Every gift guide has a hook. Maybe it’s the best gift for mom or the best gift for the chef in your life. Perhaps, it’s trying to sell you on the best gift to get your hard-to-shop-for teenage niece or one that promises to help you find the absolute best tech gadgets out there.

By mid-November, they start to kind of blend together.

Here at The Providence Journal, we’re going to stick to what we know. Our hook for this gift guide is simply Rhode Island-made.

If you want to shop local this holiday season, we’ve rounded up 45 gifts made by Rhode Island companies that are sure to impress.

High-end gifts ($500 and up)

A customizable necklace from Haverhill

You’ve probably seen these necklaces on social media. Timeless, beautiful and made with high-quality materials, these are pieces of jewelry that can be worn every day, dressed up or dressed down. What makes them perfect for gifting is many of the pieces can be customized with initials and birthstones, making you look thoughtful. Only available on Haverhill’s website, prices vary. We recommend the Classic 3 Letter & 3 Birthstone Necklace that sells for $640.

An incredibly beautiful quilt

Recommended by Martha Stewart, Mathilde makes modern linen heirloom quilts and accessories in small batches by a team of women stitchers in Rhode Island. The Providence Indigo quilt is inspired by the colonial houses that can be found all over the state. A square quilt cost $580 and requires a three to four-week lead time, so plan accordingly. Shop the collection at mathildehome.com.

A duffel bag for your favorite traveler

You don’t have to take our word with this recommendation. GQ has named this Lotuff’s No. 12 Weekender Bag the best leather duffle bag multiple times, including this year. Handmade in Providence, this weekender is guaranteed for life. Get it at lotuffleather.com for $1,200.   

The T-bracelet from Tiffany’s

Tiffany’s manufactures in just three states, and Rhode Island is one of them. With a blue box that is now a universal symbol of high-end jewelry, the Tiffany T narrow wire bracelet is a gift with a wow factor. With a T that pays homage to the house name, the bracelets come in at about $2,000 without diamonds and nearly $5,000 with diamonds.

A classic messenger bag

The goal at Basäder is to make bags that will last a lifetime. Started by Elin Johansson Antonelli when her husband observed that there weren’t many good men’s leather messenger bags out there, she set out to fill the hole in the market. Made in her Warren Studio, consider The Sole bag which starts at $645 on basader.com with lots of options to customize.

A wooden water rower

Know your audience so you don’t end up looking like that ill-fated Pelton ad from 2019, but I will say my mother loves her WaterRower from Warren-based company WaterRower Inc. The wood finish makes it more beautiful than typical exercise equipment, and you’re still getting quite the workout. The original oak machine cost $1,099 and can be found at waterrower.com.

A colored bag to carry all your bits and bobs in

Located in East Providence, Lindquist manufactures all of its leather goods in-house. Each item is marked with numbers indicating the edition and who the maker was. For a gift, consider the Po crossbody bag with three separate interior compartments, five credit card pockets and a zipper pocket so they have a spot for everything. We love the goldenrod, but be sure to check out all the other colors. Find it at lindquist-object.com for $650.

A small forest of lighting options

Glass is having a bit of a moment, and these lights from Tracy Glover Studio are an example of why. It’s just something about how the light hits them. To purchase these, inquire at tracygloverstudio.com.

A Taylor Swift-worthy bejeweled necklace

She’s sparking. From Lauren Hope, these vintage-inspired jewelry pieces have the nostalgia of old costume jewelry while being decidedly modern. Nothing sums up that balance like the studs mixed with the glass-cut gemstones in the Astrid necklace. Find it for $428 at laurenhope.com.

Very nice gifts ($200 to $100)

An Oscar-worthy yoga mat

Given away in the 2022 Oscar Swag bag, the yoga mat from R-Yolo, made in Cranston, is lightweight and machine washable. It’s made with a Turkish towel and then padded. Get it at r-yolo.com for $190.

A dressy earring that always looks cool

A finishing piece for just about any outfit, get these handcrafted earrings from Providence-based RA HA for that friend who also looks put together. Made to order, get the earrings on rahajewelry.com for $160.

The most beautiful cast iron pan

One of Martha Stewart’s American Made picks, this cast iron skillet from Nest Homeware is a work of art. A versatile piece, the 9-inch skillet has an ergonomic handle that will fit both left and right hands. Trust us, the chef in your life wants this. It sells for $155 at nesthomeware.com.

A jacket for that someone in your life who bikes everywhere

Cleverhood is a team of four in Providence who believe people should be able to walk and bike everywhere, and therefore design rain gear that eliminates the excuse of bad weather days. As the jacket says in reflective lettering, they’ve declared a war on cars. If you know someone who shares this ethos (or just hates ineffective rain gear) their War On Cars Anorak for $149 is a perfect gift. Find it at cleverhood.com.

