RED OR DEAD
Situated on Dublin’s bustling Capel Street, Rua Dublin is the perfect place if you’re hunting for a unique gift. A real treasure trove, its eclectic range of homewares and accessories is brought together to inspire and delight, with everything in store and online sourced locally here in Ireland. Rua Dublin is also home to the fabulous, Dublin-made jewellery ranges Arty Smarty and Aliquo, while New York designer Thomas Paul supplies them with an exclusive line of handmade soft furnishings and memorable accessories.
Rua Dublin is the official stockist of Chalk Paint, the decorative paint by Annie Sloan – they run painting workshops most weekends. All in all, this is an exceptional showroom for some of our finest homegrown design talent and a must-visit in the run-up to Christmas. For more information, or to shop from the comfort of your own home, visit ruaboutique.ie

CASE IN POINT
Having teamed up with a variety of new and up-and-coming Irish illustrators to produce an exciting range of designs for your iPhone 4 and 4S’ protective cases, Kovet, a new, innovative Irish-owned company, are determined to give your iPhone the ultimate facelift.
Designed and produced in Sligo, the entire Kovet collection is available for perusal at kovet.ie and is also stocked in a number of retail outlets throughout the country, including O2, CompuB, Designist and HMV. Choose from a selection of bold and cool graphics, pretty floral prints, colourful weather scenes, sport and culture. Manga and Anime fans will find something to tickle their fancy, too.
If you’d rather create your own custom design, that’s an option. Simply upload a photo or digital image on the relevant page of the Kovet website and make it uniquely yours. The cases don’t just look sharp, though. They offer great impact protection. Keep an eye on facebook.com/kovetindustries and twitter.com/KovetIndustries for the unveiling of Kovet’s new range of smartphone cases soon.

JOY TO BEHOLD
An independent street wear brand that has been building a reputation for creative excellence since it was established two years ago, Nine Lives is currently causing a stir on Kilkenny’s High Street.
Their passion for art, design, movies, subculture, and building connections with artists, informs every decision they make. One of the finest examples of their work is their brand new ‘No Joy’ t-shirt (pictured), inspired by Joy Division’s classic An Ideal For Living 1978 debut EP. A future collectible, it is retailing now at €24.99. Check them out online at ninelives.ie to view more of their inspired tees.
They also do a cool line in beanies, and have patches, badges, dresses and tote bags galore. Nine Lives is the place to find something that little bit different for the more alternative members of your family or circle of friends. This is cutting edge, underground fashion that makes a statement on the street and is made right here in Ireland.

WHAT’S ‘APPENING?
The dedicated team at Arnotts have you covered this year with the launch of the exciting new Christmas Gifting Advent Calendar app! A first for any Irish department store, the app is available for free download on iPhone and Android handsets now, and allows users to receive a complimentary gift from Arnotts (while stocks last!) every day from December 1 up until Christmas Eve.
The app also brings a brand new, free, and innovative gifting technology to users, minimising those shopping dilemmas with an in-built Gift Guide, loaded with over 1,200 gift suggestions from 174 brands.
What’s more, all registered app users will be entered into a draw on Christmas Day, when one lucky user will win a shopping spree in the Arnotts Winter Sale worth €2,500. Customers signed up to push notifications from the app will receive free gifts from the following brands throughout the month of December: Michael Kors, Yankee Candles, Joe’s Coffee House, Philosophy, Clarins, Magee, Molton Brown, Juvi, Lancôme, Kiehl’s, Benefit Cosmetics, La Bougie, Elizabeth Arden, Ted Baker, Bobbi Brown, Expert Electrical, Rituals, Appleby, ITSA Bagel, Grafton Barber, Max Benjamin, Newbridge, Elverys, Links London and Folli Follie. Find out more at arnotts.ie

FAIREST OF THEM ALL
A true original, Dublin’s Mira Mira offers a range of quirky, bespoke items for those who appreciate something more eclectic. Based in a cute little shop in Sandymount, Mira Mira is also accessible via its stylish website at miramira.ie.
With an emphasis on originality, shoppers are guaranteed something completely out of the ordinary, from beautiful jewellery to Irish handmade candles to a cool collection of baby and toddler clothing. There’s also a stunning selection of natural and organic skincare products for all the family and some exciting homewear products in the form of toys, puzzles and teddys.
The team at Mira Mira are passionate about fair trade, having travelled the globe, sourcing great high-value, high-quality fair trade gifts since 2003. The goal was to provide something for every occasion, but with a hip, unique twist. A decade on and with an ever-changing range of items available, Mira Mira continues to outdo itself.

FACTORY FLOORED

Providing high quality and super-affordable vintage pieces to the most stylish cats around, the chic team at Dublin Vintage Factory know that the devil is in the detail. That’s why you’ll find only the best at their South William Street store, with every item handpicked from the world’s most avant-garde cities and locations.
New to the city, there’s a real buzz about Dublin Vintage Factory, with the friendly staff especially interested in customising specific garments, bringing them up to date and ensuring that your newest acquisition is one of a kind. Simply put, they like to take vintage clothing into a different direction by stocking trend-based pieces, all sold at a reasonable price.
The next few months plan to be big for DVF, with lots of store-planned events, collaborations with exciting artists, musicians and fashion experts and the launch of their new online store in 2014. For now, visit facebook.com/dublinvintagefactory