The London creatives and artisans who craft the most heavenly gifts

Hackney jewels, chefs knives forged in Peckham and scents made in Shoreditch

- BY HAYLEY SPENCER

Really want to impress your clan this Christmas? Then forget shopping on the high street or anything you can purchase with a Prime subscription.

Buying independent not only means supporting a small business and its founder but also guarantees the ultimate luxury: a unique gift. And when we live in a city so brimming with creativity, it’s a no-brainer to place an order, or pick up a bespoke pressie in person, from one of our homegrown artisans and makers.

Don't know where to find them? We've scoured the city's markets, workshops and studios to discover the most exciting names across fashion, homeware and artisanal food — from a pioneering small-batch fragrance maker working out of Shoreditch to the Paul Smith protégée designing wear-forever women’s power suits. Plus, the name to know for the ultimate foodie gifts under £10. Secret Santa: sorted.

MAYANJIE

In pursuit of their signature scent, Londoners are increasingly sniffing out more unique, small-batch fragrances. It has helped Maya Njie to make a name for herself with her capsule collection of six artisanal blends, which are developed in her Shoreditch-based studio, where she also hosts workshops for the public.

While Njie feels an affinity to the “strong independent spirit and creativity” of people in the capital, her scents are inspired by her dual Scandinavian and Gambian heritage. A self-taught perfumer, she uses the rare experience of synesthesia — by which one sense triggers another — to create fragrances inspired by memories instead of trends.