From Apps to Soap: Christmas Gifts Made in Armenia

Buy Armenian this holiday season.

For some of us, gift-hunting for Christmas rapidly becomes a tedious chore. How can we be sure to please our loved ones? Where to find the perfect Christmas present? Add to that ecological or social concerns, and you’re in for a headache.

Whether you live in Armenia, or belong to the Armenian Diaspora, you probably already considered buying made-in-Armenia gifts for Christmas. “Buying Armenian” helps support the local economy and keep jobs in the country; it basically allows many of us to put our money where our mouth is.

The good news is: buying Armenian is not all about handicrafts and cognac - even though they obviously belong to this list. Most of what you might want to buy your loved ones for Christmas, whether it’s soap, lotions, scarves, chocolate, hats or even apps can be found in their made-in-Armenia version.

From tech to beauty products, clothes and accessories, liquor and handicrafts, we wanted to give you a glimpse of the brands that will allow you to buy all-Armenian presents. Obviously, this is by no means an exhaustive list, but hopefully it will give you some inspiration in this Christmas season.

Tech Gifts: Apps made in Armenia

Did you know you could give apps as gifts? The Armenian IT sector is booming, with plenty of creative start-ups getting worldwide appraisal; you can give them a nudge by gifting one of their products to a loved one.

Shadowmatic.

Earlier this year, an innovative app created by Yerevan-based TRIADA Studio won the Apple Design Award. Shadowmatic is no mere game, but an incredible 3D puzzle where you rotate abstract objects in a spotlight to find recognizable silhouettes in projected shadows. It combines refined visuals with a captivating gameplay - the perfect “smart game” to give as a gift to any smartphone or tablet-equipped family member. The procedure is simple: you can find the app on the App store and send it as a gift to someone for $2.99 - and even schedule it so the gift pops up on their screen exactly on Christmas day.

Of course, with dozens of IT start-ups thriving in Armenia, there is an array of innovative apps to chose from and download: PicsArt, ARLOOPA, Up Ball Up, or 360STORIES, to cite a few. As most of those apps are free, you unfortunately can’t give them as gifts. But here’s an idea: you can use PicsArt photo studio to create original, personalized Christmas cards. And you can entertain your nephews and nieces at family gatherings by showing them 3D dinosaurs coming to life with ARLOOPA, play a fun ball game with Plexonic, or introduce them to your favourite spots in Armenia with 360STORIES.

Lip Balm, Natural Soap and Lotion: Beauty Products from the Armenian Highlands

Soaps, creams, lip balms and hair care are a go-to gift idea for many. Add to the equation essential oils coming from Armenia, and job-creation in the country, and you might have found an ideal gift for your nature-loving relative.

Nairian face cream.

How about you show your support for natural beauty products and entrepreneurship, all in one gift? Nairian is a brand new company that opened its doors in 2015. They produce all-natural cosmetics based on essential oils in their facilities at Araguygh in Kotayk region. You can look up on their website what products are already available, from haircare to natural soaps, and shop at their store (26 Abovyan St, Yerevan), or at their showroom (Elite Plaza, 15 Khorenatsi St, Yerevan). Prices range from 3,800 to 44,000 AMD ($8 to $90).

You can also go wander at Adele Handmade Soaps, on Abovyan 25. The little shop kind of looks like an Armenian version of the British “Lush” brand, with edible-looking soaps that come in the shape of cupcakes and other mouth watering delights. Adele’s cute, often glittery soap creations are definitely worthy gift-material, along with her homemade shea butter creams and scented candles. For an idea of the products, have a look at her website (in Russian, but with plenty of self-explanatory pictures).

Yet another option is Nelly Avetisyan’s Verde Pharm. Nelly is a pharmacist who used her professional knowledge to shape her natural soap line: all-organic, plant-based products made in great part from ingredients she grows in her own garden. Earlier this year, the Armenian Weekly published an article detailing her story and presenting the concept of Verde Pharm. Visit her beautiful website (in English) filled with gorgeous photos, and contact her directly online to buy your presents. Prices range from 4,000 to 20,000 AMD ($8 to $41).

Honoring the Armenian Shoe-makers!

Armenians have a long shoe-making history - let’s honor it this season! Shoes can be tricky to choose for someone else, but the options below are worth investigating if you know the person’s taste... and have the same shoe size.

