Newest Alfred & Wilde stockist, the Laura Lea Design boutique pop-up, opened in up-and-coming Leytonstone this month. Laura Lea Design launched in 2014 and aims to encourage, support and enable designers and artists to grow in a collective environment, sharing ideas and nurturing new talent.
We're a huge fan of ceramic artist Alice Mara and her quirky depictions of buildings and urban life. Check out her latest project which is launching in July as part of the East Sussex Open at Towner Gallery in Eastbourne.
Part art installation and part pop-up shop, the aim of The Poundshop is to bring great design to a wider audience. Products are sold for £1, £5, £10, £15 or £20 and, with low overheads and low-risk, the format allows designer-makers to experiment with new or interesting products.
I am over the moon that my favourite London-themed gift store has returned to Carnaby Street for a summer pop-up. The team has assembled a collection of the finest and coolest London prints, ceramics, cards, tote bags, pigeons and tea bags (amongst other wonderful things) that you'll find anywhere in the city. It simply blows other tourist-tat shops out of the water. And to top it off they pride themselves on working with independent designer-makers and creatives, making it a real community asset. Let's hope the tourist hoards agree!
Check out my top picks below (excuse the dodgy photography, there was a lot of free booze at the launch):
In the first of our stockist profiles, Jessica Widdows, owner of the fabulous Of Cabbages and Kings in Stoke Newington answers our questions and gives some hints for designers keen to get stocked in her shop.
A sunny Sunday saw me take a trip down the ginger line to Peckham for the first Crafty Fox Market of the year. Always a slightly smaller affair than Renegade which was also on that weekend, but it is carefully curated and has a few more established designer-makers, like Jimbobart.
Crafty Fox never fails to please, and here are my top three picks from the show:
Place In Print @placeinprint
A fellow producer of location-based prints, with a modernist bent, and a great eye for a visual pun. I reckon these prints would look great alongside an Alfred & Wilde! www.placeinprint.com
By @bytweeting
I just love these powder coated metal letter holders and book ends. The clean design and bright colours are right up my street, not to mention the special Crafty Fox bargain prices! www.byshop.co
Joanna Zenghelis
'Spotification' tea towel
New designer Joanna Zenghelis was part of the Crafty Fox Uncovered scheme, and I was completely taken by her hand-screen printed Spotification tea towel. Gorgeous colours and each tea towel is different. www.joannazenghelis.com
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