LAST MINUTE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING IN GENEVA
by Gaêlle Forget
Christmas is upon us. To delight your friends and family, visit the many local shops around town in stead of resorting to the usual suspects. Buying local boosts the local economy and gives you unique gift ideas.
Check out some of our local favourites below:
FOR YOUR SISTER
Chloé & Rose nées à Genève
This is the story of a passionate couple who left everything behind to explore Asia with their young daughter. There they learned the art of jewellery making from local artisans and upon their return opened their first store in Plainpalais in 2010, named after their daughter Chloé.
This store specialises in handcrafted jewellery in sterling silver, as well as rose and yellow gold plate. They also offer quirky accessories for you and for home.
You’ll love the pink façade and attractive window display. In 2014, the couple opened a second store in front of Manor, named Rose, after their second daughter.
A great idea for Christmas is to customise your jewellery – a service offered at both stores. You can also order online, with free shipping on orders of CHF100 or more.
MORE INFO
Chloé
Rond-Point de Plainpalais 6
Open Monday (12pm – 6.30pm), Tuesday to Friday (11am – 6.30pm) and Saturday (10am-6pm)
Rose
Rue Rousseau 16
Open Monday (12pm – 6.30pm), Tuesday to Friday (11am – 6.30pm) and Saturday (12pm-6pm)
FOR YOUR MOTHER
Collection 66
Collection 66 is an upscale clothing store launched in Lausanne in 2007. In 2015 they opened a sister store in Pâquis, a short walk from the train station. In 2017 a third one opened in Rolle.
The concept is 1960s inspired. The style is classic, elegant and vintage, bringing together effortless femininity and modern sophistication. Look for colourful prints and interesting designs, such as Liberty patterns, florals, geometrical shapes and more. The designer Agnès Boudry is inspired by cutting-edge trends and contemporary designers such as Miu Miu and Comme des Garçons. She also sells accessories by other brands such as colourful scarves made of twill or silk. You can shop online too.
MORE INFO
Collection 66
Rue de Lausanne 30
Open from Tuesday to Friday (11am – 7pm) and Saturday (11am to 5pm)
https://collection66.com/shop/
FOR YOUR BOHEMIAN FRIEND
Jolly Jungle
Jolly Jungle was started by mother and daughter, Nathalie and Thaïs, who love to travel, discovering artisans and craftsmanship from around the world and bringing products and ideas back to Geneva. A visit to Jolly Jungle is an invitation to travel the world.
Decorated with exotic plants and ethnic tapestry, Jolly Jungle is an ethical and vegan boutique, offering clothes and accessories, their own unique designs, and small gems carefully curated by the owners.
All items are certified animal cruelty free, vegan, ethical, fair trade, sustainable and made with love. Their style is bohemian, creative, and very colourful. My favourite items are their hand-embroidered bags and pouches.
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Jolly Jungle
Rue de Carouge 95, Plainpalais.
Open from Tuesday to Friday (10:30am – 6:30pm) and on Saturday (10:30am to 5pm)
FOR YOUR STYLISH FRIEND
La 5ème
Conveniently located near Manor and the train station, La 5ème’s selection includes reasonably priced home décor products, unusual clothes and beautiful antique wooden toys for children. The store was first opened in 1986 and is owned and managed by the third generation of the same family.
La 5ème can be described as a cabinet of curiosities, combining antique furniture with trendy new items. You will find an eclectic mix of vintage dishes and delicate glassware, as well as Scandinavian furniture, Swiss-designed cushions, postcards, children’s gifts, and so on. La 5ème is a poetic space, which is well worth a visit, even if you come just to take in its unique atmosphere. I especially like their handmade scented candles, made of 100% vegetal wax (at CHF 25 per candle); my favourite scent is LUX, with its powerful fig scent.
MORE INFO
La 5ème
2 Place de Grenus
Open Tuesday to Friday (10:30am – 6:30pm) and Saturday (11am – 5pm)
FOR YOUR INNER CHILD
Cuppin’s
Created in Lausanne in 2011 by two cousins, Cuppin’s is a mix of coffee shop, cupcake store (their bespoke birthday cakes are magnificent!) and concept boutique offering jewellery, accessories, stationery, party supplies and home décor. You are sure to “wow” everyone around your Christmas table with their Black Forest cake (CHF 69).
The cupcakes are delicious; the jewellery is trendy and their baby and children section is filled with truly adorable items, such as night lights shaped like unicorns, clouds, pears and stars (CHF 19,90 each). Many of their items can be found on their online shop.
This store is for your inner child. It is a breath of fresh air.
