Mother’s Day is almost here and it’s time to show your love for the mother figures in your life. Whether you’re hoping to treat your mum to some pampering, surprise her with a piece of personalised jewellery or say it with a beautiful bunch of flowers, you’re sure to find the perfect gift at one of these brilliant independent shops in Leeds.

Yellow Sunrise

Situated in Leeds’ Central Arcade, this colourful shop is an Aladdin’s cave filled with all kinds of unique treasures. You’ll find many wonderful gift ideas here, from jewellery, ornaments and lighting to soft furnishings, clothing and garden accessories. Yellow Sunrise prides itself on offering gorgeous things that have been sustainably sourced from ethical suppliers. Much of its stock is also made by hand, like its Indian kilim rugs and Moroccan lanterns. You could give your mother an opportunity to explore her spiritual side with healing crystals, Tibetan singing bowls or the Chakra jewellery sold here. Yellow Sunrise also boasts a wide range of aromatherapy oils and incense, which give the shop its enticing aroma.

Our Handmade Collective

Named ‘Leeds Gift Shop Of The Year’ at the 2022 UK Enterprise Awards, this crafty collective brings together 100 independent designers, the majority of whom are based in Yorkshire. At their shop in the Grand Arcade, you can buy handmade gifts including soaps, bath fizzers and lip balms from the Little Shop Of Lathers, melting hot chocolate sticks from the Gourmet Chocolate Pizza Company and jesmonite jewellery from Maxwell Harrison. You’ll also find some great ideas for personalised presents – from customised wine glasses to vouchers for a pet portrait. Alternatively, you could give the gift of a new hobby with a craft kit for your mum to enjoy at home. Everything sold in the collective’s shop is also available on its website, so you can get all of your gift giving sorted without even having to leave home.

Chu’s Floral

This floral design studio on Great George Street sells stunning fresh and dried bouquets that are sure to make your mum’s day. Chu started her floristry business back in 2021 and sold her playful arrangements on Kirkgate Market before opening her own brick and mortar shop. Her floristry style is expressive, focusing on the movement and flow of each individual stem. She also has a great eye for colour, using rich jewel tones and delicate pastels in combinations that really pop. As well as her trademark bouquets, her pretty shop also stocks Nordic-style vases and mini terrariums, which make for a great, low-maintenance living gift.

Freckleface Fragrance

Why not celebrate your mother-child team with a gift made by another? Freckleface was founded in 2017, when Tara Carlile-Swift and her son, Noah, began making wax melts and candles together. What started out as a hobby soon blossomed into a successful business and Freckleface’s products are now sold in more than 600 shops across the country, including their own stores in Stamford, York and Cambridge. In Leeds, you can buy Freckleface’s heavenly fragrances from Betty Loves Candles at The Springs in Austhorpe. Their range includes wax melts, candles and bath fizz in wonderful scents such as Coastal Tides featuring coconut and sea salt or Calm & Unwind with lavender, bergamot and sweet orange. For a gift that keeps on giving, you can even sign your mum up to a subscription through which she’ll receive ten seasonal wax melts each month.

Curated Makers

At their shop in Trinity Leeds and pop ups across the city, Curated Makers provides Yorkshire-based artists and creators with exposure and a space to sell from. Here, you’ll find affordable, exquisitely made pieces from some of the county’s most exciting new craft businesses. Whatever your mum’s taste, you’re sure to find the perfect gift here – whether that’s acrylic jewellery by Silly Loaf, a botanical candle from Olive and B, a velvet hairband from Northstar Needlework or a tasty treat from the Finest Fudge Co.

