The 2025 Asper Holiday Gift Guide
From stores to sports, clothing brands to coffee shops, business is everywhere. As you gear up for the holiday season, you might just find that as you scour Manitoba for the best gifts, the Asper School of Business is everywhere. Check out these local gift ideas from Asper Alumni!
For the Footwear Fanatic: Unboxed Customs
We’ve all been there. You’ve found yourself doing a double take at a pair of bold, branded Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Winnipeg Jets or Winnipeg Sea Bears shoes, going, “how?”
Recent Asper grad Yashan Wu [BComm(Hons.)/25], that’s how. This alum is the founder and creative director of Unboxed Customs—a custom shoe company that creates one unforgettable piece of wearable art after another. We’re talking Nike Air Force 1s with Demon Slayer characters rendered on the sides; New York Yankees shoes that make the shoe’s stitching look like baseball stitching; we’re talking Woody and Buzz of Toy Story on a children’s pair of kicks. Did we mention brand partnerships with every CFL team?
These shoes are the kind of thing that, when placed under a tree and given to someone who doesn’t even know these things are possible, will be talked about with “wow that was a great gift” energy for years to come. And while you’re on her website throw in a shoe-themed rug or candle!
For the Bison Believer: Mondetta X Bisons Hoodie or Crewneck (Available December 8)
Recently, Ash Modha, CEO of Mondetta Clothing and UM alum [BA/98] (who created Mondetta alongside his brother, Asper alum Prashant Modha [MBA/98]) was speaking on a UM sustainability panel when he remarked that as he left for the engagement that day, his wife said to him “aren’t they sick of hearing from you yet?”
After being featured in UM Bisons at the Centre campaign AND creating a custom line of UM hoodies and crewnecks, it’s safe to say: no, Ash, we aren’t sick of hearing from you.
The latest clothing line from Mondetta takes the new Bisons logo and takes it to icon status, mixing modern, clean and classic with the feeling of a well-worn leather jacket. With Mondetta’s quality craftmanship, which factors sustainability into their manufacturing, these pieces are sure to be “borrowed” by partners, friends, and acquaintances across campus.
It goes on sale December 8 – be the first to get your hands on one!
For the person who has everything: Take them out to King + Bannatyne, Nola, or Bar Accanto
During his days grinding through his Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree, Mike Del Buono [BComm(Hons.)/13], spent a lot of his time dreaming about opening restaurants. Since then, he’s become managing partner of Burnley Place Hospitality, which operates King + Bannatyne, Nola, and Bar Accanto.
Del Buono has elegantly forged his restaurants as representations of their neighbourhoods—King + Bannatyne, named after streets it is intersected at, is a quick spot in the exchange for a carefully crafted sandwich, Nola is a fine-dining gem in St. Boniface that became (and still is) a word-of-mouth sensation, and Bar Accanto, located steps away from Nola, is the equal-parts-sophisticated-and-cozy wine bar you might take someone you’re trying to impress.
Del Buono doesn’t have a background in culinary arts, and thus, his secret is letting the chefs’ creativity bloom from his foundation: “I like to say that I’m here to build the runway so they can take off,” he told UM Today in 2023.
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Asper School of Business students and alumni bring bold ideas to life every day, whether in the classroom or the marketplace. Be part of a vibrant community of entrepreneurs and emerging business leaders. Learn more about Asper programs of study today!
Browse the Asper Gift Guide archive for even more gift ideas!