Makers and Friends Edinburgh

If you've been reading Urbanity for a while now, you'll know that I do love a pop-up shop. From Wear Eponymous to Scotland Redesigned, and from Craft Scotland and Urban Reivers to Don't Look Lingerie and Isolated Heroes, Scotland has been spoilt for choice recently of independent, local designers in exciting new retail experiences. While these fab pop-ups are sadly over, fortunately I've discovered a new one just in time fro Christmas; Makers and Friends. From now until the 19th of December, you can shop from a range of UK artists, designers and makers at 17 Dundas Street, Edinburgh.

Makers and Friends is an idea that was conceptualised by Zen Zhou, a London-based jewellery maker and blogger at http://hapinesswherever.com.

After selling her beautiful handmade products at various craft fairs with little success, she noticed that it didn't make much sense to have every designer at separate stalls just waiting for customers to come by; why not collaborate with other makers and create a specialised series of pop-up shops across the UK where the makers could have their stock introduced to new markets in a dedicated retail space, as well as introduce their disciplines to customers with creative workshops in ring making, pom poms and wire work to name a few! It was great to discover some new independent artists, like Chau Art who creates intricate paper-cut greetings cards that I just couldn't resist buying, but it was also brilliant to see some more local brands, like Lucky Cloud Skincare (read all about Lucky Cloud here).

To find out more about Makers and Friends, check out their gorgeous instagram or visit their website to get involved!

If you do one thing this Christmas, consider buying your gifts from independent designers and makers. Scotland is so full of creative talent just waiting to be discovered and in most cases it is no more expensive than the high street, and much better quality, not to mention more unique. 

Anyone that knows me knows how much I care about the #shoplocal movement, and I think at such a busy retail time everyone should make more considered and ethical purchases, supporting the circular economy instead of the fat cats of big brands.

Every time you buy something from a creative they do a little happy dance inside!