Mother’s Day Gift Ideas Created by South Asian Women

UNIVERSITY PRESS

Gift Ideas for Mom: Gifts created by South Asian Women in our community

This was post was not sponsored.

Mother’s Day is May 14 and with just days to get shopping done, we thought we would bring you gift ideas that are brought to you by strong, innovative South Asian women in our community. What better way to celebrate Mother’s day than to give her a gift she loves while also supporting another South Asian woman like you?

From beauty to style to masalamommas who are foodies or bookworms, we’ve got the perfect gift for her!

Here are our favourites products launched by South Asian women in our global community you may love:

1.ScentLisa Ray’s Jasmine of India Perfume

Drawing on the old saying ‘No perfume without Jasmine’, Lisa Ray Jasmine of India blends awakening notes of orange blossom, cardamom, ginger, frankincense and myrrh with the exotic Jasmine flower. 

Lisa Ray Jasmine Perfume

Photo Credit: Bay.com

“Our new jasmine fragrance takes me back to my childhood, where Jasmine adorned temples and decorated women’s hair,” says Lisa Ray. “It acts as a reminder to slow down, breathe and recognize the divine in everyday life. I am humbled to have been part of a project that gives back to the Jasmine farmers of India with the purchase of every bottle.”

Lisa Ray Jasmine of India is the sixth fragrance from The 7 Virtues Collection, whose other notable fragrances include Afghanistan Orange Blossom (CBC Dragons’ Den Winner & Top Game Changer), Noble Rose of Afghanistan (Named by History TV viewers), Vetiver of Haiti (Chatelaine Beauty 100 winner), Middle East Peace (Finalist for the Fragrance Awards) and Patchouli of Rwanda, featured in the new upcoming documentary, Perfume War. The 7 Virtues fragrances are vegan, not tested on animals and have no added parabens or phthalates.

Lisa Ray Jasmine of India retails for $70 and is  exclusively available at all 90 Hudson’s Bay stores across Canada, thebay.com and the7virtues.comThe award winning fragrances are made in Canada with natural essential oils sourced from nations rebuilding and are paraben free, phthalate free and vegan. 

2. Jewellery:  This sanskrit necklace that translates to ‘mom’ is truly a unique keepsake for any mother old or young. Rosena Sami’s necklace is a great gift idea what provides just the right message for any masalamomma who loves jewellery and unique gifts.

  • Sankskrit necklace in gold by Rosena Sammi for a mother's day gift

     

    3.  Skincare  As moms our skin goes through  a lot from pregnancy to parenting through the teen years and what better way to nourish your skin than with herbal methods from South Asia? One of our picks Anokha’s  Amla Skin Brightening Lotion. Formulated by plastic surgeon, mother and aspiring Buddhist,  Dr. Nina Naidu, Anokha Skin Care was created to celebrate the beauty within each of us. Their key ingredients are derived from plants and active botanicals native to South Asia, including jasmine, rosewater, sandalwood, and neem.  Selected modern ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid and panthenol, have been added to enhance the efficacy of the system.  The products are free of parabens, sulfates, petrolatum, and artificial colors and are manufactured in the USA.   10% of proceeds from all sales are donated to Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières., Anokha’s Brightening lotion is a light but truly hydrating lotion which combines amla fruit with extracts of daisy, mango seed butter, licorice root, and hibiscus to gently brighten the skin while reducing uneven skin tone.

    Photo Credit: Anokha Skincare

    4. Candles: These candles are hand poured, and 100% soy. Diya Candles uses eco-friendly cotton wicks, which contain no lead. Creator Sonia Srivastava, a mom and  TV journalist says it was important to her that her products are also dye-free, that’s why Diya candles are white as no artificial colouring is used to produce them. “All the oils we use don’t contain any phthalates.Our goal is to create a candle that allows you to reconnect with all the great scents of India.”

    Diya Candles are available on Amazon.com

    Diyacandles.com

    5. Art for her Workspace: We love Nidhi Chanani’s collections and her Hindi artwork is particularly amazing. Nidhi was born in Calcutta and raised in suburban southern California. She creates because it makes her happy she says– with the hope that it can make others happy, too. In April of 2012 she was honored at the White House as aChampion of Change.Give your mom something she’ll treasure and be inspired by while at work. This Dreams print shares a great message and perfect for any wall.

