Handcrafted leather goods made in Bristol.

Pop down to the Department of Fashion to shop for handcrafter leather goods made in Bristol.

Jess Grey Leather was selected to trade with us because of her excellent craftsmanship, providing long-lasting goods, made of sustainable, locally sourced materials that are a waste product of the meat and dairy industries. Jess explains more about her products and their sustainability below:

Durability: 

In contrast to the highly unsustainable ‘fast fashion’ industry, I use techniques and materials that allow me to produce items designed to last a lifetime and be passed to the next generation. My products are easily repairable and do not have elements that are likely to fail over time like zips or fabric linings. I use solid brass or stainless-steel fittings that are less likely to break than cheaper alternatives and hand saddle-stitch my bags using beeswax linen thread, which is far more durable than machine stitching. I also offer a lifetime repairs warranty on most products. 

Leather alternatives:

I don’t claim that leather is perfect, and I respect those who do not wish to use animal-based products. However, leather is hugely misunderstood by many consumers and the conversation around its sustainability is often shut down in favour of non-animal-based alternatives. While there are many materials being developed that could offer sustainable alternatives, most of these are not yet affordable or widely available and many of leather substitutes currently available are made of or contain plastics which make them very difficult or even impossible to recycle.

Materials and processing:

I use British vegetable tanned leather for all my products. All the hides (animal skins) used are a waste product from the UK dairy and meat industry and a cow is never raised and killed for its hide. At least half (UK stats vary from 40%-90%) of the hides produced by the dairy and meat industry in the UK go straight to landfill or bio incineration. I minimise the environmental impact of transporting my raw materials by sourcing my leather from Bristol’s two nearest tanneries, both of which have quality and sustainability at their core (Thomas Ware and Son: http://www.thomasware.co.uk and J&FJ Bakers: http://www.jfjbaker.co.uk). Vegetable tanned leather (as opposed to chrome or chemically tanned leather) is tanned with organic matter, often tree bark. This is a slow process that traditionally must be done for at least ‘a year and a day’ and results in leather that is incredibly durable and long-lasting but is ultimately biodegradable. I only use traditional hand tools, many of which are well over 100 years old, and use no electric or power tools.

If you have any queries around this, please email Will on sparksfashionbristol@gmail.com.

Helping people get a better understanding of how our dogs see and understand life.

I can help with answering all kinds of different questions related to dogs:

• Behaviour issues
• Feeding advice
• How to stimulate your dog
• Lead training
• Crate training
• Recall
• Basic commands
• Anything dog related
• Digital Photography 
• Will be taking donations for the PDSA animal charity 
• Dog Tarot cards
• Recycled dog accessories
• Some new
• Some old
• Will also be able to talk about mental health
• Crystal healing (Advice on how crystals might be able to help in certain circumstances) 

Sloth shop is a female owned, small vintage & second-hand clothing shop with a huge focus on slowing down fashion.

I try to specially select secondhand and vintage gems to place back on the style circuit to be loved again and again! Sloth shop encourages circulating quality clothes and making well-informed choices. I try to use social to provide tips on how to enjoy fashion in the most sustainable ways possible, by providing tips on mending and caring for existing wardrobes, as well as fast fashion vs secondhand shopping stats.

Southwest Threads & BLAM! are both home grown Bristol businesses, that like to pay homage to original craft and culture. 

SOUTH WEST THREAD IN IT, DRESSED TOE 2 HEAD IN IT-

South West Threads focuses on the idea of individuality through finding a piece you can find no where else, whether It is second hand or a bespoke handmade/reworked item. We have a zero waste policy, aiming to create a look out of anything. We are anti fast fashion and our goal is to be part of the fight against the west exploiting third world sweat shops to supply our fashion needs so we can all essentially dress the same! As our business grows, we’d like to incorporate localism and traditional practices such as sewing workshops that can lead to collection launches.

BLAM! BRISTOL GRAFFITI SUPPLIES LIFESTYLE BRAND & EVENTS –

BLAM! BRISTOL is an arts supplies shop / gallery and clothing brand. As well as this, it is a stockist to other smaller bristol artists/ and independent brands. The idea behind the shop was to keep the original graffiti culture of Bristol alive and in the hands of Bristolians as well as other local artists and creatives. Here at BLAM!, we pay homage to the history of Bristol graffiti/street art culture through our marketing, products and events.

Both business have been set up separately, but carry the same principle and ethos proving that…
WHEN SOUTH EAST MEETS SOUTH WEST…THE THREADS ARE THE BEST.

Aromatherapy candles, soy wax melts & incense for mindful living.

CLE Homeware specialises in artisanal aromatherapy soy wax candles, fragrant wax melts, exquisite incense, memorial trinkets, and luxurious loungewear. All crafted with a focus on sustainability, eco-consciousness & mindfulness. Discover the essence of relaxation with CLE Homeware, where every item is thoughtfully created to enrich your living space.