Colours May Vary

This independent bookshop can be found on the upper balcony of Leeds’ Corn Exchange. Colours May Vary sells books, magazines and gifts, with a focus on graphic design, illustration, typography and product design. You can pick up eye-catching wall art here, with prints from artists such as Brie Harrison, Peter Mitchell, Ellie Way and We Are Out Of Office. This arty shop also stocks stylish modern stationery, including block colours notebooks from Pith and daily planners, which would make a great gift for the mum who likes to stay organised. The shop has a light Scandi-style interior with large sash windows and natural wooden shelving. This gives it a laid back, inviting feel and makes it a joy to browse. Once you’ve found a gift here, you can make it extra special by choosing a roll of cool gift wrap and an individual card to accompany it.

Liberty Emporium

Located in the market town of Morley, Liberty Emporium sells fragrant goodies for the home and body. This family-owned cosmetics shop is run by a mother and daughter-in-law team, who make their own bath bombs, candles and wax melts. The pair’s luxurious whipped soaps come in bright candy colours with sweet shop scents such as red berry sorbet, lemon sherbet and jelly bean. You can also buy nostalgically-fragranced bar soaps here, which smell like parma violets, watermelon or bubble gum. If you’re looking for something a little bit different, Liberty Emporium offers imaginative soap roses. These look like a real flower but will dissolve in a hot bath, leaving your mum with soft, silky skin.

Eden Bespoke Flowers

This friendly florist’s was founded seventeen years ago as a bespoke floral design company but quickly grew to become a popular high street shop through local demand. Situated in the town of Horsforth, Eden sells affordable, beautifully-presented flowers for all occasions. This Mother’s Day, you can surprise the mum in your life with one of Eden’s gorgeous floral boxes or a hand-tied bouquet in glorious spring colours. Richard and his team will use their creative flair to craft an elegant arrangement with coordinated gift wrapping, to which you can add extra treats like a fruit basket, sweets or chocolates.

Victoria Walker Boutique

If your mum loves jewellery, you could brighten her day with a personalised piece from Victoria Walker Boutique. This custom jewellery shop in Farsley sells modern silver and gold pieces that can be engraved with names or your own message. Each piece is handmade on site by self-taught jeweller Victoria – you can even watch her crafting away in her workshop. Victoria’s designs include bracelets with round silver pebbles to which initials can be added or contemporary necklaces that will hold a longer message or a memorable date. She is also able to create jewellery from breast milk, which makes a magical momento of those precious first months. Alternatively, Victoria can coat a petal from a special bouquet or favourite tree in sterling silver and add it to a necklace or bracelet that will be treasured forever.

Radstudio

Radstudio resides in the heart of the World Heritage Village of Saltaire, within sight of the famous Salts Mill. This quirky little shop sells fun and functional design-led gifts and homeware. On their carefully curated shelves, you’ll find stationery and greetings cards, jewellery, clothing, prints, ceramics, household gadgets and more. The shop opened in 2013 and features interesting and unusual things from all around the world, such as sassy socks from Blue Q and bags by the Dutch label Sticky Lemon. There are many exciting new brands to discover here and Rad’s cheerful atmosphere makes hunting for a gift an enjoyable experience.

Latitude Wine & Liquor Merchants

If you’re still looking for ideas, why not treat your mum to a bottle of her favourite tipple? Latitude Wine & Liquor Merchants was founded in 2008 by Chris Hall, who saw a gap in the local market for an independent wine and spirit specialist. This welcoming drinks shop can be found underneath the railway arches on Cherry Tree Walk and it stocks alcoholic beverages from all around the world. You can pick up a case of wines that have been selected by the shop’s resident experts, with the option to choose reds, whites or a mixture of both. Alternatively, you’ll find spirits such as tequila, rum, gin, grappa, cachaca, absinthe, pisco, vermouth and vodka here. You can reminisce about past trips to Italy, or dream of warmer climes together with Campari, Aperol or Tosolini Limoncello. If you aren’t sure what your mum’s favourite drink is, you can also buy a gift voucher, allowing her to choose for herself. Latitude offers bottles for all budgets as well as free delivery within Leeds for gifts over £50.

Image credits: Yellow Sunrise (Instagram), Our Handmade Collective (Instagram), Victoria Walker (Instagram)