There are plenty of places to buy a gift. Finding a gift that feels truly special is a little harder.

For me, some of the best gifts are the ones that come with a story: a handwoven blanket made using a weaving tradition passed down through generations, a piece of pottery shaped and painted by hand, a pillow made from a beautiful textile, or a piece of jewelry created by an artisan whose work helps support her family.

These are artisan gifts—things made by real people, using real skills, rather than rolling anonymously off an assembly line.

And when we choose them, something interesting happens. A purchase that we were going to make anyway can become a small way of supporting craftsmanship, preserving traditional techniques and creating meaningful work around the world.

As the founder of Intertwined: Handmade for Good, I spend a lot of time thinking about this. I also have the privilege of knowing other women who have built businesses around artisan-made goods. We may technically be competitors, but I've never really thought of it that way. There is plenty of room in the world for more beautiful things made by hand—and for more businesses creating markets for the people who make them.

So, if you're wondering where to buy artisan gifts, here are a few places I think are worth knowing.

First, What Is an Artisan Gift?

“Artisan” is one of those words that gets used pretty loosely.

To me, an artisan gift should have a meaningful connection to the person or people who made it. It may be woven, carved, sewn, hammered, painted, blown, stitched or formed by hand. Often, the maker is using a skill rooted in the traditions of a particular family, community or culture.

Handmade doesn't necessarily mean that no tool or machine ever touches the product. A weaver may work on a foot loom. A leather artisan may use a sewing machine. A glassblower certainly needs a furnace.

What matters is that human skill—not mass production—is central to the finished piece.

When you're shopping, look for businesses that tell you more than simply “handmade.” Who made it? Where was it made? What materials and techniques were used? Does the business have an ongoing relationship with the people producing its goods?

The more specific the answers, the better.

Intertwined: Handmade for Good — Artisan Gifts From Around the World

I might as well start with the business I know best.

I founded Intertwined: Handmade for Good because I love beautiful things, but I became increasingly interested in the people behind those things. Who made them? What skills did they use? What could happen if more of us thought about those questions when we shopped?

Today, we work with artisan partners around the world to bring handmade home décor, textiles, bags, tableware and gifts to our customers.

Some of our pieces begin with vintage handwoven textiles from Guatemala that are given a new life as bags, pillows or framed art. Our wool blankets are woven by Maya artisans in Momostenango, Guatemala, and softened using a traditional process involving volcanic hot springs. In Nepal, wild Himalayan nettle becomes beautifully textured placemats and other home goods. In Uganda, women sew colorful table linens and accessories from African fabrics. We also carry handmade pottery, leather goods, handblown glass and other pieces made using traditional craft techniques.

One of my favorite things about this work is knowing many of the people behind our products. We've sat in their workshops, watched them work, eaten meals together, met children and grandchildren, asked a million questions and, in some cases, worked together to design entirely new products.

That connection matters to me.If you're looking for an artisan gift that is colorful, distinctive and a little unexpected, you'll find plenty at Intertwined—from handwoven blankets and one-of-a-kind bags to artisan pottery, table linens, pillows and small gifts.

And yes, I am obviously biased about this one.

VOLVERde — Artisan Home Goods From Mexico

If you especially love Mexican craftsmanship, take a look at VOLVERde.

VOLVERde was founded by sisters Aidee and Mónica, who grew up in the Chicago area in a Mexican immigrant family and spent their childhood visiting family in Mexico. Their business is rooted in both Mexican culture and the idea that many of the practices we now describe as “sustainable”—reusing, repurposing, wasting less and taking care of what we have—aren't new at all.

Today, VOLVERde focuses on artisan housewares from Mexico, including handwoven textiles and traditional pottery, with an emphasis on direct relationships with artisans and preserving heritage craft.

I particularly appreciate their philosophy of choosing heirloom over disposable. That feels like a pretty good rule for gift giving, too.

If you're shopping for someone who loves Mexico, traditional craft, thoughtful interiors or sustainable living, VOLVERde is one to know.

Heirloom Nation — Luxurious Indian Textiles for the Home

For the textile lover, Heirloom Nation is another beautiful source.