MORE INFORMATION
Cuppin’s
13 rue de la Terrassière
Open Tuesday to Friday (09am – 6pm) and Saturday (10:30am – 6pm)
FROM YOU TO YOU
Kurz Jewellery and Watches
Kurz is one of the oldest jewellery stores in town. They pride themselves on offering ‘accessible luxe’ -the ’boutique hotel’ of jewellery stores. Prices for their wide range of watch brands and jewellery items range from CHF200 to CHF50,0000. Their shop on Rue de la Confédération has just been freshly decorated with marble counters and handmade golden wallpaper to create a contemporary, yet warm ambiance.
They offer over 14 watch brands in the shop and a large variety of jewellery – including their own exclusive collection as well as items from other jewellery brands.
I wouldn’t mind making a statement with this ring in rose gold 18K with a faceted green tourmaline surrounded by tiny diamonds.
The Kurz philosophy is that you definitely should not have to wait for someone to buy you jewellery. We love it! Make this one from you to you, because you’re special.
MORE INFO
Rue de la Confédération 11, 1204 Genève
Monday- Friday: 9h-18h30
Saturday: 10h-18h.
FOR YOUR MOTHER-IN-LAW – TWO OPTIONS
La Petite Fleuriste
La Petite Fleuriste is a flower shop located in Jonction. The owner, Sabrina, has been a dedicated and passionate florist for the past fifteen years.
An eco-responsible and eco-friendly florist, La Petite Fleuriste is furnished with ecological and low impact materials, and Sabrina only sources her flowers and plants from local suppliers and farmers in the region. She recycles the water and waste generated in her flower shop, and even her wrapping paper is environmentally friendly.
This is where you’ll find the perfect bouquet for your mother-in-law, or a centre piece arrangement for your Christmas table.
La Petite Fleuriste also offers a wide range of indoor and outdoor plants to bring some nature into your home.
MORE INFORMATION
La Petite Fleuriste
Chemin du 23 août 1
Open Tuesday to Friday (9am – 7pm) and Saturday (9am – 5pm)
https://www.lapetitefleuriste.ch/
Les Fleurs de Frida
Located in the Bains district, Les Fleurs de Frida offers an extensive selection of home décor, accessories, paintings and jewellery. In this store, you will find pretty candles, picture frames, headdresses, delicate brooches embroidered in Japan, colourful teacups, Japanese kimonos, hand painted postcards and much more.
Les Fleurs de Frida is partly inspired by Japanese culture, which is reflected in many of the items on offer. On December 13th from 4pm to 8pm, the store is organising an after-work event – the perfect opportunity for some last-minute Christmas shopping!
MORE INFORMATION
Les Fleurs de Frida
Boulevard de Saint-Georges 52
Open on Tuesday (10am – 6:30pm), Wednesday (10am to 4pm), Thursday and Friday (10am – 6:30pm), and Saturday (11am – 5:30pm)
https://www.facebook.com/lesfleursdefrida/
FOR HIM – TWO OPTIONS
Archipel
Archipel is a cosmetics boutique selling natural products for men and women. While their pop-up store will only be open until February 2019 (a permanent store is planned to open in Geneva next year) all their products are available on their website, with free shipping for every purchase of CHF120 or more.
Archipel’s offering includes hair, body and skincare products, made mostly (95%) from natural ingredients. Why not surprise the bearded men in your family with a nourishing beard shampoo by French brand Bivouak, made with aloe vera, shea butter and cypress (CHF 32)? You can even create a gift box by adding Bivouak’s shaving cream (CHF 42), a beard brush (CHF 25) and some beard castor oil, which hydrates and strengthens the beard (CHF 30).
Their well-equipped boutique features an area where you can test and try products before making your final decision – drop by and see for yourself.
MORE INFO
Archipel (pop-up store)
Boulevard Carl-Vogt 63
Open Tuesday to Friday (10am – 6:30pm) and Saturday (11am to 5pm)
https://www.archipelstore.com/
Tallis
Tallis is a small store in Pâquis. It is a local luxury brand specialised in stylish and sexy knitwear and accessories for women, men and children made from reclaimed materials. Tallis maintains the fine balance between classic and trendy. Almost all their products are made in Switzerland, so you can expect high quality materials. Moreover, their products are made of natural fabrics only. They claim to sell only ethical fur and sheepskin. It means using recycled vintage fur or fur that is a byproduct of the food industry, which would otherwise have been destroyed.
A cashmere sweater for CHF350 would be a very special gift underneath the Christmas tree. They also have a small collection of hats for men along with a capsule hat collection for children.
They organise workshops on how to reduce plastic in your life, with one being held on December 13 and another workshop featuring slow fashion on January 24, 2019, Both events are held during lunchtime for a small fee of CHF15. You can shop online too.
MORE INFO
Where: Rue Docteur-Alfred-Vincent 10
When: Monday – Friday from 9am to 6pm
More information: https://www.thetallis.com/
