Are you supporting local talent?
When Lockdown 1 began in March 2020, talk turned to using local suppliers and craftspeople. We spoke about the pleasure their skills gave us. We were amazed by their ingenuity and dedication. We vowed we would, henceforth, support these torch carriers for living and loving local. But, actually, have we? Have we really?
Of course, and I do not make light of this, the current economic climate in the UK (and globally) makes budgeting a necessity these days. But I’d like to put the case that you can still budget and support your local makers and curators. You may even notice you get more value.
OK – I’m being preachy. But it’s only because I feel so strongly about this. I knew a woman who knew a woman who used to say: ‘I’m too poor to buy cheap clothes.’ (Isn’t that a great saying?) And perhaps, as we are all feeling the financial pinch, we need to think about quality and true value for money. A good bar of natural soap, handmade and carefully infused with essential oils and herbs, lasts infinitely longer than a mass-produced and chemically infused liquid version; beautiful personalised jewellery is something that will be special forever; and pre-loved clothing, often limited pieces with designer labels, will have years of life left in it. So even if your perception is that hand-crafted, handmade and curated items may push your budget, they may well end up giving you a surprising return in value. For example, I still have in my possession a couple of pre-loved cashmere jumpers that I bought more than 20 years ago – and believe me, that cashmere is not going to wear out any time soon!
I’m very excited that other believers in this philosophy are giving us the opportunity to make contact with our ethical visions. Take, for example, an event like the Spring Market Pop Up, which takes place in Grantchester, near Cambridge, on Saturday 25 March. The brainchild of Jane Horwood (Trash Chic) and Caroline Biggs (founding member of East Cambridge food festival and Cambridge Bake Off to name just two of her ventures), this eclectic market will be home to a variety of stalls selling curated pre-loved clothing from Trash Chic, alongside jewellery, plants, food and cosmetics from established local makers.
Jane and Caroline know a thing or two about setting up events. As they say: ‘We’ve been doing this for many years, now. Providing a platform for skilled and passionate makers of all kinds has always been high on our agenda, and we are 100% confident that our clients appreciate the love and attention to detail these makers provide. And who wouldn’t want to spend the day in Grantchester, especially in springtime?’
Agreed. And definitely a date for the diary.
Sandra Stafford is a writer, editor and long-time Trash Chic customer. More information about the exhibitors at the Spring Pop Up at Grantchester Village Hall, CB3 9NG can be found on Instagram @popupmarket23
