Whether you’re selecting a souvenir for a friend with impeccable taste, or looking for a token to bring back from a city you’ve fallen in love with, there’s an art to choosing which treasures are worth taking home from your summer travels. It also takes skill to work out what’s worth taking up room in your luggage and sussing out where you might secure better prices. This carefully curated edit does some of that legwork for you, pulling together special pieces from across geographies and time zones to inspire your next shopping trip.
Chef’s knife from Kiya, Tokyo
In Tokyo, few kitchenware names are as revered as Kiya, which was established in 1792. The Japanese brand is best known for its expertly crafted blades that balance razor-sharp precision with timeless style. Purchasing one in Japan feels worlds away from buying online; staff here are renowned for their in-depth knowledge. Remember that chef’s knives are forbidden in a carry-on, so make sure you pack them in your checked luggage. From £8 for a serrated knife, kiya-hamono.co.jp
Textile artwork from Mestiz, Mexico City
Opened in 2023, artist Daniel Valero’s showroom and workshop sits in the heart of San Miguel de Allende. With its vibrant design, you can’t miss it. Inside, peruse brightly coloured furniture, wicker vessels and textile artworks – the latter being the perfect take-home gift. Peek inside the studio space and you’ll find local materials including palm, wood, wool and wicker. Price on application, mestiz.mx
Beach towel from Hommey, Melbourne
Antipodean brands just do towels far better than we do – it’s no surprise given Australia’s beach culture. A stay in Melbourne should include a stop at Hommey’s South Yarra bolthole, where thick, oversized towels come in playful stripes. Practical and indulgent, they are a smart souvenir. Beach towel in ‘Grapefruit Stripes’, £59, gethommey.com.au
Metal cookware from P-Tal, New Delhi
This brand has helped revive traditional Indian brass and kansa cookware by collaborating with local Unesco-listed metal artisans who use ancient techniques passed down through generations to create its authentic pieces. In New Delhi, head straight for its kitchenware store to pick up one of its hand-hammered metal serving bowls or pots. ‘Legacy’ kitchen set, £452, ptal.com
Suitcase from Rimowa, Berlin
This cult brand’s aluminium, grooved suitcases may have been born in Cologne, but its store in the German capital is an essential stop for travellers looking to invest in iconic design, thanks to lower local pricing and the possibility of claiming tax back on your return home. It’s a rare travel purchase that you’ll cherish long after the city break is over. £800, rimowa.com
Tableware from Themis Z, Athens
A souvenir that feels unmistakably Greek? Let us introduce you to this studio known for its handmade ceramics and Mediterranean-inspired clothing. The store is bright and breezy and, whether you’re picking up a statement platter or tea cup, it’ll add a little Aegean warmth to your table. ‘Kallos’ charger plate, approx £95, themisz.com
Duralex glassware from Merci, Paris
For the French, no kitchen is complete without a set of these stackable tumblers. Designed to withstand café life, the tempered glassware has become a cult staple, and there’s no better place to pick them up than concept store Merci in the Marais. Approx £1, merci-merci.com
Handwoven rug from Beni Rugs, Tameslouht
Heading to Marrakesh? Make time for a day trip to nearby Tameslouht, a village 30 minutes south-west of the city at the foot of the Atlas Mountains. Here, you’ll find Beni Rugs’ 743-square-metre headquarters, where contemporary design meets centuries-old weaving traditions. Open by appointment, the showroom-cum-workshop offers a rare glimpse into the weaving process itself and the craftsmanship behind some of Morocco’s most sought-after rugs. From approx £445 for a runner, benirugs.com
Wooden ‘Songbird’ from Rosendahl, Copenhagen
Getting your hands on one of Kay Bojesen’s iconic wooden figures feels like taking a small piece of Danish design history home – especially if you are able to find one of the exclusive editions, like the new collection in collaboration with artist Leif Sylvester. Crafted in smooth oak with minimalist lines, each design in the menagerie is blessed with plenty of personality. Approx £75 each, rosendahl.com
Moka pot from Bialetti, Milan
There are few objects more synonymous with Italian domestic tradition than this coffee maker. Shopping for one in Milan feels like buying into a ritual. Designed in the 1930s and largely unchanged since, it will bring Italian style to your morning routine. ‘Approx £45, bialetti.com
