Buying gifts for someone with actual taste is terrifying. Buying for someone whose taste runs alternative (the friend in the sweary tee, the sibling whose wardrobe is 60% band merch and 40% political statements) is worse, because they can tell when a gift came from a servo on Christmas Eve. These alternative fashion gift ideas are for that person, sorted by the specific flavour of weirdo you're buying for.
If you're looking for indie fashion gifts in Australia, start with the reference they'd recognise: their favourite animal, a joke they won't stop making or an artist whose work they'd actually wear. Our picks below are from Lonely Kids Club's own range, with original designs and artist collaborations. We print our graphic tees and totes to order in Sydney; hats can use embroidery, and the blank items are manufactured separately.
For the terminally online
If their love language is sending you a meme at 2am, get them a meme they can wear. Browse our funny T-shirts for the reference they've personally run into the ground. Being seen is the actual gift; the shirt is just the delivery mechanism.
For the friend whose entire personality is carbs, the Bread Tee has Warwick Levy's handwritten “How Good Is Bread” lettering. It's an original LKC design that does not require a paragraph of internet lore to explain. Check the product's regular, Maple, oversized and long sleeve options against something they already wear.
For the politically loud
Some people's outfits have opinions. For them, a protest tee or a design that supports something they care about beats another scented candle. It's a gift that says you actually listen during their rants. Browse our mental health clothing for gentler messages, or choose a statement they're already comfortable making in public. A cause is personal; let their own views guide the gift.
For the one who swears like it's cardio
There is a person in your life for whom a polite gift would be an insult. The rude tees collection exists for exactly this human. A hand-drawn profanity is somehow both the least and most thoughtful gift possible, and watching them open it in front of the wider family is a bonus gift for you personally.
If guessing their T-shirt size feels risky, the Fuck Off Cap puts Warwick's hand-drawn lettering on an adjustable cotton dad hat. The design is embroidered in Sydney. It's one size fits most, so still check the fit details before buying; an adjustable strap is useful, not magic.
For the animal person
Not “likes animals”. Has a favourite ibis. For them: cat designs, Australian bird tees and a whole zoo of other animal tees drawn with the specific unhinged affection these creatures deserve.
The Clive the Cyclist Tee features Kayla Reay's coloured-pencil magpie in cycling gear. It makes sense for the bird nerd, the cyclist or the person who has strong opinions about both.
For someone whose own pet deserves the spotlight, try a Badly Drawn Pet Tee. Upload one clear photo of one pet and our in-house illustrators turn it into a deliberately wonky portrait. There is no artwork preview before printing, so choose this for someone who enjoys that surprise. Allow more time for the custom illustration and check the product details before ordering.
Smaller gifts without the T-shirt size guess
A printed tote bag is useful for the person whose bag is full of other bags. The Be With The Birds Tote features artwork by Bridget Farmer, who grew up in Northern Ireland and now lives in rural Victoria. It comes in several bag options, so check the current listing for material, colour and price.
For Secret Santa or “we said nothing big this year” (a lie), compare the current prices in our accessories collection. A tote or adjustable cap can be easier to choose than clothing, but the design still needs to feel like them.
When you genuinely cannot decide
A gift card is a good option when the recipient's taste is the whole point. Ours is emailed to the person you choose, can include a personal message and has no expiry date. Pair it with a card explaining that you knew better than to guess, which is itself a demonstration of superior gift judgment.
Check the fit and the gift deadline
For a tee, compare the measurements of one they already like with our sizing and fit guide. Pick the intended fit first: a regular tee and an oversized tee will not measure the same, even when their size labels match. Check the product page for the available sizes and the return terms, especially for custom items.
Allow up to seven business days before dispatch for standard orders; custom products are generally closer to two weeks. Australian standard postage then generally takes 2–7 business days after production, or 1–3 for express. Express postage does not skip production, and we send an order together once all its items are ready. Check our current shipping information or ask us about a specific deadline before ordering.
If you're local, you can select “Pick up from Sydney Studio” at checkout and wait for the ready-to-collect email. Free Australian standard shipping applies to orders over $85; add up your actual choices rather than assuming any two tees will reach the threshold.
Why original artwork makes a good indie gift
The artist credit gives you something more specific to choose than “quirky”. Warwick's bread lettering, Kayla's cycling magpie and Bridget's bird artwork have different personalities. Pick the one your person would reach for, rather than trying to buy them an entire new aesthetic.
For more local wildlife and slang, use our Australian gift ideas guide. If humour is the main requirement, our funny T-shirt gift guide has more examples. Otherwise, start with the funny tees and scroll until you involuntarily say “oh no, that's them”. That's the one.