This Oprah-approved workout set

Named as one of Oprah’s favorite things in 2023, the Yanta workout set from the Black-owned, Providence-based business Roam Loud is perfect for your favorite fitness queen. Oprah magazine liked the higher waist and “tops that feel a little more substantial.” The leggings and tank bra together cost $100 on roamloud.com.

Gifts between $100 and $50

The chicest bottle opener out there

Made by RISD grad Matt Hall, these bottle openers are functional works of art. The bottle openers come in bouy designs, a turtle shell, quahog shell and more, but we’re partial to the horseshoe crab one. Find it for $95 in bronze on matthalloriginals.com.

A sweet gift for the mama bird in your life

The bird on a branch mother’s necklace from Figs & Ginger has been a best-seller since it was first designed in 2007. Get one for your mom with the right number of baby birds for $80 or keep looking around their website, figsandginger.com, for other mother-themed jewelry.

A shirt that will make them smile

When a Rhode Islander moved to Bali, one of the many things he fell in love with where the bright colored batik shirts. When he and his brother brought them back to the East Coast to try selling them, they were a hit with guys telling them they loved the way the bright colors made them feel. Bring some of that energy to your gift-giving with one of the Three Islands batik shirts for $79 at threeislandslifestyle.com. We like the shark print one.

A handmade glass tumbler to remind them of the beach

Made in Jamestown, these tumblers are reminiscent of seaweed forests. They’re a great gift for people who love the beach, local glass art or hosting. The 16 oz glasses from Clancy Design glasses sell for $68 a piece at clancydesigns.com.

A very stylish dog leash

Handtied in Jamestown, these leashes are just the right amount of nautical. Made with marine-grade New England rope, these leashes will also definitely keep your pup with you. They sell for $65 at thefairlead.com.

A Thankful ballcap

Tell them you’re thankful to have them in your life with this ballcap. The whole hat is USA-made, and the brims are handmade in Providence. The embroidery is done in-house at Ape & Bird on their 100-year-old hand-crank-operated embroidery machine. Get one for $50 at apenbird.com.

A special spot for someone to put their beach finds

Do you know someone who has been looking for a glass orb from the Glass Float Project on Block Island for forever? This is the perfect gift. From The Glass Station, i.e. the studio behind the project, it’s a collection orb that’s very similar to the glass float they’ve been hunting for but has an opening for them to store the other treasures they find along the way, like beautiful stones and shells. It says “I believe you’ll find your orb.” Find it for $50 at theglasstationstudio.com.

Gifts between $49 and $25

A natural cleanser for that person who loves skincare

A longtime staple in the Rhode Island clean beauty scene, Farmaesthetics has a history of making simple luxuries. For the holidays, consider gifting this geranium and lavender-scented face wash that they say works well with all skin types. Get it for $45 at farmaesthetics.com.

An easy-to-clean bird feeder

Have a birder in your life? Winter is the perfect time of year for them to put a bird feeder out and invite some feathered friends into their yard. This feeder by Aspects, a company that manufactures its products in Rhode Island, is designed to be easy to clean. Get one for $45 on Amazon.

A tasty treat

A refugee-run bakery and cafe in Providence that makes Syrian sweets, this baklava from Aleppo Sweets is so good they ship it all over the country. Get them the variety pack for $45 at store.alepposweets.com, because they’re going to want to try all of them.

A candle for your witchy friend

Adorned with crystals for healing energy, this double wooden wick candle in a sage vessel has magical vibes. The candles are sustainably made in Rhode Island. Get it for $44 at sacredflameri.com.

A glittery earring

 A little fancy and yet casual at the same time, these earrings from Noon in Providence could be worn anywhere. There’s a reason these Swarovski classic drops have been a best seller. Get a pair for $44 at noondesignshop.com.

An apron for your favorite holiday chef

‘Tis the season for baking and big family meals. Get them a gift they’re sure to use again and again, an apron from Overseasonsed Amy with a cheeky message on it. Get one for $40 at overseasoned.com.

For that one person who really loves meat

Gastros Craft Meats began as a hot dog cart at events like PVDFest before pivoting to an online market where they sell some fancy-looking meats. They have hot dogs, sausages, bacons, jams and cheeses, but for a gift consider the salami best-seller pack for $40. Get it at gastrocraftmeats.com.

A gift box that promises to be a shore thing

Newport-based Shore Soap Co. might be one of the most ubiquitous holiday gifts in Rhode Island. It’s just so giftable with its pretty packaging. Gift a collection of a Mini Lotion, Mini Candle, Bar Soap via the “Shore Thing Gift Box” for $40 at shoresoapco.com.

Add a little spice to their life

Have someone on your list who likes their food well seasoned? Go check out the lineup from Ocean State Pepper Co, with cheeky names and different kinds of spices you’ll find a good fit. And if you have a hard time deciding, just order the starter bundle for $35 from rhodypepper.com.

