8 Dec 2014
Christmas Marketplace
With Christmas fast approaching are you struggling to find that perfect gift for someone special?
The Marketplace may offer just the thing you are looking for.
The steadily growing website showcases an A to Z of more than 100 student and graduate companies – from startups to million pound ventures.
Many design, make and sell unique items that could help you really spoil family and friends.
Sophie Kirkpatrick (3D Design, 2010) creates handmade framed silhouettes – using vintage maps which can be bespoked to the recipient – as well as notebooks, diaries, photo albums, iPad covers and passport holders using customised printed leather. She trades as atlas and I – and one of her designs is sold worldwide by Ikea.
For fabulous homeware, browse Emma Britton’s (Printed Textiles, 2008) online store which is full of gorgeous glass coasters and surface protectors as well as wallpapers and tea towels. Alternatively, call in at John Lewis to check the latest designs by Joseph Joseph (Richard Joseph – Industrial Design and Technology, 1998). For bespoke home textiles, make Amy Allwright Homeware (Amy Humphreys – Printed Textiles, 2010) your next port of call.
If you’re after beautiful jewellery and accessories, try Bojangle Beads who also run regular workshops – which may also solve the problem of what to get for someone who enjoys being creative.
Do you know an active type who’s likely to be out on the track or in the water on Boxing Day? Dave Cleaver’s (Sports Technology, 2004) Inspired Bikes is a world leader in street trials bikes, parts and accessories; and Zone3 (James Lock – Architectural Engineering and Design Management, 2006) meets needs of amateur and professional triathletes alike.
And if none of this whets your appetite and you really can’t decide, yummy goodies are always welcome – visit Chocolate Alchemy (Ricky Soos and Lisa Dobriskey – Sport and Exercise Science, 2002, and English, 2005).
Merry Christmas!
PS Ecoshiki (Tomoko Fujimura and Aya Sadayuki – Multi Media Textiles, 2009, and International Business, 2010) has all your wrapping needs covered.