I’m not the most outdoorsy person: I much prefer what comes after nature activities (going inside and getting warm, preferably with a hot toddy). But these well-made and fashion-forward accoutrements could sway me to spend more time out of doors. For gardeners or outdoorsy types who need no convincing, here are 10 gifts to upgrade their garb and keep them equipped, all year long.
French Work Jacket
Above: The traditional French blue workman’s shirt has been made by family-run company La Laboureur since the 1950s; with “three external pockets and one internal breast pocket, useful for your wallet, handkerchief, penknife or secateurs,” it’s hard-wearing for all kinds of outdoor work. The La Laboureur French Work Jacket in Bugatti Blue is $165 from Garden Objects.
Above: To protect the avid gardener’s knees: Cow Leather Kneepads. The olive-colored leather is made in a tannery in Shropshire, UK, and the lining is made from, of all things, re-used rug fibers. A pair is €49 from Manufactum.
Canvas Pruner Pocket
Above: For the gardener who’s always multitasking: the trusty cotton canvas and suede Gardener’s Pruner Pouch has two pockets—one for pruners, one for gloves—and hangs, within reach, from a belt, keeping hands free. It’s $12.89 from Gardeners.com.
Work Gloves
Above: It can be a struggle to find good-looking but dependable work gloves. Upgrade your favorite gardener’s worn, soil-caked pair with these Leather Work Gloves, €18 from Labour and Wait. (Bonus: they have a “fleecy” cotton lining.)
For a rose gardener, consider gauntlet gloves to protect forearms from thorns. Our pick? We’re long-time admirers of The Pallina Glove ($40) made of washable goatskin leather.
Flower Tote
Above: For the amateur flower arranger: a Denim Jardin Tote can transport flowers, herbs, and cuttings from the garden or protect homemade bouquets. For a holiday gift, fill it with stems from the garden, or evergreen boughs—no wrapping needed. The tote is $40 from Áplat.
All-Purpose Bandana
Above: Flora Grubb is offering a Limited Edition Gardener’s Bandana that’s as artful as it is practical. The design, by Santa Cruz-based artist Lili Arnold, “features the ‘Queen of the Night’ cactus, Selenicereus grandiflorus, whose elusive, sweetly scented flowers only bloom after dark.” Give it to a gardener for uses of all kinds; it’s $14.95 from Flora Grubb.
Waist Apron
Above: A Pocket Waist Apron in sturdy cotton duck has brass eyelets and a divided pocket, and is suitable “for the kitchen, garden, and workshop;” $95 from Labour and Wait.
Sasawashi Hat
Above: For the gardener who braves the elements: a unisex Sasawashi Beanie is woven from wool and washi-paper threads, which “keeps your head warm without overheating.” It’s available in gray (shown) and navy and is $82 from Japanese purveyors Rikumo.
Leather Carry-All
Above: A pricier tote, the Mallmann’s Leather Trug designed by Argentinian chef Francis Mallmann is made of 100 percent American russet leather, ideal for “harvest season in the garden, a quick picnic, or running errands around town.” It’s $398 from Best Made Co.
