10 great gifts you'll be proud to give

Who knew medical wear could be fashionable? Blablahospital’s Head Nurse Ako treats patients with punk arm plasters, nurse caps with jagged ECG stitching and gauzed-up tops (2,000 to 6,000 yen). Make an appointment with Blablahospital at waitingroom@blablahospital.co.uk or visit the new Japanese web shop. 

Paper birds: a real tweet for someone

Illustrator Josh McKible’s paper bird family starts out as four flat instruction sheets, which you cut and fold into three ‘peeps’ and a ‘Nani Dad.’ You’ll be sure to smile at the old cluck, who’s dressed like a samurai and chirps “Dooshite?” (“Why?”). US$10 from TokyoMade, an online one-stop-ship for street-wise Japanese designs.

Hong Kong’s Handmade Market brings dozens of artsy vendors together in one venue. One frequent exhibitor is BeepoBaby, a one-mum operation of hand-stitched and printed infant wear. Jacinta Read’s clever Baby Pouch lets you hold your little one near your heart (HK$300). Email beepo@me.com for custom requests. Perfect for a baby shower.

If you frequent Hong Kong’s craft and flea markets, you’ll recognize The Gal Who Sold Tora’s bright, recycled-punk accessories. Guitar pick jewelry, taped-up ‘bags for weirdo,’ and Chinese chess pieces turned into rings and brooches (HK$25-45). Rock on. Pick them up from the web shop or contact the post punk alchemist at sold.tora@gmail.com for special commissions. 

Shruti Chopra launched BOOTiKA, a line of hand-painted bags to celebrate India’s urban spirit. In a nod to Delhi’s wild auto rickshaws, the bestselling tote features a three-wheeler and fare meter. All designs are made from organic Indian cotton, and a percentage of sales go to the Pragati Wheel School for underprivileged children. Available from her Etsy shop; email supportbootika@gmail.com for custom requests. 

Khaw Li Lian transforms felt - a simple non-woven cloth - into heart-warming dolls, dangles and other small handiworks. She’s the author of two felt craft books and posts tutorials on her website, Lilian’s Crafts. Custom orders are welcome - service@lilianscrafts.com - and an online store is in the works. 

Who says toys are for kids? Last July, the Taipei Toy Festival flew in famous designers such as Simone Legno of Tokidoki and drew over 20,000 attendees. Monster Taipei, a local maker of vinyl figures, masterminded the event. You can find this company’s toys, including fan favorite Heaven Boy, online for around NT$2,300. 

Etsy, the online marketplace for handmade goods, is so popular in Singapore that the locals created a collective. One member, Pei Li’s Miniatures, produces incredibly realistic clay patisseries sized for a dollhouse. Li takes custom orders via Etsy for US$10-100.

When your wedding is supposed to be one of the most important days in your life, it is strange that many couples opt for cookie-cutter invitations. Fairy Loving Creations’ modern, hand-cut designs are a welcome break from the norm. They begin at US$3 per card with a minimum order of 25; colors and details are entirely up to you.