Not Your Usual Gift Shop opens at Selfridges London

— 25 October 2012

The Selfridges London Concept Store has been transformed into a gift shop with a difference, as part of this year’s store-wide festive theme, Not Your Usual Christmas. The space showcases a hand-picked selection of the most extraordinary gifts around, banishing run-of-the-mill in favour of the alternative and the unexpected.

The Extraordinary Gifts

We’ve brought plenty of artistic flair to our Christmas gift offering, with exclusive, hand-created items from established and emerging artists alike. The iconic work of Francis Bacon has been used for the very first time to create a lifestyle collection, including mounted prints, silk scarves and tote bags. Famous artist and taxidermist Polly Morgan has teamed up with Constant and True to bring her distinctive appreciation of animal beauty to a range of t-shirts and sweatshirts with hand-drawn graphite illustrations. More art comes in the stunning shapes of glass sculptures by RCA graduates Min Jeong Song and Samantha Donaldson.

Arty gifts at Selfridges: Francis Bacon Collection, Polly Morgan collaboration and RCA graduates glassware

The Art Room, a charity offering art as a therapy to young people, has produced an exclusive collection of mini chairs, all hand decorated by the children of the project. What’s more, you’ll find the exclusive charity t-shirts created by Bruce Weber in partnership with Kids Company for the Selfridges Christmas Campaign.

The Concept Store is brimming with imaginative gift ideas and stocking fillers, from fully-functioning chalk board t-shirts to make-your-own snow globes. Not just for kids, adults are presented with plenty of tongue-in-cheek presents, from Ryan Gosling colouring books, Kate Moss paper dolls and the intriguing 50 Shades of Christmas range.

Anya Hindmarch: All I Ever Wanted

Anya Hindmarch: All I've Ever Wanted

The Concept Store windows have been exclusively created by Anya Hindmarch from her 2012 hit runway show concept, All I've Ever Wanted. Part Santa’s workshop, part fashion-fuelled dream, the see-it-to-believe-it contraption is an all-action affair complete with a conveyor belt carrying wondrously witty accessories from the glittering collection.

From wind-up Christmas clutches to beaming bags that light up on command, the collection – available to buy in the Concept Store and online – epitomises the Not your Usual Christmas theme.Visit the Not Your Usual Gift Shop in the Concept Store on G at Selfridges London from Wednesday 24 October

Shop the Not Your Usual Christmas gifts now >