Gift Picks: Local NYC Artisans with Julianne Ahn

Gift giving can be tough. At least from our experience, it can be difficult to surprise those on your list with something they never knew they needed. To get a fresh point of view, we tapped Ms. Julianne Ahn, founder of Object and Totem, to get a few new ideas. Being a local Brooklyn artist herself, she’s incredibly familiar with the local scene and has a great eye for quality. From her beautiful handmade ceramics to the whimsical comb baskets of Doug Johnston, check out her selects below.

Handmade Mugs from a Local Ceramicist

“Every city has a ceramics community so it’s a nice gesture to go out and find one near you to support locally. It’s nice to handle them in person rather than purchase directly from the internet. I love selling locally, because I have a lot of customers that I’ve gotten to know throughout the years whom have given me great positive feedback on their experience, for example, using my mugs on a daily basis which makes me really happy.”

Doug Johnston Combs Basket

“Because we live in Brooklyn, we have the good fortune of knowing a lot of great makers like Doug and Tomoe. I love this style because although there are a lot of handmade rope baskets online these days, he really adds such a unique quality to an everyday basket that I love.”

Binu Binu Box Set

“I came across Binu Binu last year when shopping for a birthday gift and was drawn to the beautiful colors and architectural shapes. They’re inspired by Korean bath house culture so there are a lot of elegant fresh scents like Boricha, Hibiscus, Black Sesame and Green tea.

Ilana Kohn Unisex Tuck Coverall

Ilana is a friend of mine who really understand the importance of utility and fashion. I own a jumpsuit of hers and love wearing it. I think her jumpsuits appeal to both makers and people who appreciate stylish workwear.

Be sure to follow Julianne on IG here.

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