Craft and Sustainability: Repurpose, reuse adnd repair craftsmanship showcased at Selfridges during London Craft Week

Selfridges’ new permanent RESELFRIDGES destination in the Accessories Hall at its London Oxford Street location offers a unique opportunity to explore unusual gifts, keepsakes, and collectables. During London Craft Week, visitors can witness artisans, makers, and innovators using creativity and craftsmanship to repurpose, reuse, and repair unwanted items and waste materials.

Throughout the week, May 13 - 19 2024, visitors can purchase a select range of unique pieces and observe demonstrations of specialist craft techniques and innovative new methods of making.

Emily Frances Barrett

One featured artist is Emily Frances Barrett, a jeweller who transforms lost or found objects into beautiful multidisciplinary jewellery and art pieces. 

Emily Frances Barrett

Emma works with discarded treasures, whose scars reveal glimpses into the past, finding beauty in everything from forgotten jewels to discarded buttons.

WYP PYM

WYP PYM - Waste Yarn Project with Celia Pym - is a collaboration between Siri Johansen, co-founder of the Waste Yarn Project, and textile artist Celia Pym. They explore playful, resourceful design and celebrate slow craft through handmade knitted clothing and accessories.

Allday Goods is a kitchen knife company that repurposes plastic waste destined for landfills into lifelong products. Their mission is to raise awareness and encourage a rethink of our relationship with waste.

Tessa Silva

British-Brazilian artist Tessa Silva examines the impact of material use on society by creating delicate, one-of-a-kind art objects from milk proteins.

Inspired by the medieval history of her hometown, London, Ciara Bowles combines ancient techniques with vibrant colors to create timeless jewellery pieces. Her work emphasizes ethical production and craftsmanship using reclaimed and recycled materials.

Blast Studio

Blast Studio, based in London, excels in transforming leftover coffee cups into futuristic furniture and architecture. They use 3D printing technology to turn discarded waste into sustainable furniture and interior products, such as lampshades and containers.

Anabela Chan, a fine jeweller, champions laboratory-grown gemstones, blending sculptural designs with science, and Lucie Gledhill creates unique jewellery from recycled metals using traditional techniques and chain-making, exploring material relationships through low-tech design approaches and a slow creation process.

Finally, the King’s Foundation offers specialist training programmes in heritage and craft skills. At Selfridges, shirts donated by Turnbull and Asser were embroidered by graduates using expert embroidery techniques.

Photos by Lucia Carpio

Retailers face a challenging Christmas shopping season, says KPMG research

Now with a new Prime Minister (yes, another one) ushered in, the economic and political climate in the UK should for the time being calm down and stabilise, we hope, and we can start thinking about Christmas which is just around the corner. 

A wide selection of vintage inspired Christmas decorative items and gifts available at LiveLaughLove.co.uk

In the face of a global economic and financial crisis, this year’s Christmas shopping season could be marred by the rising prices as consumers count their pennies.  But new research suggests Black Friday sales and the World Cup are expected to boost food sales alongside Christmas gift buying despite the cost of living crisis in November and December.

A new research by KPMG/Ipsos Retail Think Tank (RTT) members suggests that while UK consumers contend with rising energy bills and interest rates, retailers face a "challenging" Christmas shopping period, with the health of the sector seeing its biggest "golden quarter decline" since 2011.

The latest assessment revealed the health of the retail sector is expected to decline by two points to 70 points in the final quarter of this year. (See  RTT original report HERE.)

Pop Up advent calendar available at Victoria and Albert Museum Shop.

As reported by Yahoo!Finance on 25th October 2022, that is a drop in Christmas trading not seen since 2011 where growing uncertainty in the European and global markets kept consumer confidence low.

According to the Retail Health Index (RHI), a combination of pressure on margins, rising costs and shaky consumer demand are predicted to produce the difficult trading environment.

Create a festive living room with a wide selection of Christmas trees and decorative accessories 
from Dobbies.com
All Dobbies’ trees are sustainably grown from specially selected seeds, taken from hand-picked cones which have been left to dry and nurtured into seedlings.

