some of them handmade from scratch, can make our everyday surroundings more meaningful and turn our homes into places that feel truly ours.
This is not an exhaustive shopping list, nor is it about finding the biggest number of presents. It's a personal selection of people and things I think are worth knowing about. So, here it is. Not Another Gift Guide.
01. Things to wear and treasure
FLABELUS, Spanish handcrafted footwear blending tradition with timeless design.
Flabelus was born in 2020 as a revolution in the midst of the pandemic. It reimagines the Spanish espadrille, a footwear style with over 700 years of history, transforming it into a timeless wardrobe staple that can be worn all year round.
We don't just make shoes; we bring to life a living library, where each pair represents a legendary female character from literature. By combining the delicate silhouette of Venetian slippers with the artisanal spirit of Spanish craftsmanship, Flabelus builds a bridge between tradition and the avant-garde.
Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do: from soles made using recycled bicycle tyres to handcrafted production in Elche, every step pays tribute to the past while helping preserve the future for a new generation of conscious explorers.
Spanish version, the original text received from the brand:
Flabelus nace en 2020 como una revolución en plena pandemia. Es una reinterpretación de la alpargata española, con más de 700 años de historia, para convertirla en un básico atemporal que puede llevarse durante todo el año.
No solo producimos zapatos, sino que damos vida a una «biblioteca viva», en la que cada par representa a un legendario personaje femenino de la literatura. Al fusionar la delicada silueta de las venecianas con la esencia artesanal de la tradición española, Flabelus tiende un puente entre la tradición y la vanguardia.
La sostenibilidad es nuestro motor: desde las suelas fabricadas con neumáticos de bicicleta reciclados hasta la confección artesanal a mano en Elche, cada paso rinde homenaje al pasado y contribuye a preservar el futuro para una nueva generación de exploradores conscientes.
¡Muchísimas gracias, LUCÍA Aguilar!
Mauverien, silk scarves by Claudia Marian
Mauverien is a Romanian premium silk scarf brand founded by designer Claudia Marian, where colour, playful prints and natural silk come together. Inspired by nature, symbolism and decorative arts, almost every scarf design is hand-drawn and carefully adapted for printing on silk afterwards.
More than an accessory, a Mauverien scarf is a piece designed to bring colour and personality into an everyday outfit. Versatile and timeless, it can be worn around the neck, in the hair, tied to a bag, or styled in countless ways. Created beyond seasonal trends, the atemporal Mauverien scarves celebrate original design and the beauty of objects made with care and intention.
Mauverien silk accessories are available to purchase through the official online store, mauverien.com. Currently, online orders are shipped within Romania only. However, international shipping is available upon request. For deliveries outside Romania, you can contact us directly.
Photography credits: Photo 1 — Andreea Mitran; Photo 2 — Roxa Bădiliță (The Young Nomads), Photo 3 — Nadya Glovatcaia, Photo 4 — Mauverien archive, Photo 5 — Andreea Mitran, Photo 6 — Alexandra Gheorghe
Maison Maestoso, accessories made to last
Maison Maestoso is a Romanian luxury accessories house where architectural inspiration meets timeless elegance. Founded in 2018 by an architect, the brand is defined by sculptural silhouettes, organic curves, and a philosophy of understated sophistication.
Each creation is thoughtfully designed to transcend seasons and fleeting trends, celebrating individuality, craftsmanship, and the beauty of simplicity. From statement handbags and refined small leather goods to silk scarves and jewelry, Maison Maestoso offers meaningful gifts for those who appreciate thoughtful design and enduring beauty. Crafted in Europe with carefully selected materials, each piece is conceived to be cherished for years to come.
Whether chosen for someone special or as a personal indulgence, a Maison Maestoso creation is an expression of personal style, intention, and lasting elegance.
The collection is available online at www.maestoso.com, with worldwide shipping and express delivery options of approximately 3-5 business days, depending on the destination. For those in Bucharest, the Maison Maestoso showroom also welcomes visitors by appointment, offering a more personal experience of the collection.
AIRE Official, a selection of poetic gifts
Embracing the art of poetic knitwear. Tactile materials, artisanal craftsmanship & a romantic line intertwine to create a sense of poetry.