A few months ago, One Armenia highlighted the story of the Yeghvard sneakers, the first sports shoe ever made and produced in Armenia. Not only are they high-quality, durable and comfortable all-leather shoes, Yeghvard sneakers have also pretty much stuck to the original design since the 1980s, which makes them an iconic, vintage gift for your sportsy friends. You can find Yeghvard sneakers in several shoe shops around Yerevan (among which Petak bazaar, near Sasuntsi Davit station). And they’re also available on buy.am! A pair costs around 15,000 AMD ($30).

Obviously, if your friend is allergic to running, classic shoes might be a better option. A couple of years ago, three Syrian-Armenians opened up their own “AVA shoes” factory in Yerevan, based on their 60 years of experience in the shoemaking industry in Aleppo. AVA shoes are comfortable, long-lasting, and made of all-natural leather. You can browse through the models on their website, and makes purchases at Teryan 52. Prices range from 30,000 AMD to 70,000 AMD ($62 to $145).

If you’re looking for very original, more hipster-ish models, you may want to check out what they offer at KristoBad. The brand is dedicated to make the “made-in-Armenia” label a quality guarantee; their average price is around 75,000 AMD for a pair ($155).

If you didn’t find what you were looking for in any of those options, you’ll definitely find it in SALI, the market leader in the country. All their shoes are produced in Armenia, and sold both online and in six shops around Yerevan. Their prices range from 14,000 AMD to 100,000 AMD ($29 to $207).

The Eternals: Chocolate, Wine and Liquor

For those who want to be sure to please, there is always the traditional box of chocolates, or a good bottle of wine. Because who wouldn’t want to receive delicious chocolate nibbles? Or a made-in-Armenia gift with the added benefits of inebriation?

Karas wines.

If you’re looking for a gift for a sweet-toothed relative, there’s chocolates for all tastes at Gourmet Dourme. All their products are made in Armenia. The delicious chocolates can be purchased in the center of Yerevan (Abovyan 19) or at Dalma Garden Mall. Prices obviously vary considerably depending on the type and quantity of sweets you buy, but there are options for all budgets.

It goes without saying, but Armenian cognac is a gift or choice for your brandy amateur friends, and Ararat has been the leading brand for decades. Mention in the gift card that the cognac was said to be Churchill’s favourite, and you’ll be sure to please. You can find Ararat cognac in virtually every supermarket you enter in Yerevan. Depending on the type and age, prices can skyrocket from around 10,000 AMD up to 200,000 AMD ($21 to $413).

While brandy is a safe, traditional choice, Armenian wines should not be overlooked. If you live in Yerevan, you probably noticed that wine bars are popping up all around the city, a good hint that Armenians are renewing with their winemaking traditions. There are plenty of decent Armenian table wines, but a few brands also produce very high-quality wines, among which Karas wines. In my opinion, the best plan for efficient Christmas wine shopping would be to seek advice from professionals at In Vino (Saryan 6, Yerevan) or Wine Republic (Tamanyan 2, Yerevan), where you can directly buy bottles. For high-end Armenian wines, prices can range from approximately 3000 AMD to 12,000 AMD a bottle ($6 to $25).

Handmade Gifts: Arts, Crafts and Knits

There’s no shortage of options in this category! Plenty of organizations will allow you to purchase handmade gifts created by workers living in Armenia’s rural regions, by Syrian-Armenians refugees, or by currently unemployed women. Not only do you have access to an amazing array of handmade crafts, you can also make sure your Christmas money goes to those in need!

Jewelry made by Syrian-Armenians with HDIF.

For handmade gifts made in the regions of Armenia, your first stop will be the Homeland Development Initiative Foundation. They sell an array of products, from ceramics, bags, jewellery and dolls to knits for the whole family… There’s something for all tastes, and all budgets. For convenience, you can do online shopping on their website. Some of their products are also available at the Green Bean Coffee Shop in Yerevan.

If you want to give handmade scarves to warm up your relatives living in freezing lands, check out Իլիկ / ilik, a small socially responsible business selling winter accessories handmade by women who are currently unemployed. Prices range from 7,000 AMD to 12.900 AMD ($15 to $26).

Also of note: the Sosé & Allen's Legacy Foundation came up with a handcrafted wooden box full of made-in-Armenia treasures, among which Armenian honey, hand-made jewellry, and one of Verde Pharm’s soaps (see above). You can order your “With Love” box directly online, for $125.

Finally, if you want to give something a little something to Armenian children, you can do so through One Armenia’s SantasWanted campaign. With your donation, they will give made-in-Armenia gifts to hundreds of children in the poorest regions, through a partnership with COAF (Children Of Armenia Fund).

***

We hope this overview gave you a few solid Christmas ideas - don’t hesitate to share yours in the comments below!

Charlotte Poulain