Paul Martin, head of retail at KPMG in the UK commented: "The health of the retail sector continues to slowly deteriorate, and it has been over a decade since we have seen a two point drop in the health index during the vital golden quarter." 

The economic and political turmoil are yet to "trickle down" to consumers, according to Martin, who added that while economic and political uncertainty influence the health of the retail sector, the usual festive boost will not be enough this year to counteract the ongoing issues that retailers are facing with rising costs, squeezed margins and fall back in demand.

Christmas hamper featuring Prosecco, Yankee Candles and
Chocolates from FunkyHampers.com

However consumers will still want to enjoy Christmas, with many choosing to spend on hospitality and enjoying time with friends and family.

"Many will be looking to trade down, search out bargains and purchase less – but Christmas is by no means cancelled – despite the mood music around an impending recession," said Martin.

But the RTT noted Black Friday (November 25th 2022) sales and the World Cup (November 20th to December 18th 2022) are expected to boost food sales alongside Christmas gift buying despite the cost of living crisis this November and December.

Mintel forecasts steady Christmas as British shoppers embrace Black Friday!

*Mintel forecasts December retail sales to be worth £48.7 billion 

*39% of consumers bought something during last year’s Black Friday promotions - Electrical items were the most popular purchases - bought by 49% of Black Friday shoppers

Love it or loathe it, Black Friday is now fully ingrained in the UK retail calendar.  While the official date of Black Friday isn't until November 29, many retailers are launching special deals starting from today, Friday, November 22, catching shoppers who want to do some early Christmas shopping.  

So whether you want to brave the high street full of bargain hunters and tourists or opt for shopping online in the peaceful home (or office) setting, there are serious deals and savings to be had, from electronic toys to games consoles, clothing, beauty and personal care.

Luxury Personalised Christmas Cracker - Family Treats by The Handmade Christmas Co. 

Black Friday is a tradition that originated in the US where retailers cut prices the day after Thanksgiving.  In recent years, UK retailers have hoped on the bandwagon and embraced it as a major annual shopping event in the run-up to Christmas.


According to retail and market experts at Mintel, last year almost two in five (39%) British consumers made a purchase during the Black Friday promotions.  Avoiding the retail rush, 86% of Black Friday shoppers bought online, while just under three in ten (29%) bought in-store. Amazon was the most popular destination, with 42% of Black Friday buyers shopping with the online giant during the event. 

ENGLISH LAVENDER COLLECTION By Yardley London

Overall, electrical items were the most popular purchases, bought by 49% of Black Friday shoppers, followed by clothing and footwear (38%) and beauty and fragrance (25%). 

Nick Carroll, Associate Director of Retail Research at Mintel, said:  “Black Friday is here to stay, and we expect it to be potentially the biggest it’s ever been in the UK. Unlike in recent years, Black Friday 2019 falls right at the end of the month - after payday and less than four weeks before Christmas. This makes perfect timing to capitalise on shoppers who are looking to save during this uncertain period.
Mintel forecasts December retail sales to be worth £48.7 billion 

Despite a particularly tough year, Mintel forecasts some Christmas cheer for Britain’s retailers. Latest research predicts that December’s retail sales will reach £48.7 billion, growing a respectable 3.8% compared to last December when sales hit £46.9 billion.  

 Personalised Christmas Bottle Bags can be ordered from Vanilla Reindeer.

Sales through non-food retailers this December are expected to reach £23.9 billion (including £4.2 billion from online sales generated by physical stores); while food retailers will enjoy sales of £18.8 billion (including £1.4 billion from online sales generated by physical stores). And in the battle between the clicks and bricks, Mintel estimates that internet pure players (online only retailers) will account for £6.0 billion worth of sales.

Mintel forecasts total online sales this December will be worth £11.6 billion, accounting for 23.7% of all retail sales.

Nick Carroll, Associate Director of Retail Research at Mintel, said: “The past few festive periods have shown that customers can be resilient in the face of uncertain times and we believe underlying demand will hold up reasonably well. Customers will, of course, be looking for value, and with fewer days between Black Friday and Christmas this year retailers’ margins may be particularly stretched.