This season, romanticise your life with The Romantic Skirt & Cardigan in beige alpaca. Featuring a soft construction, the long-sleeved cardigan crafted in a loose silhouette with a slim knitted scarf for fastening is complemented by a knee-length pencil skirt.
Photographed by @iamfeliciasimion
Celebrate the beauty of the winter holidays with the Theme knitted set in alpaca. A natural white versatile set composed of a soft, airy hat and mid-length knitted gloves.
For the festive gatherings, select a poetic minimalist-inspired gift, such as The Poem Turtleneck & Gloves in Italian cashmere. An elegant sleeveless top with a high neckline and a close-fitting line complemented by a pair of lacy knitted gloves. Discover AIRE Official.
Photographed by @iamfeliciasimion
Zea et Sia, timeless, heirloom-worthy pieces in 14K gold, natural diamonds and pearls
Zea et Sia is a Romanian fine jewelry brand I founded in 2020 and named after my two daughters. Every piece is my own design, handmade by Romanian artisans in Bucharest in solid 14K gold (never plated), with AAA cultured pearls and natural diamonds. We make jewelry meant to be kept and passed on, from mother to daughter.
For gifting, I would suggest three ideas. The first is our tortiță earrings for little girls, designed to be worn safely from birth into adulthood. The second is Match Wear, matching pieces for mothers and daughters. The third is the Îngeri collection of gold and diamond angel pendants, where 5% of sales go to HOSPICE Casa Speranței. Each piece can be personalised with free laser engraving, comes gift-wrapped at no extra cost, and carries a lifetime warranty on gold and diamonds. In-stock pieces ship within one working day.
You can find us at zeaetsia.com.
ZEA ET SIA is offering my community 10% off all their pieces with the code RALUCA. A little something special for being part of this community. The offer excludes items already included in other discounts or special promotions.
02. For minds that never stop wandering
Marine Tanguy, The Visual Detox
How to Consume Media Without Letting it Consume You
CEO of @mtartagency, the art sector’s leading talent agency │📕Author @penguinukbooks @ucl │ Mother 👦🏼🧒🏼👶🏼 │🕊️ @unwomenuk advisor │
@forbes #30under30 │ 🎤4x @ted
In an age of artificial intelligence and misinformation, how can we engage with social media, advertising, the news and other popular media in a way that serves us? What’s the alternative to doomscrolling?
From the objects we see in our physical surroundings to the 1.8 billion new images uploaded online every day, visual images are constantly seeking to entertain, inform, and manipulate our attention for profit. Such unending streams of information can overstimulate our brains, causing stress, anxiety and fatigue.
In The Visual Detox, art expert and businesswoman Marine Tanguy draws on new research, decades of professional experience and interviews with artists to show us how to
- Sharpen our visual critical thinking skills
- Decode the hidden messages in all areas of our lives
- Combat the sensory overload we experience online
- Regain control over our digital hygiene, media consumption and decorating choices
Packed with tiny yet potent hacks, this practical and transformative guide will help you reclaim your focus and sense of wonder, one day at a time.
Photos: 1&2 Marine's archive; 3. Marine photographed by Razia Jukes
Beatriz Carranza, Differentiating the Unique: The Art of Luxury Brand Strategy
Luxury Brand Strategy / Faculty @ieuniversity and @voguecollegespain Host of @motordelujo.podcast | Speaker | Founder: BCV-N & THE N•ERA @2thenera
Beatriz's book brings together her professional experience in the fashion and luxury industries and the lessons she has gathered over the past 15 years.
As she describes it: “In terms of the book itself, I would describe it as a mix between an academic book and a personal biography. I share my experience and the lessons I’ve learned throughout the past 15 years in the fashion and luxury industries, drawing on real examples of brands I’ve worked with, from major international names to smaller, more niche businesses. I’ve written it in the first person, which I think is particularly important because it brings the story closer to the reader and gives the insights and examples a sense of authenticity. The aim was to make the content academically grounded and insightful but also easy to read, light and engaging.”
