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Unusual Gifts for People Who Have Everything

Somebody in your life owns two espresso machines and a jacket that cost more than your first month’s rent. Their birthday is in three weeks. You have no idea what to buy… until now.

The one thing they can’t buy themselves

People who have everything can buy any object they like. What they can’t buy for themselves is a surprise. The gifts that land are the ones the person didn’t know existed and understood in two seconds.

That takes an idea, not a bigger budget, and it’s the whole reason Paak Design exists. It’s an independent design brand from Milan, started by Alex Paak, an award-winning designer who has worked across UX, apps, games and AR. His view was that there aren’t enough beautiful, clever designs that don’t take themselves too seriously, so he made some.

Each piece starts with an observation about fashion, logos or status, gets turned into a joke, and is then designed properly. You laugh first. Then you notice how good it looks. Then you want one.

Pick the person, then pick the joke

The parodies are the easiest way in, because the gift explains itself. Match the original brand to the person:

  • Lactose: Lacoste with the crocodile swapped for a green cow. For anyone with a Lacoste in the closet and a sense of humor about it.
  • Never Played Polo: aimed at Polo Ralph Lauren, U.S. Polo Assn. and the whole polo-shirt universe. For the person who wears the identity of a sport they’ve never watched.
  • Herpès Paris: Hermès, with a horse in a car and a man standing in front. For the friend with expensive taste and better humor.
  • Balanceyoga: Balenciaga, for the yoga person.
  • Bvlgaria: a warrior doing a Bulgarian split squat. For anyone who takes leg day personally.
  • Moschito: Moschino with a mosquito for a logo. For whoever mosquitoes always pick first.
  • Tommy Hillbilly: Tommy Hilfiger with a red flannel pattern. For anyone who owns a lot of flannel.
  • Georgia Armenia: Giorgio Armani, where the GA now stands for something else entirely. For anyone, especially if they are Armenian or Georgian (or Italian).

Changing a letter isn’t the joke. The name gets the smile, and the logo, slogan or small detail is what turns it into a piece of design worth wearing.

It works on almost anyone

Paak doesn’t have one visual style, because the idea comes first and the look follows it. That’s handy when you don’t know someone’s taste. There’s usually a concept that fits, and it doesn’t need to match their wardrobe, just their sense of humor.

It’s a good fit for the coworker you drew in Secret Santa and for the parent who says they don’t want anything. Different people, same trait: curious, a bit observant, not particularly worried about fitting in. If you’re after unique gifts for people who already have plenty, that’s the crowd.

Sizes are optional

Not sure what they wear? Tote bags, mugs, bottles and notebooks skip the question completely. If you do know, there are T-shirts, hoodies, long sleeves, tank tops, crop tops, dad hats and bucket hats. There are even baby onesies, so a newborn can wear a joke about luxury before they can read it.

Paak isn’t priced as luxury, and it isn’t disposable either. The aim is a sensible balance between quality and price, so you can give something people talk about without a luxury budget.

No logo, on purpose

Alex doesn’t like the idea of people paying for clothes and then advertising somebody else’s brand for free. So Paak’s own name isn’t printed on the products. The parody or the concept is the only thing on the garment.

That makes it a fairly generous gift. The person opening it isn’t becoming a billboard for anyone. They’re just wearing something they think is funny and looks good, which is how clothes are meant to work.

Nobody has everything. Almost nobody owns a green cow.