A scrimshaw kit for people who love old-school Newport

Are they captivated by sailing stories? Do they love working with their hands? It’s a bit of a wildcard gift, but have you thought about getting them their own scrimshaw kit so they can practice the old art form? This one from Newport Scrimshanders will teach them how to carve on a bone inlaid knife. Get it for $32 at scrimshanders.com. If you think they might like something more finished, there are a lot of other options.

So they always have beach hair

Give them the gift of always having beachy hair even when they can’t make it to the beach (no matter how close it might be). This hair spray by Providence-based Botanic creates texture and volume without drying hair out. Choose between the Pacific or Atlantic blend at botanicpvd.com. Both are $30.

A coffee sampler for someone who is always caffeinated

If caffeine is what gets them going, these sampler packs are an obvious choice for a gift. The Queen Bean samplers, from the Providence-based Queen Bee Coffee Company, offer a mix of sustainable single origins, roast types, flavors and more. You can’t pick the specific flavors, but if you send a note with some preferences, they’ll work that into their selections, or you can just let them pick. Order a set of six quarter pound samplers for $30 from thequeenbean.com.

Coffee-infused skin care to perk them up

The founder and CEO of JAVA company really loved coffee and it took off from there. The Discovery collection includes four mini-sizes of the Rhode Island company’s signature products: Body Serum, 1 oz.; Body Scrub, 2 oz.; Body Wash, 2 oz.; Demitasse Lip Balm, .25 oz.  Buy it for $25 at javaskincare.com for the coffee or skincare lover in your life.

A cozy tea from Black Leaf Tea

The tea is a blend of lemon balm, catnip, chamomile and lavender, perfect for de-stressing before bed. The accompanying candle and journal turn the experience into an entire nighttime routine and a very complete gift. Get the bundle for $25 at blackleaftea.com.

A tiny screwdriver set

For the tinkerer in your life who is always working on delicate projects, Moody Tools in Cranston makes tools that will help them get the job done. A set of screwdrivers sells for about $25 on centraltools.com.

A delightful box of chocolates

Chocolates make a great hostess gift, teacher’s gift, stocking stuffer, coworker gift, etc. The list goes on. These chocolates made by La Rose to the Occassion in Coventry are beautiful and you can customize the flavors. Order a box of 8 for $23 from etsy.com/shop/LaRosetotheOccasion.

An old-school Rhode Island soap

Made by one of the oldest soap makers in Rhode Island, Lightfoot pine soap has a light scent that’ll remind you of a “breeze from the pines” as it says right on the bar. Get a case of 10 bars for $35 from kenyonsgristmill.com, and use them as stocking stuffers, hostess gifts, coworkers gifts, etc.

Help them relax with some soothing lavender

Do you know someone who is always on their feet and always on the go? Help them relax a bit with the pampering gift set from Richmond-based Beecher’s Botanicals. The set includes a sugar scrub, lip balm and body butter. Find it at beechersbotanicals.com for $28.

A new collar for your pets

Make sure the pets (or pet lovers) don’t feel excluded during all the gift-giving. Up Country, an East Providence company, makes pet collars with a dizzying number of patterns to choose from. Dog collars run at about $25 and cat collars cost about $12 at upcountryinc.com.

Gifts under $25

A candle for someone you have something to say to

Whatever it is you have to say, the Perfect Match Shop has a candle you can say it with. And if they don’t, you can create your own label. With sayings from sweet to spicy and everything you can imagine in between, this candle will give you something for that person on your list who is really hard to shop for. Get one at theperfectmatchshop.com. Prices start at $13.

A game to play by themselves or with other people

This anagram game was invented in Rhode Island. Play Bananagrams against yourself or with other people, build words as fast as you can to win this game. And, you can bring it anywhere. It sells for $16 at bannagrams.com.

A classic game for game night

With Hasboro headquartered in Rhode Island, some classic board games had to make an appearance on this list. For a long gameplay (and a chance to talk about capitalism), try Monopoly which you can get for $20 on hasboro.com.

A chewing gum to feel good about

Probably the most sustainable gum out there, the Providence-based Glee Gum makes chewing gum using a natural compound derived from tree sap in rainforests. The chicle-based gum is free of synthetic plastics and artificial ingredients. Get a tray of 12 boxes for $15 from gleegum.com and use them as small gifts and stocking stuffers.

When you’re looking for just a little something

Started in Hope and Main, Aura’s Chocolate Bar was founded by Venzuelean-born Aura Fajardo. Now, she combines Venezuelan cacao with New England ingredients to make her chocolates in Cranston. For a very Rhode Island gift, we recommend the 2 oz Coffee Milk bar for $10. Buy it at auraschocolatebar.com.

Something to make their shower extra special

No bad vibes here. These incredibly cute shower steamers “ease stress, cleanse your energy field, and rid yourself of the negative intent of others,” according to Rhode Island-based business Goddex. And, they smell like lemon and sandalwood. At just $7, get one for everyone on your shopping list at goddex.com.

If you are a Rhode Island business that would like to be considered for future gift guides, email Katie Landeck at [email protected] with a little information about what you sell.