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There is a definite change happening in gifting this autumn.
At Feather & Twigs, we're seeing people move away from buying something simply because they need a present. Instead, they want to find the present — something useful, beautiful and personal enough to show that some thought went into choosing it.
For Autumn 2026, gifting is warmer, more individual and increasingly about the little luxuries that make everyday life better. Beautiful fragrance, tactile homeware, original artwork, jewellery, stylish bags, lovely stationery and pieces made by independent artists and artisans all sit comfortably within this shift.
Perhaps most importantly, people don't necessarily want more things.
They want better things — and they want to know the story behind them.
A thoughtful gift doesn't have to be extravagant.
Some of the strongest gifts we're seeing this autumn are those small indulgences that someone might not necessarily buy for themselves.
A beautifully fragranced St Eval candle, a handmade soap or nourishing balm from Cosy Cottage, a special notebook, a favourite mug or a beautifully illustrated Anna Wright card can turn an everyday moment into something a little more special.
These are gifts that are enjoyed rather than simply owned.
And with people increasingly thinking about where they spend their money, there is something reassuring about finding a beautifully made gift at an accessible price.
It's less about how much you've spent and much more about how well you've chosen.
For us, one of the most exciting directions for Autumn 2026 is the growing appreciation of handmade pieces.
Customers want something different from what they can find everywhere else. They want personality, craftsmanship and, increasingly, to know that there is a real person behind what they are buying.
That's why independent artists and artisans are so important to Feather & Twigs.
Annabelle's hand-crocheted bags, for example, aren't simply accessories. The time, skill and individuality involved in making them are part of their appeal. No enormous production line. No thousands of identical pieces. Just something beautifully made by somebody who knows their craft.
That difference matters.
It also makes handmade particularly powerful for gifting. You aren't simply giving someone a bag, piece of artwork or decorative object; you're giving them something with a story.
We're also seeing art become much more accessible as a gift.
It doesn't have to mean a major investment or knowing everything about art. Sometimes it's simply finding an image that reminds you of a person, a place or a shared memory.
We love Sam Wilson's pictures and homeware for exactly this reason. Her countryside-inspired designs have a warmth and familiarity that make them wonderfully easy to live with and equally lovely to give.
Original work from local artists takes that idea even further.
Supporting artists within our own communities has always been important to us. Their work brings individuality into our homes while helping creative people continue doing what they do best — making rather than constantly having to think about selling.
Independent shops have an important part to play in that relationship. We discover the work, tell its story and introduce it to people who might otherwise never find it.
Autumn naturally turns our attention back towards our homes.
We're lighting candles earlier, changing cushions, bringing out favourite throws and looking for ways to make rooms feel warmer without completely redecorating them.
That's why homeware remains such a strong gifting category for Autumn 2026.
But we're moving away from the idea that everybody's home needs to look the same.
Pieces from makers and designers such as Morgan & Wright bring character into a room, while Susan Ballard mugs and cups demonstrate perfectly how something functional can also be beautifully designed.
A favourite mug might sound like a simple present, but it's something the recipient may use every morning for years.
That's exactly the type of gift we're interested in.
Useful. Beautiful. Personal.
After the lighter feel of summer, autumn brings a natural desire for texture.
Ceramics, crochet, tactile fabrics, natural finishes, candles, decorative pots, vases and artwork all come into their own.
Colour is warming up too.
We're embracing olive and moss greens, rust, ochre, berry shades, warm neutrals and deeper jewel tones, alongside flashes of brighter colour where they add personality.
You don't need to completely restyle a room every season.
A new Morgan & Wright homeware piece, a Susan Ballard mug, a seasonal candle or a Sam Wilson picture can be enough to change the feeling of a space.
For us, that's what seasonal living is really about — noticing the change of season and enjoying it rather than constantly replacing everything around us.
Practical gifting is becoming increasingly important, but useful should never have to mean boring.
It's one of the reasons we've been drawn to Goodeehoo.
A beautifully finished work bag, business folio, notebook or accessory solves an everyday need but still feels special enough to unwrap.
September and autumn naturally bring that feeling of getting organised again. Children return to school, holidays finish and suddenly notebooks, pens, bags and desk accessories feel strangely appealing.
Sometimes the smallest upgrade can make returning to routine feel considerably better.
And treating yourself absolutely counts.
We're seeing a similar shift within beauty and wellbeing.
Customers are paying much more attention to ingredients, production methods and whether products are vegan or cruelty-free.
Our Cosy Cottage soaps and balms fit naturally into that way of shopping. Handmade in small batches, they're the sort of products that turn something as simple as washing your hands or applying a balm into a small moment of care.
They also make particularly good gifts because they're indulgent without creating clutter.
Use it. Enjoy it. Remember who gave it to you.
Sometimes the simplest formula is the best.
One thing we hope never disappears is the handwritten card.
In an increasingly digital world, receiving something somebody has actually chosen, written and posted or handed to you feels surprisingly special.