“Although high-street retailers may be under pressure … those that can provide valued experiences whilst tapping into other underlying trends, such as local sourcing and ethical production, combined with attracting value-conscious shoppers, put themselves in a good position this festive season.”

We need to think outside the box when it comes to gifting fathers.

A cushion championing Dad for his special place in our hearts could be a good choice as a Father's Day gift.
"Reserved for Dad" cushion from British Heart Foundation.

According to a recent study commissioned by Photobox, more than half of dads (51 percent) complain Mother’s Day is a much bigger deal than Father’s Day in the UK, with a massive 78 percent claiming mums get much more of a fuss made of them on special occasions.

Would a Tie & Apron appeal to dads? Do we want them to work or to relax on Father's Day?
Andres Labi of Estonia, Designer/CEO of Tie & Apron was modelling one of his latest creations at Pulse London
in May 2018.  Content Editor Lucia Carpio was intrigued and tried on another of his creations.  BBQ on Father's Day?

So it comes as no surprise that the majority of fathers (54 percent) responded in the study say that they feel taken for granted by their children, with as many as one in three saying no fuss whatsoever is made for them for birthdays, Christmas or Father’s Day.

And when we do remember to give them gifts, the nation’s dads get some of the most undesirable gifts from their own children.  Items like novelty socks, Y-Fronts, cans of deodorant, hair dye and EVEN verruca cream have been named as some of the WORST presents British dads have ever received, along with book tokens, grass seeds, cans of WD-40 and bottles of shampoo, out of date vouchers, garden spades and football shirts for the wrong club.

Yoda Best Dad T-shirt from M&Co
should appeal to the family Star Wars No.1 fan.

One in three of the 2,000 dads polled, admitted that when they do receive presents, they are more often than not, deeply disappointed.

The study, revealed that the average British mum has £31 splashed out on her on Mother’s Day, while, if we do remember to buy dad a present, it is never worth more than £25, according to the poll.

And this is in spite of the fact modern dads spend countless hours ferrying their kids around, helping them with their homework, handing out pocket money and doing grocery shopping, according to the research.

However, despite the family favouritism, 41 percent of dads admitted mum probably deserves to receive more of a fuss and better gifts on their special day.   A further 70 percent of dads wouldn’t dream of telling their kids they didn’t like their gifts.

Rory Scott, spokesman for Photobox commented "We wanted to shine a light on the gifts that British families give and receive, and were shocked to see how many dads feel undervalued on Father’s Day, and the number of truly awful Father’s Day gifts that have been given to British dads. 

"While it’s clear that many believe mums should get the better presents on their big day, we at Photobox think that it is important to celebrate dads, and so taking the time to think about something they might really like, such as a personalised gift, is so worth it.  Let’s make dads feel special on 17th June.”

The WORST presents British dads have been given, according to a recent Photobox study:-
Verruca Cream
Y-Fronts
Novelty Socks
Shower Gel
Shampoo
A Torch
Gardening Gloves
A Beer Tankard
Book Token
Grass Seeds
Gift Voucher for a DIY Store
A Can of Deodorant
A Can of WD-40
Novelty Tie
Boxer Shorts
Football Shirt for the wrong club
Car Shampoo
A Garden Spade
A Carving Set
Hair Dye
Gym Memberships
Oven Gloves
A Chopping Board
Out of Date Vouchers
Cosmetic Surgery

Skeleton Designs - refined spookiness!

Thanks to designer labels like Alexander McQueen and mega artists such as Damian Hirst, skull and skeleton-themed designs continue to be a hot trend not just for jewellery but for home products too.

And Suck UK has this quirky bird skull for ssafe-keeping jewellery, coins, trinkets and knick-knacks. Made of plastic polyresin, this desk tidy is both functional and eye-catching. The "jaws" can be closed up to hide the valuables. The gold-tipped beak adds a touch of class to this quirky design.

Bird-themed twist is ideal for anyone who enjoys a bit of spooky style! 

Also available from Red Candy is this skeleton hand design to safely keep your valuables - a perfect gift for both male or female.

What's great is that each finger can be repositioned independently so you can manipulate the digits to suit your needs.

It comes with a handy (no pun intended) wooden dish at the bottom.