Advertorial: Hastings Designer Maker Fair – Christmas Edition
On Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 November, the Observer Building is hosting a Designer Maker Fair curated by James Thomas.
James has worked within the retail and hospitality sector for over 25 years, leading teams, creating marketing, product ranges and event campaigns. He is keen to share his promotional skills locally and has become more involved with businesses and designer makers in Kent and Sussex.
This year is the first of a series of Christmas fairs planned over the next five years at the Observer building. There are 45+ designer makers participating in the fair, and products on offer include textiles, clothing, stationary, ceramics, and other gifts and Christmas-related products.
The majority of those taking part in the fair are women. James says: “Working in retail, hospitality, and the arts sector, I have been fortunate to have worked with incredible, entrepreneurial women in business. I hope, within East Sussex, we can start to recognise the energy and spirit these women bring to the area’s commerce and creativity and look to support them to further their ambitions.”
Local social enterprise Let’s do Business Group, which encourages Hastings’ women to get involved with business, is also supporting the event through their work on the RISE project working with Hastings Borough Council.
Business Manager Emily Wright explains: “The RISE project, funded by the UK Governments Shared Prosperity Fund ensures that Hastings residents who are either looking to start or are already operating a business can access free and vital support, advice, and training to achieve their aspirations. We are also delighted to be offering dedicated start- up support to female entrepreneurs across Sussex and Kent through our Her Biz programme, funded by NatWest Bank. This 4-day workshop programme provides female business leaders all the knowledge and skills needed to get started, as well as introducing them to a network of like minded people, setting them on the right path for success.”
The event is also endorsed by local MP, Helena Dollimore, who says: “It’s great to see community events like this celebrating the creative spirit of Hastings, Rye, and the villages in the run up to Christmas. It’s so important to showcase our local talent and support small local businesses. This is a wonderful opportunity for the community to come together during the festive season and celebrate the artists, designers, and makers in our area.”
Designer Makers will include Hannah Adams of Simply Garden, who will have festive plants, and a range of Christmas Trees and door wreaths for pre-ordering. Keira Rathbone will be creating LIVE Christmas cards using her unique skill of creating images of people on a vintage typewriter.
Elevate Creates of Hawkhurst, will be offering a range of products, including T-shirts, mugs, pots and prints. They offer services for adults with learning disabilities, including creative workshops and training in life skills. Young designer makers will be selling products developed during their time at Bexhill college – using the latest technology to create gifts from upcycled products.
Some of the other makers include The Mudworks ceramics, Modern Goods Accessories, Maku Fashion, Milk & Hustle Designs, South Coast Soap Company and Julie Tucker Williams Jewellery.
Imogen Andrews from Radiator Arts will be this year’s Christmas Elf, with an oversized characterful costume, giving away children’s books – donated by The Hastings Book Festival. All this alongside mulled wine and cool Christmas decorations and music.
This Designer Maker Fair takes place several days before White Ribbon Day [see Violence
Against Women – A Men’s Issue in HIP 263]. This is something close to James’ heart: “We will be promoting this year’s campaign: It starts with men,” he says, “and will be encouraging men and women to sign up with a QR code.”
Find out more about the White Ribbon Campaign here, or chat to someone at the Designer Maker Fair.
We hope you have enjoyed reading this article. The future of our volunteer led, non-profit publication would be far more secure with the aid of a small donation. You can also support local journalism by becoming a friend of HIP. It only takes a minute and we would be very grateful.
Leave a Reply