2026 Finalist - McLaggan + Co
Known for their beautifully crafted screen‑printed bone china mugs and design-led gifts, mclaggan+co has built a strong reputation for thoughtful storytelling and everyday usefulness. This year, the Scottish brand is celebrating being named a Gift of the Year finalist with its distinctive Scientists & Inventors range — a collection that blends strong visual appeal with curiosity, character and genuine substance.
We spoke to Stuart Williams from mclaggan+co about the inspiration behind the range, why gifts with personality and purpose are resonating so strongly with customers, and what being recognised by the Gift of the Year judges means for the team.
Company Name mclaggan+co
Product(s) in the Finalist: Scientists & Inventors range
Congratulations on being a finalist! How does it feel to be recognised in this year’s Gift of the Year awards? We’re absolutely delighted. Gift of the Year is such a well-respected award within the industry, so to be recognised as a finalist feels like a real achievement for our team. We’re a business that cares deeply about thoughtful design, quality and storytelling, so it’s incredibly rewarding to see that reflected in this year’s awards.
Can you tell us a little about your brand and the inspiration behind your successful product? We’re mclaggan+co, a Scottish giftware brand best known for our screen-printed bone china mugs and other beautifully made gifts. We work with a wide range of artists, illustrators and designers to create products that are joyful, collectable, and made to be used every day.
The inspiration behind our product came from a love of combining design with discovery. We wanted to create something that felt giftable, distinctive and full of personality, while also celebrating curiosity. That balance of character, charm and usefulness sits at the heart of what we do.
What makes your product special, and why do you think it stood out to the judges? I think what makes it special is the combination of strong visual appeal and genuine substance. It is eye-catching at first glance, but there is also depth to it. The design invites people to look closer, engage with it and enjoy the details.
It also reflects what we do best as a brand: turning everyday objects into something thoughtful, collectable and full of character. The quality of the finish, the originality of the concept and the way it connects with customers all help it stand out. Hopefully the judges saw that it offers both immediate shelf appeal and lasting value as a gift.
Who is your product designed for, and what kind of reaction have you had from customers so far? That might be shoppers looking for a present with personality, collectors who love beautifully illustrated pieces, or people simply treating themselves to something that feels special.
The reaction so far has been really encouraging. Customers have responded especially well to the playfulness of the design and the fact that it feels both practical and keepsake-worthy. We’ve found people enjoy gifting it, but just as often, they end up wanting one for themselves too, which is always a good sign.
What trends or themes do you think are shaping the gifting industry right now? We’re seeing a real appetite for gifts that feel personal, thoughtful and a little more lasting. People still want something beautiful, of course, but they also want a story behind it. Products with character, artistry and a sense of individuality are really resonating.
There’s also a growing appreciation for gifts that are useful as well as special. Everyday items with elevated design are performing strongly because they bring a bit of joy into daily life. More broadly, we’re seeing customers drawn to products that feel authentic, collectable, and designed with care rather than mass-produced and forgettable.
How has being shortlisted, and now being a finalist impacted your brand so far, and what do you hope to achieve from the awards? Even being shortlisted gave us a real boost internally and externally. It has been a wonderful moment for the team, and it has also given us a great platform to start conversations with stockists and new audiences. Being named a finalist builds on that and gives the product an added layer of credibility.
From the awards, we hope to continue raising awareness of our brand, strengthen relationships with existing stockists and introduce our products to new retailers and customers. Recognition like this helps open doors, and we’re excited to make the most of that opportunity.
What exciting plans do you have for the future? We’ve got lots to look forward to. We’re continuing to expand our product ranges and develop new ideas that build on what our customers already love, while still keeping things fresh.
At the same time, we’re always looking at how we can keep evolving as a brand through new collaborations, new formats and products that bring together creativity, craftsmanship and everyday usefulness. There’s plenty happening behind the scenes, which is always the fun (and slightly chaotic) part.
What’s the best gift you’ve ever received (or given), and why? The best gifts are always the ones that show someone has really thought about you. The ones that make you feel seen. That could be something small, but if it reflects a shared memory, an inside joke or a genuine understanding of what someone loves, it tends to stay with you.
That idea probably says a lot about how we approach our own products. We believe the best gifts are not necessarily the biggest or most expensive. They are the ones with meaning, personality and a story behind them.
