Clothing is a classic holiday gift for anyone. Getting a really high quality sweater, or pair of boots, or even a really great pair of socks, can make for a gift that lasts the year-round. It’s a great feeling when months down the road, you see your gift recipient wearing something you bought them.
For today’s wishlist, Samay Patel is here to recommend five amazing clothing and footwear brands that all blend timeless, uncomplicated style with durable, high quality materials.
Samay is a Senior Product Manager at Govalo, based in sunny Southern California. He gets to work with engineering, sales, and support on prioritizing features and improving our product for customers. He’s passionate about morning workouts, trying new foods, coffee shops, and reading. Favorite holiday activities range from snowboarding and cold cabin trips to neighborhood Christmas light tours!
#1 - Viberg - Iconic durable boots
A good pair of boots should be timeless, long-lasting, and stylish. When Edwin Viberg first founded his shoe making business in 1931, he built it on the Depression-era ethos of “made stronger to last longer”, which has carried through the generations to today. Viberg started with their iconic Service Boot, inspired by and created for agriculture laborers to be a durable work boot using a unique construction method. In the ‘80’s Edwin’s son expanded their range, and in 2007 his grandson, Brett, updated their iconic boots to give them a modern yet timeless silhouette. With heritage and craftsmanship at the heart of every shoe produced, these are a really excellent gift to give someone who could benefit from a pair of really great all-rounder boots.
#2 - Taylor Stitch - Classic men’s fashion
Originally a shirt-maker, Taylor Stitch grew from a need for clothing that can handle any situation - whether you’re hiking up a mountain, snagging trout, or just headed to the office. They’ve expanded to include a whole range of men’s clothing that incorporates classic style with modern sensibilities. They aim to make the world’s best apparel, while also committing to sustainability using recycled and regenerative fibers where possible and creating a more earth-conscious supply chain. With their original shirts, they learned from the best - about the quality of material, to the cut of the fabric, to even how many stitches per inch were needed. Quality runs through everything they do, and that’s why any item from their store would make a truly thoughtful gift.
Click here to shop - Taylor Stitch
#3 - Nobull - Durable, high performance activewear
Nobull makes footwear, apparel and accessories for people who train hard, and need activewear to match their energy. Often dubbed a favorite of the CrossFit community, their high performance apparel is designed for durability so it can keep up with any activity. They’re true to their name, and opt for zero gimmicks - just high quality clothing. Whether it’s their sweat-wicking shorts, comfortable running shoes, or breathable training tanks and tees, you’ll find something perfect for the runner, hiker, cyclist, or CrossFit enthusiast in your life.
#4 - Bombas - The most comfortable socks
Opening a beautifully wrapped present to find...socks. It’s a classic holiday trope, right? Well, Bombas will turn what is normally a bore into an exciting and genuinely great gift. They’re a comfort focussed brand with a mission to help those in need. They put their socks and apparel through rigorous research and development, and quality testing, to ensure they tweak and perfect their products for maximum comfort. Samay highlighted their merino wool socks - they combine naturally moisture-wicking merino wool with a cushioned footbed and specially designed support system for a super soft, itch-free sock. As soon as your intended recipient tries these on, they’ll only ever want socks from Santa in the future!
#5 - Allbirds - Planet-friendly, premium shoes
Another favorite on the Govalo team, Allbirds make planet-friendly shoes with premium, natural materials. Their range of comfortable sneakers and shoes leave feet feeling weightless, using a unique combination of renewable materials designed for comfort and support. Their running shoes have been rigorously tested over thousands of hours by more than 50 different professional and amateur athletes, so you know you’re getting the shoe best optimized to make the 5k feel like a breeze. Samay highlighted their Tree Dasher shoes which reimagine the traditional running shoe with natural materials including their innovative sugarcane mid-sole, the world’s first carbon negative green EVA.
