As we see a new Prime Minister take office, we have watched the new cabinet change over night & with this change a new Secretary of State for BEIS Andrea Leadsom MP Member of Parliament for South Northamptonshire takes office.

In her Twitter feed of 24.07.19 she stated that she was “honoured” to be appointed as Secretary of State for BEIS & that she would look forward to “supporting UK businesses as we make our way in the world once we have left the European Union and of course also tackling the vital issue of global climate change”. (1)

Despite vast changes in our political landscape, yet more uncertainty about a no deal BREXIT being a possibility & the news that Donald Trump has opened the USA doors for a trade deal post BREXIT; the Artisan Business Movement is thriving.

With the ever growing need for so many people to try & find a way beyond PAYE & create a work-life-balance for themselves; more people are seeking ways to make their own mark on the business economy. One such swathe of interest comes in the ever growing Artisan movement.

From Craft Fairs to online collectives, the Artisan movement in the UK is booming & this is all in response to the changing face of consumerism. Shoppers are becoming more & more mindful of ethically produced produce & products with an increasing need to understand the journey their purchases have taken from inception to completion. The Artisan way of ‘manufacturing’ facilitates that need entirely.

The Artisan movement has seen a dramatic transformation in recent years, with many producers seeking online alternatives to sell their wares, as opposed to the traditional venues of Village Fete’, Craft Fairs & Artisan Markets.

The online community of Folksy.com is once such place. Folksy.com is the brainchild of Chief Executive James Boardwell who began the entrepreneurial online community to offer an alternative shopping experience for the ethically minded consumer. The products on Folksy. com go beyond the traditional ‘corn dolly’ idealism & offer consumers an entire lifestyle choice, from the chic to the traditional.

Folksy.com also feature their Artisan producers in blogs, which allow the Artisans to have a voice beyond their products. On July 23^rd 2019 Folsky interviewed Laura Brown of Elby Brown Jewellery, an off the grid Jewellery maker from Cornwall. Her words resonate with so very many artisan producers who are keen to follow an ethical & traditional pathway through their work & business:

“I live in what some might consider an unconventional lifestyle but is my normal. We don’t have mains electricity or water, instead relying on solar power and rainwater for our water supply. My goals are to live simply and laugh loudly and as often as humanly possible. “ (2)

However, not all Artisan producers are off grid & living in such idyllic simplicity.

A more recent article by Homes & Gardens explored the upsurge in the Craft Movement in London’s Chelsea, with this hugely fashionable area of London holding it’s first ‘Artisan Chelsea’ event as part of London Craft Week 2019.

The Chelsea programme saw a diverse collection of what some might consider a much more ‘high end’ example of the ‘Artisan’. One example of the type of ‘Artisan’ events & products on offer were:

Shoemaking Masterclass, Miista – Attendees at this masterclass can learn to make natural; raffia shoes in the brand’s Chelsea store. Explore the art of weaving and discover the building blocks of this modern craft. (3)

The Miista brand has representation in Paris, Barcelona & London with most of their shoes selling for in excess of £100 per pair. Despite their offer of a workshop to make ‘natural raffia shoes’ as part of London Craft Week; their clean, glass fronted designer shops, are a far cry from the traditional ‘Craft Fairs’ or online ‘Craft Houses’ traditional Artisan producers inhabit & sell from.

Closer to home, Drapers Yard in Chichester, West Sussex, house more traditional Artisan producers, green grocers & eateries.

Their ethos is simple; they want to encourage as many Artisan & ethically minded local producers to create an entire shopping experience. Set in a secluded courtyard in The Hornet Chichester, the story of the ‘Shedquarters’ began when entrepreneur Kay Mawer purchased an old pub to house ‘Clothkits’ her haberdashery & workshop. ‘In 2016, Kay erected 13 sheds in the old pub garden, to create a hub for small retail independents to encourage creatives & their talents.’ (4)

This thriving hub sees some established businesses taking root & ‘pop-up’s!’ taking advantage of the flexible rental on the sheds. Drapers Yard houses an eclectic mix from a traditional green grocer, to traditional florist, refillery, vegan take away, artisan baker, independent hair salon & regular food festivals & craft markets throughout the year.

There is a diversity to the craft & artisan movement which is keeping pace with an ever growing need for consumers to understand where their produce & consumables are being made, manufactured & created & with the ethically minded consumer movement continuing to grow in the UK; what was once a niche market hidden away in the tents of Village Fete’s, has now become a burgeoning movement being made accessible to a vast & ever conscientious consumer audience.

Written by Katy-Jane on behalf of Virtually Smart Ltd.