That's why illustrators such as Anna Wright are an important part of our gifting edit.
Her cards have humour, personality and beautiful illustration — sometimes the card says almost as much as the present.
We also love Fox Under the Moon for those occasions when you want to say something a little more thoughtful, and East of India for small ceramic keepsakes and messages that can be kept long after the card has come down.
The finishing touches matter.
Few things signal the arrival of autumn quite like lighting the first candle as the evenings begin drawing in.
Home fragrance continues to be one of our strongest gifting choices because it's both personal and easy to give.
St Eval remains a Feather & Twigs favourite, with its Cornish heritage and distinctive fragrances, alongside our own Feather & Twigs candles.
As autumn progresses, we're naturally moving towards warmer fragrances — herbs, woods, spices and comforting seasonal scents.
A candle can say happy birthday, thank you, congratulations, thinking of you or simply:
Put your feet up. You deserve this.
Not every present needs an occasion.
In fact, one of the biggest changes we're seeing is the growth of smaller, spontaneous gifts.
A friend has had a difficult week. Grandma helped with the children. A neighbour did something kind. Someone started a new job. Or you've simply seen something that immediately made you think of somebody.
These moments lend themselves beautifully to an Anna Wright card, a Cosy Cottage balm, an East of India keepsake, a candle, a mug or another small piece chosen specifically for that person.
They're not grand gestures.
They're thoughtful ones.
And increasingly, that's what gifting is about.
Alongside established British brands, we're particularly passionate about giving local artists and independent makers a place at Feather & Twigs.
It's something we believe independent retailers can do particularly well.
An artisan might make wonderful things but have neither the time nor inclination to become a marketing expert, photographer, website manager and social media creator as well.
They want to make.
Our role is to help people discover them.
Whether it's an original artwork, a hand-crocheted bag, ceramics, illustration or another beautifully crafted piece, shopping locally and independently helps keep those skills alive.
It also means our customers can discover gifts that aren't sitting on shelves in thousands of other shops around the country.
That individuality is becoming increasingly valuable.
For a while, interiors and gifting became very neutral.
Autumn 2026 feels different.
We're seeing people becoming more confident with colour, pattern, humour, illustration and pieces that reveal something about their personality.
That doesn't mean novelty for novelty's sake.
We want things that make you smile when you first see them but have enough quality, usefulness or beauty to earn their place in your home.
A playful Anna Wright illustration, the countryside character of Sam Wilson, an artisan crochet bag or beautifully designed ceramics can all introduce personality without feeling disposable.
Homes should look like the people who live in them.
And gifts should feel like the people receiving them.
Perhaps one of the most important changes at Feather & Twigs is that we're increasingly interested in editing rather than simply adding.
We don't believe customers need hundreds of almost identical products.
You need a good selection.
That means combining established names such as St Eval, Goodeehoo, Anna Wright and Sam Wilson with smaller producers such as Cosy Cottage, designers including Morgan & Wright and Susan Ballard, and independent artists and artisans whose work deserves to be discovered.
Each brings something different.
Together, they create what we want Feather & Twigs to be known for: a carefully chosen collection rather than an endless catalogue.
We find. We edit. You choose.
So, what do we think will make the best gifts this autumn?
Beautiful candles and fragrance. Handmade soaps and balms. Illustrated cards with personality. Ceramics you'll reach for every day. Artwork that creates a connection. Handcrafted accessories. Jewellery that's made to be worn. Stylish bags and stationery that make ordinary routines feel better. And small keepsakes that say something when sometimes words aren't quite enough.
Above all, we're choosing products with people behind them.
Because whether it's made by an established British brand, a talented designer or an artisan working from a small studio, knowing a little about where something came from makes it infinitely more interesting.
The future of gifting isn't about buying more.
It's about choosing better, supporting creativity and finding something that feels exactly right for the person receiving it.
And that sits very comfortably with what we've always believed at Feather & Twigs.
Beautiful Homes. Thoughtful Gifts. Seasonal Living.
See our Autumn Collection here
For many adults, particularly parents and grandparents, the summer holidays are less of a holiday and more of an elaborate juggling act. Work continues, emails still arrive and deadlines don’t disappear simply because school has finished for six weeks.
Add childcare, days out, holiday clubs, sleepovers and the inevitable last-minute change of plan, and by September many of us are ready for a reset.
Behind every handcrafted piece is a maker – and sometimes the best way to support them is to let them concentrate on making.
There is something particularly special about buying an object that has been made by hand. You can see the maker’s choices in it, feel the materials and, quite often, discover a story that simply doesn’t exist with something mass-produced.
Following the success of last year’s event, the Community Art Fair returns to Croston Old School for its second year on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th October 2026, bringing together a wonderful collection of artists, makers and creative talent.
Open from 10am until 4pm on both days, the Art Fair is an opportunity to enjoy an inspiring s...
