One day a year could never be enough to pamper mum, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. As the occasion rolls around on 14 May, now is the time to start thinking about the Mother’s Day gifts that could honour your special bond with your mother.
Gifting for gifting’s sake is no good. As with many calendar occasions, the true commemorative spirit of Mother’s Day has begun to shrink behind its commercial facade. Gifts have gotten more generic and cookie-cutter, with identical bouquets of flowers, pricey bottles of wine or trendy pieces of jewellery becoming easy options without much thought behind them.
The perfect Mother’s Day gift, while sentimental and personal, should also have longevity. There is nothing inherently wrong with jewellery, flowers or wine—but the trick to a good gift is thinking out of the box. If your mother enjoys her vino, consider a glamorous crystal wine decanter from Gohar World that could become a permanent fixture on her dining table, no matter which bottle she is enjoying that week. If she likes keeping her living room stocked with fresh flowers, gift her a fitting vessel—like our pick from cult Scandinavian design brand Hay. Unlike a bouquet of blooms, this is a present that will last longer than week.
Finding a good present for a mother who already has it all is always difficult. If her Hermès Twilly collection is the envy of her friends, gift her an elegant new scarf ring—an accessory she’ll wear often. Every time she does, it will bring to mind the thought, care and love you put into picking it out just for her. Isn’t that what the best gifts are made of?
1 / 11
Patrician wine decanter from Gohar World
Made with ultra-lightweight muslin crystal glass from Viennese glassware company Lobmeyr, this elegant wine decanter was designed by celebrated Austrian architect and designer Josef Hoffman, and will be a beloved addition to any oenophile’s glassware collection.
Available at gohar.world
2 / 11
Rose quartz candle holders from Jia Jia
Jewellery brand Jia Jia only works with hand-selected, untreated crystal. Cut from natural rose quartz into square slabs, each of these candleholders can hold a single candle, and double up as stunning pieces of art in their own right.
Available at net-a-porter.com
3 / 11
'Central Places' by Delia Cai
If you grew up a child of immigrants, tell mum everything you have ever wanted to say about your complicated upbringing through this vibrant read by Delia Cai. In the book, protagonist Audrey Zhou brings her white fiancé home to meet her Chinese immigrant parents, leading to a disastrous week which uncovers her fraught connection to her roots.
Available at amazon.sg
4 / 11
W&S Chubby vase from Hay
This organically shaped vase is at the intersection of technology and contemporary design—it was first developed as a 3D model, then moulded in porcelain and ceramic. For mum, get it in this delicate soft yellow hue that will complement a variety of blooms.
Available at finnishdesignshop.com
5 / 11
Walnut wood and Krion mahjong set from Brunello Cucinelli
Crafted in Solermo, Italy from walnut wood and Krion—an innovative material similar to natural stone—this set is housed in a layered box accompanied by two hand-carved die. With the intricate symbols on each tile painted by hand, this beautiful set will be a joy to retrieve whenever your mother’s mahjong group comes over.
Available at net-a-porter.com
6 / 11
Acupressure mat set from Wthn
If mum could benefit from better sleep or pain relief, this linen acupressure mat will feel heaven-sent. Leveraging the traditional principles of acupressure, both the mat and accompanying pillow have gentle stimulators that activate points across the body to foster deep relaxation, without even having to book a massage.
Available at revolve.com
7 / 11
HomePod from Apple
Ease your mother into the world of smart homes with a device that is as powerful as it is user-friendly. Newly launched in Singapore, Apple’s HomePod is both an intelligent speaker with surround-sound capabilities and a smart home assistant. It can set reminders, send messages, turn on the lights when you walk in the room, lock doors—and just make mum’s life easier on the whole.
Available at apple.com
8 / 11
Matcha starter kit from Craft Tea Fox
If your mother enjoys spending time in the kitchen, give her the tools she needs to cultivate a meditative new hobby: brewing her own matcha. This easy-to-use kit holds everything she will need to make barista-quality matcha lattes, from a 100-prong matcha whisk which produces frothy, silky matcha to an insulated crystal chawan with a fine spout—perfect for getting every last drop of matcha into her cup, as is tradition.
Available at craftteafox.sg
9 / 11
Mors scarf 90 ring from Hermès
Made in Italy, this permabrass scarf ring glides on easily to open up a dozen new ways of wearing your favourite scarf. Delicate and luxurious, it’s the handy accessory your mother will find herself reaching for every day.
Available at hermes.com
10 / 11
Home gardening workshop by Edible Garden City
If your mother is one who would appreciate the gift of quality time above all else, consider taking part in a gardening workshop together. But this isn’t just any course—it’s an in-depth, hands-on workshop on cultivating edible plants right in your own home. Taught by experienced urban farmers from local social enterprise Edible Garden City, this will shape up to be a shared memory you both cherish long into the future.
Find out more at ediblegardencity.com
11 / 11
Staycation at Capella Singapore
For a truly indulgent present, treat your mother to a staycation at Capella Singapore—an escape from the city without actually having to leave Singapore. Set in the luscious landscaped grounds of Sentosa, each elegantly designed room, suite and villa in the resort combines elegant design with excellent attention to detail, offering tranquil views and luxurious amenities to the highest standard—just as mum deserves.
Book a stay at capellahotels.com
