This Christmas it’s more important than ever to shop local and as part of our ongoing #SupportLocal campaign, we’ve rounded up some of the best gift ideas from Mackem makers, from prints by local artists to a Sun’Lun mug from Pop Recs and a ‘Santa is a Mackem’ face covering.
If you want to give an alcoholic gift, there’s a great range of Sunderland breweries, distilleries and shops doing gift sets. See our guide to places doing drinks deliveries here.
1. The Mackem Dictionary
Celebrate the weird and wonderful world of the Wearside lexicon by giving the gift of The Mackem Dictionary. Penned by Paul Swinney, the tongue-in-cheek book is a firm favourite in Sunderland. The third edition, priced £5, is available at www.a-love-supreme.com Photo: submitted
2. SunLun mug, Pop Recs
The perfect gift for people who think Sunderland is just their cup of tea, these SunLun mugs, priced £7, are among the merchandise available at the online Pop Recs store. You can also buy SunLun T-shirts, Pop Recs coffee and more. Visit www.poprecs.co.uk Photo: JPI Media
3. Artwork by Kathryn Robertson
Sunderland artist Kathryn Robertson is often inspired by the urban landscape of her home city. Her large-scale murals can be seen at locations across Wearside including Sunderland University, The Little Shop and the Elephant Tearooms. You can buy a piece of her work for the home from her Big Cartel shop, priced from £10. Visit https://krillustrates.bigcartel.com/ Photo: submitted
4. Santa is a Mackem face covering, ALS
The ALS shop at Sheepfolds is reopening after the second lockdown and also has a great range of Sunderland-themed merchandise online, from Vaux bobble and bucket hats to mugs, pin badges, books - and Mackem face coverings, priced £5. Visit https://www.a-love-supreme.com/shop Photo: Submitted