Founded in the San Francisco Bay Area by Divya Sharma, who is originally from India, Heirloom Nation celebrates India's extraordinary textile traditions through elevated pieces for the home.

Think gorgeous pillow covers, quilts and table linens—the kinds of pieces where the fabric and craftsmanship can completely change a room.

I love businesses like Heirloom Nation because they remind us that traditional craft doesn't have to feel old-fashioned. Centuries-old textile traditions can live beautifully in contemporary homes.

If you're looking for a particularly special housewarming, wedding or holiday gift—or shopping for the person who is always rearranging pillows and setting a beautiful table—this is a wonderful place to look.

Noonday Collection — Especially for Artisan-Made Jewelry

If jewelry is on your gift list, Noonday Collection is a great place to start.

Noonday grew out of founder Jessica Honegger's adoption journey. While Jessica and her family were in the process of adopting their son from Rwanda, she began selling handmade goods created by Jalia Matovu, an artisan entrepreneur she had previously met in Uganda. What began as a fundraiser grew into a company partnering with artisan businesses around the world.

Today Noonday is a people-first lifestyle brand, but I particularly think of them for their extensive collection of artisan-made jewelry—colorful earrings, necklaces, bracelets and other accessories made using techniques from communities around the globe.

Their model also demonstrates something important about artisan work: creating access to markets can have an impact far beyond a single transaction. Noonday says it has invested more than $30 million in payments to artisans worldwide since its beginnings.

For the jewelry lover on your list, you'll have plenty to choose from.

Trades of Hope — Gifts That Create Opportunity for Women

Trades of Hope grew from another important realization about the difference between charity and opportunity.

Founder Gretchen Huijskens had established charitable programs in Haiti, including an orphanage, school and medical clinic. Through that experience, she came to understand that many children living in orphanages had mothers who loved them but simply did not have enough economic opportunity to care for them.

That changed the way she thought about helping.

The lesson she carried forward was remarkably simple: women didn't want handouts. They wanted opportunities to earn an income.

Trades of Hope grew from that realization and today sells fair-trade jewelry, handbags, accessories and other artisan-made goods while creating employment opportunities for women around the world.

It's a philosophy very close to my own heart. Work offers something charity alone cannot: agency, pride, independence and the ability to make choices for yourself and your family.

If you want a gift that directly connects shopping with economic opportunity for women, Trades of Hope is well worth exploring.

What to Look for When Buying Artisan Gifts

Wherever you shop, I think a few questions are worth asking.

Does the company tell you who makes its products?

You don't necessarily need the name of every individual maker, but look for specificity. “Made by artisans” tells you much less than information about the community, workshop, cooperative or artisan business producing the item.

Does it explain how things are made?

Traditional processes are part of what makes artisan goods extraordinary. Look for information about weaving, embroidery, block printing, pottery, leatherwork, metalwork, glassblowing or whatever craft is involved.

Is there an ongoing relationship with the makers?

One-off sourcing and long-term artisan partnerships aren't necessarily the same thing. I particularly value businesses that work with artisan groups over time, place repeat orders and help create dependable markets for their work.

Would you still want the product if you didn't know the story?

This one is important.

I don't believe we help artisans by asking people to buy things they don't really want simply because purchasing them does some good.

The best artisan products stand on their own. The craftsmanship, beauty and usefulness should make you want the piece. The story behind it should make you treasure it even more.

A Different Way to Think About Gift Giving

Most of us are going to buy gifts this year.

We're going to buy wedding presents and hostess gifts. Birthday gifts. Housewarming gifts. Christmas gifts. Gifts for teachers and mothers and daughters and friends and that one person who is nearly impossible to shop for.

So perhaps the question isn't simply whether we should consume less—although a lot of times we should.

Perhaps another question is:

When I do buy something, what do I want my purchase to support?

Buying an artisan-made gift won't solve every problem in the world.

But it can help keep a traditional craft alive.

It can create another order for a workshop.

It can provide work for a woman who wants the opportunity to support her family.

It can help a small business keep buying from its artisan partners.

And it can give someone you love a beautiful object with a human story behind it.

That's quite a lot for one gift to do.