The Holiday Edit: The Story Behind Our Christmas Collection

By Alison Gillespie, Co-Owner of Indaba

There's something about Christmas that brings out the sentimental side of me. The familiar decorations, the traditions we return to year after year, and all those little things that make a house feel like home for the holidays.

When we began dreaming up our Holiday 2026 collection, that was the feeling I wanted to capture. I imagined homes filled with warmth, personality, and Christmas treasures collected over time. The kind of decorations that hold memories, spark conversations, and make you smile each time you unpack them.

At Indaba, we've always believed that the most beautiful homes are the ones that tell a story. And I think that's especially true at Christmas.

A Little Nostalgia, a Lot of Christmas Magic

This year's collection is rooted in everything I love about a traditional Christmas, with a few playful surprises along the way.

We embraced a rich, layered colour palette of deep forest greens, burgundy, warm browns, soft blush, ivory, and touches of antique gold. I love the way these colours come together. They feel wonderfully festive and nostalgic, but also warm and inviting.

Texture is just as important to me as colour. Soft velvets, beautiful glass ornaments, natural materials, and handcrafted details all bring something different to the mix. I especially love our Velvet Holiday Baubles in burgundy, white, and dark green. They're such a simple way to add richness and texture to a Christmas tree, whether you choose the smaller 1.5" set of 24 or the larger 3" set of nine.

Our Velvet Cutwork Stocking in Sangria is another favourite. The beautiful colour and delicate detailing give it that lovely heirloom feeling, as though it could have been part of your Christmas traditions for years.

Throughout the collection, you'll find little nods to nature and the nostalgia of Christmases past: woodland creatures, birds, pinecones, charming Christmas villages, and plenty of unexpected characters.

I love a beautifully decorated home, but I also think Christmas should be fun! There's always room for something a little whimsical.

The Pieces That Make Me Smile

It's almost impossible to choose favourites when you've spent so much time developing a collection, but there are a few pieces I'm particularly fond of this year.

Little Houses Full of Magic

Our Glitter LED House Ornaments are some of my absolute favourites. There's something so enchanting about miniature Christmas houses glowing with warm light. They remind me of the magical little Christmas villages I loved as a child.

The Gold Estate and Cottage are especially sweet. I love the idea of tucking them amongst greenery on a mantel or creating a little illuminated village that children can admire.

Our Much-Loved Felted Mice

And of course, I couldn't possibly talk about an Indaba Christmas without mentioning our felted mice!

These little characters have become such a beloved part of our holiday collections, and they never fail to make me smile. Each one has its own personality, from the tiniest details of its outfit to its wonderfully expressive little face.

Characters like Frances, Dungarees Dorian, and Ambrose are full of charm. I think that's what makes them so special. They're not just Christmas ornaments; they're little characters that become part of the family.

I love imagining children growing up with these mice on their Christmas trees, choosing their favourites, giving them names, and looking forward to seeing them again every December.

You can meet the whole cast in our Felt Mouse Ornaments collection.

The Beauty of Handmade Christmas Decor

One of the things I'm most proud of at Indaba is our relationships with the talented artisans who bring our designs to life.

We begin planning our holiday collections well over a year in advance, which always feels a little funny when you're thinking about Christmas in the middle of summer!

The process starts with ideas, sketches, colours, and materials, but it's through collaboration with our artisan partners that everything really comes together. There are countless conversations, samples, refinements, and sometimes a few surprises along the way.

With glass ornaments, the smallest changes to colour or finish can make all the difference. With our felted mice, it's the expression on a face, the shape of a tiny coat, or the finishing touches that give each character its personality.

And while we pay close attention to those details, we never want to lose the beauty of something made by hand.

I love that handmade Christmas decorations have their own little variations. They're a reminder of the skill, care, and human touch that goes into making them. In a world where so much is mass-produced, that feels increasingly special.

As a women-owned, family-run business, supporting traditional craftsmanship and the people behind our products has always been close to our hearts. It's something that guides the way we design and source, not just at Christmas, but throughout the year.

A Christmas That's Especially Close to My Heart

This year's collection feels particularly personal because, for the first time in several years, we'll be spending Christmas at home.

For the past three Christmases, we've travelled to South Africa to celebrate with my mom and our family. My oldest son is now four, and he's spent three of his Christmases there. My youngest is two, so he's never known Christmas anywhere else!

Christmas in South Africa has its own special kind of magic. With the beautiful summer weather, our traditions revolve around long days at the beach, followed by a delicious roast dinner with family. It's a wonderful way to celebrate, just a little different from the cozy, festive Christmases I remember growing up with in Canada. And of course, we don't have all our treasured family decorations with us there.

This year, though, we'll be home, and I'm so excited! It almost feels like our first Christmas at home as a family of four.

Now that the boys are at such magical ages, I can't wait to experience Christmas through their eyes. Decorating the tree together, hanging their stockings, waking up on Christmas morning, and creating all those little traditions I remember so fondly from my own childhood.

I'm already dreaming of hanging our beautiful velvet stockings on the mantel and decorating the tree with our felted Christmas mice, which I know the boys will absolutely LOVE!

I'm also looking forward to hosting Christmas dinner, with a table dressed to the nines in a beautiful Indaba tablecloth, layered napkins, napkin rings, soft candlelight, and all those thoughtful little details that make gathering around the table feel so special.

More than anything, I want to make our home feel magical for the boys and create the kind of Christmas memories they'll carry with them as they grow up.

A Home Full of Christmas Memories

When I think about what I hope people take away from our Holiday collection, it really comes down to one thing: joy.

I hope our pieces inspire you to create a home that feels warm, welcoming, and completely your own. One filled with favourite decorations, cherished traditions, and perhaps a few new treasures to add to the collection.

I don't think Christmas decorating needs to be perfectly coordinated. In fact, some of my favourite Christmas trees are the ones filled with a wonderful mix of ornaments collected over the years, each with its own little story.

Whether it's a beautiful velvet stocking, a handmade glass ornament, or a cheeky little felted mouse, I hope you find something that makes you smile.

Because in the end, it's not really about the decorations themselves. It's about the memories we make around them, and the traditions that turn a house into a home for Christmas.

With love, Alison

Explore our Holiday 2026 Collection and discover handmade Christmas decor, festive ornaments, and little treasures to love for years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Indaba start designing its Christmas collection?

We begin planning our Christmas collections well over a year in advance. Each collection takes shape through a collaborative process of design, sourcing, sampling, and refining alongside our artisan partners.

What makes Indaba's Christmas decorations special?

We love creating Christmas decor that feels personal, timeless, and a little whimsical. Our collections bring together handmade ornaments, beautiful textures, traditional craftsmanship, and playful details designed to become part of your family's holiday traditions.

Where can I shop Indaba's Christmas decorations in Canada?

You can explore our Holiday collection online, including velvet Christmas baubles, festive stockings, handmade ornaments, and our much-loved felted mice. Availability varies throughout the season.