Want to shop and reduce waste all at the same time? Emmaus Bristol is setting up a treasure trove of retro, vintage and upcycled furniture, electricals and homewares, providing you with the chance to find a one off piece and support people out of homelessness.

Browse a range of homeware and electrical items and pre-loved and quirky furniture, most of it expertly upcycled by two people we support at our homelessness charity. We offer delivery at a small additional cost for shoppers who are purchasing large items, so there’s no need to worry about how you will get your new upcycled piece home on your bike! Ask in store for delivery charges to your area of Bristol.

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.

Radical china, hand-pulled screen prints & other gifts!

Since 2007, the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft (PRSC) has championed arts & activism in Bristol’s Stokes Croft. Stokes Croft China, an integral part of PRSC, creates unique china pieces blending historic salvaged print with local artists’ designs, while the People’s Printshop produces hand pulled screen prints. All sales directly fund their community activities.

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.

This Spring, Baby Bank Network Bristol is making its first baby steps into the community, opening their first charity shop in Sparks!

Head to the Department of Fashion to shop for preloved maternity wear and preloved children’s clothes, shoes, fancy dress, toys and books for ages 0-5 years.

Reuse and redistribution of preloved items for babies and children up to five years is the essence of Baby Bank’s core work. Each year they redistribute thousands of donated items to families in Bristol who are experiencing poverty or crisis. Profits from the Baby Bank charity shop will go towards their work supporting families in Bristol who are experiencing poverty or crisis.

Opening hours:

• Wednesday to Saturday 11am – 6pm
• Sunday 11am – 5pm

Twinkle Leo was created in Ukraine when Tetyana’s son, Leo, was born in 2019. She makes a range of blankets, pyjamas, children’s clothes and accessories. She has been supported to develop her business by ACH, a social enterprise supporting refugees and migrants.

“When I first arrived into Bristol, it was very cold. I only brought with me summer clothes, one pair of jeans and a jumper. I was not thinking about my business, only how my son and I would survive here. Everything here was new to me; the nursery, the hills, all the walking!”

Tetyana, Founder of Twinkle Leo