This is a guest blog provided by Dawn Wood, Founder of Fabrication Crafts…
At a time when there’s so much doom and gloom on the high street one business is bucking the trend and celebrating the opening of a new shop in Leeds city centre. Fabrication Crafts is a Social Enterprise which supports micro crafts and fashion businesses by offering workspace, mentoring and support, as well as teaching craft classes in house and in the community.
Fabrication has come a long way!
Founded by Dawn Wood 4 years ago, Fabrication has come a long way opening their first pop up shop last October and expanding to a more permanent one in the Merrion Centre at the start of 2012. Due to the work being done on the centre this lease is coming to an end and a chance request by “The Light” to run workshops in the centre, has led to them opening a new much larger shop, in the old confetti unit.
Leed’s first Independent Department Store…
The breadth of items being sold in there mean it is Leeds first independent department store with over 50 sellers for the initial popup week, with artists, designers and crafters, who’s work would never otherwise have a presence on the high street, being sold in one of Leeds busiest shopping centres.
The shop has now been granted a licence for 6 months and each business will contribute to the running of the shop, having ‘meet the maker’ days so customers can see the amount of work that goes into creating an item, and other shopping events. Items sold include locally made jams cordials & sauces, flapjacks & popcorns, soaps, skincare and massage oils, mugs, pinnies, babygrows, furniture, artwork, mosaics, glassware, ceramics, jewellery, clothing, cards, zines & wedding suppliers with many mores stockists joining them as they move into longer term occupancy,
The Fabrication Philosophy - enable people to develop skills and be self-sufficient whether it is learning crafts or managing a micro business
As a tailor and designer herself, her philosophy for Fabrication is that it should enable people to develop skills and be self- sufficient whether it is learning craft skills or managing a micro business. The recession has revived the make do and mend culture, putting Fabrication right at the heart of this movement. Now the business works in adult social care as well as with refugee organisations, TUC Yorkshire, Local housing organisations and corporate clients, local organisations such as People Matters will also be selling work by their enterprise & art groups .
To complement the goods on sale craft classes will also run in the shop. You’ll be able to learn everything from crochet to wreath making, candle making, felting and how handle a sewing machine. Activities will take place in the daytime, at weekends and in the evenings. More than 40 different classes are available this autumn, as well as craft clubs for those on personal budgets, They also provide crafty hen parties & corporate events and will be running a charity knitathon this Saturday 20th October in aid of Thyroid awareness week and the LoveArts Festival
For more information contact Dawn Wood on info@fabric-ation.co.uk, call 0113 243 9140 or visit http://www.fabric-ation.co.uk
