To Market, To Market!

The humble market has been the hub of trading in this country since medieval times.  A population boom and economic growth between the eleventh and fourteenth centuries gave rise to this now very British custom, with an estimated 750 market towns being established throughout England by the year 1500.   Last weekend I visited Spitalfields, in the heart of London's east end, which has held a market on this site since the thirteenth century.

I was invited to attend the first Designers/Makers Bloggers' Brunch to coincide with their market that's held every third Saturday of the month at Old Spitalfields Hall.  

Browsing the stalls is already a great way to spend a Saturday so together with the prospect of brunch (my favourite meal of the day) and the opportunity to meet other creatives, there was not a lot that was going to stop me. 

Over a delicious brunch of pancakes and coffee at CrêpeAffaire we discussed the beginnings of Designers/Makers with its founder, Sophie Rees, the merits of being part of such a fab location, and why one should never travel in India without one's own personal supply of toilet roll!

The idea for a monthly market came about after Sophie, a painter and jewellery maker, founded the Stour Space gallery and exhibition space in Hackney Wick. Since late 2011 she has been managing up to 60 stalls at the site in Old Spitalfields Market, and Designers/Makers now has 84 members on it's books.

Customers browse the stalls

After submitting a short profile and photographs of their work potential stallholders are personally selected by Sophie, whose main aim is to provide customers with a variety of original and beautiful handmade products whilst maintaining a high level of quality and vibrance within the market.  Once selected, stallholders pay an annual membership fee of £45 and can then reserve a pitch for as many or as few markets as their finances will allow.  In addition to the stalls, designers also have the opportunity to sell their products through the Designers/Makers online shop.

Lovely stationery from Paper Heart

With a diverse range of products including jewellery, ceramics and stationery, and an enviable location within London's creative circle, Designers/Makers is leading the charge to change the way we shop and what we shop for.  Markets are no longer a dirty, smelly environment for selling livestock nor, as they became in the twentieth century, the 'Del-Boy' domain of cheap knock-offs and tat.
The twenty-first century market is a chic shopping experience offering quality, unique products made by talented designers and crafts people. They are a place where you can talk to the makers and appreciate the care that has gone in to creating each piece. 
Markets may not be a new initiative, but if it ain't broke...


The next Designers/Makers market is a bank holiday special on Monday 27th May and then Saturday 15th June.