2026 Finalists - Kodes
We’re delighted to introduce Kodes, founded by Morena Fiore, a finalist in this year’s Gift of the Year Awards with her beautifully designed Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser Bracelets.
Born from a deeply personal journey of self-expression, Kodes blends meaningful storytelling with thoughtful design. Morena’s creations combine semi-precious stones with the power of aromatherapy, offering wearable wellbeing that supports both style and self-care. Designed to help people carry moments of calm and intention throughout their day, these bracelets perfectly capture the growing desire for gifts that are both purposeful and personal.
Company Name Kodes
Product(s) in the Finalist: Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser Bracelets with semi-precious stones
Congratulations on being a finalist! How does it feel to be recognised in this year’s Gift of the Year awards? It’s an honour to be recognised alongside so many unique and beautiful creations.
Can you tell us a little about your brand and the inspiration behind your successful product? Kodes was born out of my love of self-expression. Having lost all my hair through alopecia at 12, I found jewellery gave me a way to express myself, and I’m so happy to be able to share that passion with my customers. The aromatherapy bracelets also promote wellbeing; different scents can move our mental states powerfully, from relaxing us to invigorating us, depending on what you need in any given moment. The jewellery allows you to practice a little self-care ritual wherever you go.
What makes your product special, and why do you think it stood out to the judges? The product is special because it couples beautiful design with a practical purpose. It can be difficult to find time to prioritise self-care with our busy lifestyles. The aromatherapy bracelets make it simple to take a mindful moment, wherever you are.
Who is your product designed for, and what kind of reaction have you had from customers so far? They’re designed for mindful fashionistas, because you can be both; they’re for people of any age or gender, who value both self-compassion and self-expression! Customer reactions have been so positive! People say they enjoy adapting their aromatherapy bracelets to whatever mood they’re in, using different scents. They also love how the jewellery fits with their daily life and sense of style.
Lots of customers have commented they were so happy with the bracelets they’d bought themselves, that they bought another to gift to a loved one!
What trends or themes do you think are shaping the gifting industry right now? People are looking for something more thoughtful and meaningful than mass-produced, generic products. We’ll see a focus of sustainability, and on smaller-scale handmade and artisanal gifts. Personalised gifts will continue to be popular, offering people unique pieces. Functional fragrance is also a rising trend: adapting fragrance to your needs and mood, on the go, to support one’s wellbeing and mental health.
How has being shortlisted, and now being a finalist impacted your brand so far, and what do you hope to achieve from the awards? Seeing the 'Finalist' badge next to the Kodes logo has been a confidence boost! It’s a real 'seal of approval' with new stockists to be recognised by the GOTY judges. There’s been a lovely reaction from my followers on social media, too, cheering Kodes on!
Going forward, winning would be the dream, obviously! But I’ll also be delighted to get Kodes products in front of more gift shop owners and buyers who value quality and something unique. It’s so exciting to be featured alongside so many amazing brands!
What exciting plans do you have for the future? Creating more jewellery that’s as functional as it is beautiful! Designing stylish ‘fidget’ jewellery for neurodivergent people, inspired by my lived experience of ADHD. We’re thinking carefully about sustainability as well. How to move towards creating zero-waste, and the possibility of using salvaged materials.
What’s the best gift you’ve ever received (or given), and why? The best gift I’ve ever received was an evil eye mirror with only a few eyelashes, which is now proudly displayed in my workspace. I’ve featured the evil eye in numerous designs throughout the ten years I’ve been running Kodes. It’s beautiful, and I love its purpose of warding off negativity and ensuring safety and good fortune. The version with a few lashes also feels personal as I lost many of my eyelashes to alopecia. I’ve recently even designed a jewellery tag with the evil-eye on and rebranded featuring this eye with only a few lashes as Kodes new logo! My son found the mirror at a flea-market and bought it for me, showing that a gift doesn’t have to be expensive to be perfect – sometimes the most powerful thing is feeling seen!
You can find out more about Kodes here - https://kodes.me.uk/
