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What's in your pockets?

2 October 2008

Pockets are an essential component of modern-day clothing. Whether they appear in coats, trousers or shirts, pockets are a handy place to store all sorts of stuff and nonsense. They could be home to wallets, spare change, or even keys, but where did they come from? The pocket is surely one of the greatest unusual gifts to humanity, yet we don't even consider where they came from.

In Europe, this essential piece of kit apparently started life as an item of apparel that was to be worn outside of a person's clothing, rather like a purse or a bag. When worn, the pocket – which, in Middle English, was supposedly written as poket – was covered by an outer garment such as a coat.

Cutting out more than a few years of history, we come to the evolution of the modern pocket. Essentially, the trouser pocket which we use today came from a decision to sew an external version directly into a pair of trousers to ensure that it was not forgotten; previously, although a slit was present in garments, the pocket was still an external item that had to be worn on the body. Apparently this all happened in the latter part of the 1700s; and although there are now many different types of pockets, this decision has proved to be one of the greatest unusual gifts of history.

Today, in clothing for both men and women, a number of different pocket types are easily available, including the fob pocket, which is designed specifically to hold old-fashioned watches, and can be found both on men's waistcoats and trousers. Other types can include breast pockets – and the related inner breast pocket – ticket pockets, and pockets for coins.

Interestingly, the word pocket can also refer to some of the greatest treasures in the world of unusual gifts. Indeed, for those with green fingers, not to mention fans of the great outdoors, the Pocket Garden is surely one of the best unusual gifts around.

The Pocket Garden range includes beautiful flowers such as Forget Me Not's, Baby Blue Eyes and Snap Dragons, which are surely the epitome of gardening simplicity. After cutting open the silver leak-proof pocket, simply add water. The seeds are pre-planted, and the pocket is literally jam-packed with special compost. Other products in the range include, Birthday Gerbera, Wild Strawberry, chilli and even catgrass.

Also known as catnip, catgrass is one of those unique gifts that many cats simply love. A member of the Lamiaceae family of plants, catgrass is grown in many parts of the world and can be used in a variety of ways; indeed, when mixed with chamomile tea, this miracle of nature can even be used to lighten hair.

But it's not until placed in front of a cat that the plant's most amazing qualities become apparent. While your cat may well appreciate all of the weird and unusual gifts you present it with on a regular basis, catgrass can literally make them go wild. Getting a whiff of the stuff can drive your cat into a frenzy, with him or her rolling around on the floor. They may also chew or paw the plant, bite it, purr and salivate copiously, and maybe even growl. And, while the effects may only last for a few minutes, cats may need as much as a few hours to become interested again; for some reason, after falling for the plant's charms, cats need a little time to reset. However, kittens and older felines may not be as likely to enjoy unusual gifts filled with catgrass, as they are apparently less susceptible to its effects.

However, even if you don't opt for catgrass, the Pocket Garden range of unusual gifts is sure to be a hit. It doesn't matter if they're meant for a birthday, or even for use as a stocking filler, they're sure to be a hit – just don't expect anyone to show their appreciation with a purr and a dribble.
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