Twelve seasonal gifts

With Christmas and New Year just around the corner, it’s time to think about gifts for friends and family, says Sharon Croxford On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me a pair of kilim slippers that he bought the last time he was in Istanbul. Oh, to be so organised! Here are 12 ideas for bringing a distinctive Turkish twist to your festive season. 1. Kilim slippers With winter firmly with us and snow threatening to drift from leaden skies, it is time for toasty fires and warm toes. A fantastic range of slippers, mules and shoes have hit some of the bazaars in Istanbul and are also available online. The best quality footwear is found around the Arasta Bazaar in Sultanahmet. Otherwise for women’s slippers and shoes try www.taus.co.uk 2. Embroidered scarves/shawls Turkey is famous for its textiles be they carpets or kilims, towels or clothing. It is easy to overlook some of the beautiful, often handcrafted scarves and shawls that are available, lost in the mass of rapidly produced, inferior stuff stacked up for sale at the ridiculous price of £2–3 a pop. Pure silk or wool on wool, the embroidered shawls can be subtle and restrained or a fanfare of colour and intricacy set to brighten any dark day. Try Ipek at 230 Istiklal Caddesi, Beyoglu (+90 212 2498207) or Özer, No. 82 in the Spice Bazaar (+90 212 5268079). continue