The Year of the Dragon is just around the corner, with Lunar New Year hitting on February 10, 2024. Whether or not you celebrate Chinese New Year, Tết (the Vietnamese version of the festival), or Seollal (the Korean celebration), this is a fantastic time to check out what brands have in store for the traditional holiday. It’s typical for brands to drop Lunar New Year-themed items — usually in auspicious shades of red, pink, and gold — to entice shoppers that want to score something special to bring them extra luck.
This year, there is plenty of fierce merchandise thrown in for good measure, as a nod to the Dragon Chinese Zodiac. If you’re searching for the perfect gift to usher in some good fortune for a loved one, you’re on a lucky streak here (pun intended). Ahead, we’ve rounded up the coolest Lunar New Year gift ideas, including limited-edition beauty buys, on-sale accessories, and delicious Asian treats — along with with a handful of products from our favorite AAPI-owned businesses. Fair warning: You might be tempted to keep some of these lucky gems for yourself.
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Kate Spade’s jewelry game has always been on point, and Lunar New Year is no exception: these intricate Year of the Dragon hoops looks like sculptural designer jewelry, albeit with an incredibly reasonable price.
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Kate Spade Dazzling Dragon Hoops, $, available at Kate Spade
Material’s cutting boards are both kind on the environment and easy on the eyes, featuring an array of bright and festive colors. To honor the spring festival, the AAPI-founded home brand has released a beige hue — To Pó-Po (grandma), With Love — with 50% of the profits going to Heart Of Dinner, an organization supporting Asian American seniors in NYC.
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Material The Reboard, $, available at Material
Tatcha’s latest product launch really said “no oily skin in 2024”. This gel cleanser is packed with the finest grade matcha from Kyoto, which helps reduce redness, along with a handful of Japanese herbs that improve uneven skin tone and restore the moisture barrier. Gifting someone this gentle face wash will ensure them the most luxurious start to the day ever.
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Tatcha The Matcha Cleanse, $, available at Tatcha
Noodles are often served at Chinese New Year gatherings since they symbolize longevity and a happy, healthy life. A-sha’s air-dried wheat noodles, made from a 100-year-old Taiwanese recipe, are packed with umami flavors, making this an excellent gift for the foodie in your life.
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A-Sha 8-Pack Galaxy Variety Ramen Noodles, $, available at Amazon
Give your loved ones the gift of many savings made through at-home gel manicures with this DIY mani kit. The macaron-shaped lamp is too cute for words, and the pink and red hues are equally fitting for Valentine’s Day nail art.
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Le Mini Macaron DIY Deluxe Gel Manicure Kit, $, available at Le Mini Macaron
Neiwai may not be a household name Stateside, but it’s a buzzy label that every cool and fashionable girlie knows in China. The Chinese intimates brand prioritizes lounge-all-day comfort without compromising style, and its Chinese New Year-themed bra and panties set is the perfect example of that.
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Neiwai Barely Zero Spaghetti Strap Bra Gift Set, $, available at Neiwai
Freshening up a living space with some leafy plants is an important Lunar New Year ritual. This tall beauty only needs watering once a month and will make any low-maintenance plant owner happy.
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Easyplant Dracaena Janet Craig Compacta, $, available at Easyplant
The heirloom quality of signet rings is made even more special with Loveness Lee’s tribute to the Chinese zodiac. Featuring a Chinese calligraphy for the word “dragon”, this hand-carved gold ring — created from recycled silver — will be a unique talisman for both cultural pride and good fortune.
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Loveness Lee Dragon Chinese Zodiac Signet Ring, $, available at Loveness Lee
Gift the delightful surprise of 20 yummy Japanese snacks, hand-packed and shipped straight from small businesses around the country. Since cherry blossom season is coming up, you will find sakura-themed cookies, cakes, and mochis galore. Use the code DRAGON to get $5 off for your first order.
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Sakuraco Snack Box Subscription, $, available at Sakuraco
Founded by a Chinese-American design duo, JW PEI is the name on all the fashion girlies’ lips right now, after Selena Gomez recently wore the JW PEI Gabbi Bag to the Golden Globes (which only retails for $129). We have our eyes set on this delectable vegan croc effect number, which reminds us of a red pocket — lucky red envelopes containing cash given out by elders during Chinese New Year. The best part? It’s currently on sale for just under $60.
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JW PEI Lucy Bag, $, available at JW PEI
Our favorite do-it-all cookware has a new drop coming for the Year of The Dragon — and it’s a special collaboration with Fly By Jing, another one of our faves. You get a 12-inch, non-stick wok with all the necessary doodads for stir-frying, deep frying, steaming, and pretty much everything in between. Also included in the set is an electrifying trio of Fly By Jing bestsellers (which will be shipped separately). Your giftee will be tempted to add the chili oil to everything (pizzas, noodles, dumplings, even desserts), and they totally should.