     

    Photo Credit: Everyday Love art

    6. Statement mugs:  

    Pour your morning Chai into this graphic gorgeous design. This beautiful statement mug is the perfect gift for friends, family, or that special someone (including yourself) who needs a cup of chai to get their day started. Sanskriti Box is a company launched by South Asian mom Anjali Kumar Bharadwa who felt she wanted to create a unique way to keep kids connected to their culture. She created boxes packed full of items that would do just that. What kids wouldn’t enjoy receiving a cool box in the mail every month made just for them?  “I selected just the right amount of things to enhance the books and Sanskriti Box was born,” says Anjali Kumar Bharadwa in her blog.

    – 14 oz. White Ceramic Mug, Permanent Vinyl
    – Microwave and Top-rack Dishwasher Safe
    – May be the envy of all your friends

    mother's day gift

    Photo Credit: Sanskritibox.com

7. Great Books: Some of our favourites include reads about food, of course! Devnaa’s Indian-inspired Desserts’ cookbook is sure to make any mom who loves to bake, happy! Not to mention make your next dinner party a smash. Written by Rope Rawal, an entrepreneur, chef from the UK whose company Devnaa is a staple when it comes to renowned confectionary in the UK. Over 35 recipes later and with the 10 other family members of their  household as chief tasters, they created their first signature barfi made with couverture Belgian chocolate, French milk powder and fresh cream. Today the same creativity and dedication go into developing all their  innovative sweet treats. In this book, you’ll find recipes for  Chocolate Jalebi to White Chocolate Kheer! Her book is available on amazon.com.

Padma Lakshmi’s Love, Loss and What We Ate is a vivid memoir of food and family, survival and triumph, Love, Loss, and What We Ate traces the arc of Padma Lakshmi’s unlikely path from an immigrant childhood to a complicated life in front of the camera—a tantalizing blend of Ruth Reichl’s Tender at the Bone and Nora Ephron’s Heartburn. Her book makes a philosophical case of the central role that food plays in a women’s personal and professional life. Her book is available at most booksellers globally and on amazon.com.

Roopa’s Cookbook

padma lakshi book reviw

 

8. Something Sweet: These bite-sized sweets have been called, by Sweet Silk Confections by Shefalee “French Chocolate Meets Indian Mithai”! It’s never a bad time for chocolate, right? Their Signature Collection inspired by exotic Middle Eastern and Indian spices and flavours  is packaged in diamond-pattern cream box wrapped in satin black ribbon to make for a unique gift or a sweet self-indulgence.  The box is an array of of their most popular sweets that are available year round and available at the Sweet Silk Shop. Other flavours include cashew milk chocolate, pistachio white rose, chocolate coconut ganache, apricot honey nut and vanilla chai spice. Creator Shefalee Patel, originally from Passaic, New Jersey, entered the burfi business after a career in civil engineering. In a feature in the Wall Street Journal she says, She decided to start Sweet Silk because she wanted to apply her newfound cooking techniques to making Indian desserts more upscale. Check out her amazing dessert boxes here.

 

9. For the mom looking to get into shape or who loves fitness: Celebrity Trainer, Ramona Braganza is  a great friend to the masalamommas community with such clients as Jessica Alba, Halle Berry, Kate Beckinsale, Anne Hathaway, Scarlett Johansson, Zac Efron, Ryan Reynolds, Tom Welling, Michael Weatherly and many more.

As someone who has been in the health and wellness industry for more than 30 years, beginning in her teens, through her 20s, 30s 40s and now into her 50s, she has seen many fitness fads and diets come and go. “What I have found to work for me and for my Celebrity clients is good old fashioned back to basics programs you can stick to.  Programs that don’t require you to have fancy equipment, can be done in the comfort of your home, and on a simple budget. As your Coach I will cheer you on to the finish line, getting your health back or on track is my wish for you!” she says about her program. Her amazing workouts can be purchased online here.

10. Sari-inspired gift: Love this idea and if the mom in your life or you(!) love saris, this will make a great gift.

Photo Credit: Upsari Pinterest

Creator, founder, Vinita Srivastava takes old saris and transforms them into wearable works of art.  Upsari is an eco-conscious, ethical labour source, social enterprise.  It involves a socially responsible supply chain, with economic, environmental and occupational benefits provided to the individuals responsible for producing our garments and products. We are committed to improving the lives of those involved in the production process.

Vinita Srivastava founded Upsari in 2015 after a successful career in journalism, publishing and education. She describes her editorial work in fashion as accidental, (or serendipitous): Through a series of chance meetings, she ended up working with the best in New York City’s fashion publishing industry, including a four-year stint at the New York Times Style Magazine with time also spent at O, the Oprah Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, Men’s Vogue, Spin, Vibe and Savoy.

Here’s some of our favourite picks:

 

sari dress

Besharam Cocktail dress Photo Credit: Upsari.com

 

sari skirt a mother's day gift

Photo Credit: Upsari.com Sari Skirt


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