In a world where meaningful connection matters more than ever, millennials and Gen Z are redefining the art of gifting. Recent surveys confirm that millennials and Gen Z are among the biggest gift givers and they now opt for emotionally resonant presents that reflect shared memories and individual tastes. Whether its bespoke candles, hand-drawn caricatures, photo collages, or resin keepsakes, it’s all about giving something that truly means something, the trend of custom handmade gifts is clearly on the rise.
Floral gifts with a personal story
A Gen Z herself, Ispita Bhanja from Calangute has been creating handmade satin and paper flower bouquets since her second semester of college and in just a year, her passion has turned into a small but growing business. Most of her customers are from her college, seniors, juniors, and classmates who know her work and trust her with their gifting needs. Whether it's for graduations, birthdays, weddings, or special occasions like farewells, her custom bouquets have become a popular choice. “Customers usually share their ideas, themes, and budget, and I work around that to make the perfect gift. I typically need 2 to 4 days’ notice, but if it’s an emergency and I have all the materials, and can even complete an order in just one day,” says Ispita.
Her designs are fun, creative, and personalised. One of her recent projects included Harry Potter-themed satin flower bouquets, while another featured Hot Wheels, specially made for a customer who wanted to gift something unique to a friend. Since making her Instagram account public, with her mother’s permission, word has spread quickly among students, and orders have picked up.
Personalised gifting with a touch of wax and nature
Specialising in customised candles and soaps, Saligao-based Emera Remedios has built a unique gifting experience around people’s personal tastes and passions. Whether it’s succulents, desserts, music, or even a favourite colour theme, each product is thoughtfully made to suit the recipient’s personality. “Most customers prefer personalised gifts over ready-made items, often giving detailed briefs, inspiration images, or theme ideas. Orders range from last-minute requests to well-planned ones, with bulk orders typically requiring a minimum of five days,” says Emera.
The customers are usually millennials and Gen Zs looking for fresh ideas that can be inculcated into meaningful gifts. “For plant lovers, one of the most requested items is the succulent collection including succulent-themed candles, tea light boxes, and mini pot sets. These are especially popular among those wanting to gift something green and meaningful. On special occasions like Mother’s Day, clients often request candles in their mum’s favourite colour, or colour-themed hampers,” explains Emera.
Cartooned keepsakes with a creative twist
Vaibhav Salgaonkar, who has a passion for cartoons and caricatures, has found a unique niche in the world of customised gifting. His talent for turning everyday moments into playful, artistic illustrations has led to a growing interest in his work, especially as the demand for personalised gifts evolves.
Vaibhav explains, “It is very much true that Gen Z are looking for more meaningful gifting choices. Traditional customised gifts like mugs have become less popular. Instead, the trend of gifting something more creative and personal, such as customised bags, fridge magnets, and framed caricatures are on a rise specially ones featuring a person’s loved ones. These gifts stand out for their humour and art and is very much personal for the person gifting and the receiver.”
The emotions
behind every gift
Sydel D’Souza from Colvale graduated last year and is now working as a marketing head, but even with a busy schedule, she enjoys thoughtful gifting. These days, it’s easier to find small businesses on Instagram that make custom gifts, which helps a lot. “I’m a very artsy person and love doing DIY projects, so I prefer giving personalised gifts instead of random store-bought ones. Every gift I give has something unique or personal about it, especially when it’s for someone close to me. I spend a lot of time thinking about the conversations I had with the person, their likes or favourites, and use that to choose the perfect gift,” says Sydel.
She further adds, “I also love buying organic skincare products like bath salts, colour-changing lip balms, and other natural items. For me, giving gifts is all about making people feel special by showing that I’ve really thought about what they’d like.”
Preserving memories, one gift at a time
Ciana Gonsalves, a third year college student recently started creating beautiful resin art. While she also dabbles in digital art, it’s her resin pieces that have captured the most attention. Most of her customers are college students, especially those graduating, who wanted to give personalised gifts to friends as a way to be remembered. Her work focuses on preserving memories in a creative way. “Someone just got married, and wanted to save these memories. I took the actual flower petals from their wedding garland and turned them into a resin coaster. I have also done a range of customised pieces, including anime-themed coasters for birthdays and even keychains with names or messages in different languages. One special order included the word Ammi in Arabic script alongside a photo, designed for a customer wanting something deeply personal to give his mother for Mother’s Day,” says Ciana.
A recent client who lost their pet requested a resin piece with the pet’s paw print and name, as a way to hold onto the memory. She promotes her designs through her Instagram page, where people contact her with customisation requests. “Though I started only about a month ago, my orders have steadily increased. People are now looking for a unique way to hold onto their most cherished moments,” says Ciana from Nagoa.
Chocolate bouquets and sweet gestures
Siolim-based Shanya D’Souza is about to begin her first year of college this term, and she already runs a small creative business. She makes handmade flower and chocolate bouquets, which are especially popular for occasions like Valentine’s Day, Chocolate Day, and farewells. She started her business in February, just in time for Valentine’s season. Her first big project was a farewell gift she made for a friend and after that, more people began reaching out.
“Most of my customers are classmates or older students, and they usually come to me with inspiration pictures, either from Instagram, Pinterest, or their own ideas. Sometimes, I also suggests creative ideas for bouquet designs. I usually take orders a week in advance. If I have free time, I can complete a bouquet in just two days, even for last-minute orders,” says Shanya. Each bouquet isn’t just flowers and chocolate—it’s a piece of art. She carefully includes photos and decorative elements that match the customer’s request.