Shop Our Place
Our Place x Fly By Jing Saucy Hot Wok Set, $, available at Our Place
The AAPI-owned beauty brand has given its top-seller a festive makeover. The SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray is bedazzled with Po Ping, the lazy but oh-so-adorable protagonist from Kung Fu Panda. Fans of this animated classic are going to want to bag this one.
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Tower 28 Kung Fu Panda 4 SOS Rescue Spray, $, available at Tower 28 Beauty
Many beauty brands release Lunar New Year merchandise, but you can always count on NARS to deliver something that is both high-functioning and easy on the eyes. This year’s themed collection includes this setting powder that packs a high dose of minerals to take away oiliness and keep your skin looking dewy and fresh. The auspicious red lacquer packaging is the icing on top.
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NARS Light Reflecting Setting Powder Lunar New Year Set, $, available at Sephora
Dragon-themed merch can be a pretty hard sell, but Kate Spade has managed to make it look utterly adorable with this pastel wallet. With the Dragon zodiac adorning the front, don’t be surprised if your giftee ends up having their luckiest year ever.
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Kate Spade Outlet Dragon Printed Medium Compact Bifold Wallet, $, available at Kate Spade Outlet
If you are visiting someone’s house for Lunar New Year, it’s a big taboo to show up empty-handed. These stunning dinner plates — featuring vibrant New Year motifs from Chinese culture — are just the perfect houseguest gift that will get reused for many years to come.
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Williams Sonoma Lunar Mixed Salad Plates, $, available at Williams Sonoma
This fiery PJ set is bedtime-ready, but also polished enough to wear as a matching set during the day. The scarlet color will surely bring lots of luck to whoever this is intended for, and we simply adore how it looks with the icy blue contrast piping.
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LAKE Pajamas Poplin Piped Pants Set, $, available at LAKE Pajamas
This ginseng-infused serum is a hall-of-famer amongst K-beauty products and is worth every dollar on the price tag. It nourishes the skin without being too sticky or oily. As stated in my Sulwhasoo serum review, it was the favorite skincare discovery I made all year. The beauty brand has created a dragon-themed bottle design to celebrate the New Year.
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Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum Lunar New Year, $, available at Sulwhasoo
Caraa is a NYC-based sportswear brand founded by a Chinese-born, Spain-raised couple who saw a gap in the market for stylish and functional handbags that are not overpriced. While the convertible tote-backpacks and sling bags are the most popular styles, we think this extra roomy, water-resistant vanity kit will make a fantastic LNY gift for the traveler in your life.
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caraa Vanity Kit, $, available at caraa
This Korean skincare set — consisting of a gentle cleanser, a lightweight lotion, and a soothing serum — will pretty much cover your recipient’s basic skincare needs and keep their moisture barrier healthy and happy. This is an exceptional gift idea for someone with sensitive skin or anyone who wants to only shop vegan and cruelty-free products.
Shop Good Light
Good Light Metamorphosis Skincare Set, $, available at Good Light
Whether you’re shopping for an experienced home cook or a total kitchen novice, they will love this punchy seasoning brand, founded by two Vietnamese sisters passionate about bringing authentic Asian flavors to the wider public. You’ll find condiment starters that provide the vital umami in various East Asian and Southeast Asian dishes, such as Thai larb salad, Filipino sisig (crispy pork belly), and mala tofu (an ultra-spicy Chinese staple).
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Omsom The Try ‘Em All Set, $, available at Omsom
From reading our Catalina Deluxe Tote review, you can tell just how much we adore Lo & Sons. The AAPI-owned brand makes durable, well-designed carryalls in eco-friendly canvas and recycled polyester, equally suitable for short getaways or commuting to work. The Catalina Deluxe, a bag that can be worn as a tote or a crossbody, is a perfect present for someone who is always on the go. The site is currently offering a sale of up to 60% off for the new year.
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Lo & Sons The Catalina Deluxe, $, available at Lo & Sons
If you know someone who is looking to level up their gua sha routine, Pink Moon’s skincare duo is a great place for them to start. The Over The Moon face oil is formulated to stay on the skin longer so that the scraping movements don’t drag on the skin, while the crystal tool provides a calming and cooling effect.
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Pink Moon Over the Moon Duo, $, available at Pink Moon
Gift a stack of ear candy to the jewelry lover in your life. The AAPI-founded brand’s gold-plated and sterling designs are edgy yet chic and will work for people with or without piercings.
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Maison Miru Essential Ear Cuff Trio, $, available at Maison Miru
This Lunar New Year, Lululemon has launched a spring-themed capsule collection, with the screen legend Michelle Yeoh fronting the campaign. If you’re a fan of the Align Tank Top to begin with, this limited-edition red pattern will be right up your alley. (The company has issued a statement regarding the recent comments from founder and former board member Chip Wilson, who has not been part of the brand since 2015. You can read it here).
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Lululemon Lunar New Year Align Tank Top, $, available at Lululemon
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