The book is available in two editions:
- English edition — Differentiating the Unique: The Art of Luxury Brand Strategy
- Spanish edition — Las 4 dimensiones del lujo - paperback version available for pre-order.
Photos Beatriz Carranza, by Andrea Hurtado
03. Good design makes everyday life better
FIOR. Collectible ceramics by Loredana Munteanu
FIOR is a Bucharest-based collectible ceramics studio creating hand-built sculptural vessels with organic surfaces, straw, and found materials from the Romanian Carpathians.
Each piece is crafted by ceramic artist Loredana Munteanu, whose practice explores rupture, repair, and memory, drawing on inherited rural gestures of making and mending.
Her work examines the tension between vulnerability and resilience and how matter breaks, remembers, and continues to hold.
In September 2026, her work was exhibited at 1000 Vases in Paris.
Photos: 6 - Restaurant Mira, 7 - Eshte, 9 - Enevo Coffee, Bucharest, the rest - Loredana's archive
The EDIT, a considered selection for the home and beyond
The EDIT is a Bucharest concept store with a curated selection of contemporary European design, from furniture and lighting to accessories and jewelry.
This season our gift edit leans into small luxuries with a story.
There’s the Uma pendant, by Akua Objects, a handmade Murano glass heart finished in 18K gold plating. It can be paired with the Uma Caddy, a velvet jewelry box inspired by vintage couture hat boxes. For jewelry lovers.
We also have the Loop-the-Loop necklace by Completedworks, with freshwater pearl bows on a strand of pearls, and Otiumberg’s Chunky Square huggies in sterling silver, a minimal everyday staple.
And for something playful and practical, Kknekki hair ties come in a rainbow of colours and make the easiest stocking filler.
1. Chunky Square Huggies; 2. Kknekki; 3. Loop Necklace; 4. OBA Terralis Soap, Matia Moellenbach
For the home, our favourite gift this year is the OBA soap and dish set by Matias Moellenbach. It pairs a sculptural soap sphere with a solid resin cube, so it looks like a small design object on the sink. It comes in five scents. Terralis blends cedarwood, vetiver, sage, bergamot and amber, and there are also Citralis, Rosevale, Aloe Vera and Papaya. It’s an easy gift for almost anyone, and the dish stays on long after the soap is gone.
From the same designer, the Blister Bowl in thick pressed glass makes a striking centrepiece.
The mouth-blown Karl vase by Akua Objects is shaped by four pairs of hands in Bohemia, so no two are alike.
And for a gift that lasts a lifetime, Louis Poulsen’s iconic Panthella lamp brings warm, timeless light to any room.
Shipping: We deliver anywhere in Romania within 2–3 working days for in-stock items. Delivery is free on orders over 450 RON, and 20 RON otherwise. For deliveries to other European countries, write to us at hello@theedit.ro. Gift cards are also available online.
🌐 theedit.ro | 📍 Icoanei 20, Bucharest, Romania | Instagram: @theedit.ro
1. Blister Bowl, Matias Moellenbach; 2. Karl Vase Piano; 3. Panthella
Elleny Gherghe, originals and fine art prints
Elleny Gherghe is a Romanian contemporary artist living and working in southern Spain, whose paintings explore femininity, nature, emotion and the search for a kinder existence.
Drawing inspiration from the natural world, her work portrays women as archetypal figures, often caught between inherited roles and the desire to escape them, reconnect with nature and imagine a different way of being.
Through expressive imagery and an intimate exploration of the female experience, Elleny approaches themes of motherhood, identity, vulnerability and the untamed aspects of femininity.
In September 2026, she presented Motherhood and the Beast Within, her first solo museum exhibition, at the Museum of Ethnography and Contemporary Art Dimitrie N. Ghika in Comănești, Romania.
Her original paintings and fine art prints are available through her website and online art shop. Discover her work at elleny.art.
1. Alegria fine art print; 2. Sialia currucoides (2026), original, oil on canvas, 20x20
A small selection, made with absolute love. I hope you discover someone new, find a present that feels "the one" or simply come across an idea worth passing on.
And if you do, don't forget to support the women behind it.
Raluca
