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Here are some of the amazing Texas brands you can shop now on GiftingMap

It's time: GiftingMap, the new go-to site for gifts with Texas ties that's curated by CultureMap, has officially launched. It's a carefully created collection of apparel, accessories, home and lifestyle items, and wedding presents, all in one place.

Before you head off on a shopping spree, get to know some of the amazing brands you can now find at GiftingMap.

Bendecidos Pens
Like a fine automobile, these handcrafted ballpoint pens are built to be used, not just to sit on the desk. Dallas-based owners Rick and Emily Hart use real wood and personally inspect each unique pen for quality before packaging them in a mahogany cigar-style box. "Bendecidos" means "blessed" in Spanish, and the Harts convey this by including scripture on the inner tube of each pen.

Gray Malin
Your Instagram feed has probably been vastly improved by dreamy travel pics from this popular photographer (who's originally from Dallas). Malin uses inventive aerial techniques to capture scenes of the world's most iconic destinations, including colorful beach shots and stunning park pictures. The prints on GiftingMap are even signed by the artist himself.

Hari Mari
Flip-flop fans have found a new favorite with Hari Mari, a Dallas-based company that refused to let footwear be boring and uncomfortable. Making flops that have clean aesthetics, a design-forward approach, vibrant colors, and an "ahhh"-inducing feel is just as important to the company as sustainable practices and giving back — Flops Fighting Cancer donates a portion of Hari Mari's proceeds to kids and families who are battling cancer.

Highway Robery
Wasted materials are a no-no for this Austin-based brand that makes its playful robes in small batches from pre-existing fabrics. That means each funky pattern is limited-edition, but all are designed to (probably, most likely) fit all shapes and sizes. And let's be real, who doesn't love sitting around in a robe?

Holly Hall Supply Co.
Dermatologists developed — not just tested — all the products for Holly Hall Supply Co., a Houston-based premium shaving and skincare brand. Other good things you can expect from the brand include paraben-free products and the vow that they never test on animals.

Object Make and Model
This Houston brand's jewelry is soft-edged modern, with uncomplicated, material-centric geometric compositions. Natural stones are paired with glass and metal for casually elegant and modestly decorative statements.

Sertodo Copper
A cooperative of master copper artisans handcrafts each Sertodo Copper piece from workshops in Austin and Santa Clara del Cobre, Michoacan, Mexico, a village located high in the Sierra Madres Occidental of southwestern Mexico. The tradition of copper work originated mysteriously over 1,000 years ago, but Sertodo founder Jonathan Beall has been turning out hammered copper goods — think barware, platters, and belt buckles — since 1997.

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Like what you see? Want to be a part of GiftingMap? Email us to find out more.

Photographer Gray Malin signs each of his prints.

Photo courtesy of Gray Malin

Photographer Gray Malin signs each of his prints.

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RETAIL WATCH

Texas AG Ken Paxton opens investigation into fast-fashion giant Shein

Photo courtesy of SHEIN

Shein is now under investigation from the Texas Attorney General.

Critics of fast fashion have found a strange bedfellow in Ken Paxton. The Texas Attorney General announced December 1 he would investigate online retailer Shein for alleged unethical labor practices and unsafe consumer products.

According to a release from Paxton’s office, the inquiry aims to find out if Shein’s “supply chain and manufacturing practices violate Texas law by using toxic or hazardous materials, misleading consumers about product safety, and misleading consumers about ethical sourcing.” The probe will also look into the corporation’s data collection and privacy practices.

In a statement, Paxton put a partisan spin on the investigation.

“Safe, non-toxic material and products are another key ingredient to [Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s] Make America Healthy Again movement,” said Paxton in the release. “Any company that cuts corners on labor standards or product safety, especially those operating in foreign nations like China, will be held accountable.”

Paxton’s move unexpectedly aligns the AG with environmental watchdogs. Nonprofit Yale Climate Connections has long sounded the alarm about the Singapore-based e-tailer, calling it one of the world’s biggest polluters. Paxton has long railed against climate change regulations and sued the Biden administration several times to block emissions rules.

The investigation is part of a larger Republican crackdown on Chinese consumer products. On Capitol Hill, lawmakers are debating new restrictions on Shenzhen-based aerial drone maker DJI, and Senator Tom Cotton has called for investigations of “Communist Chinese” companies Shein and Temu. The September Texas vape ban specifically banned disposable e-cigarettes manufactured in the country.

In a statement emailed to multiple media outlets, Shein said it would comply with Paxton’s investigation.

“Shein takes these concerns seriously and is fully committed to cooperating,” a spokesperson said. “Our mission — to provide affordable, fashionable products to customers around the world — is underpinned by a dedication to safety, compliance, and respect for human rights.”

The controversy will likely have little effect on Shein’s popularity with Zoomers. The company snagged an estimated $38 billion in sales in 2024 and has an average of 24.7 million active app users each month.

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