After an exciting 2012 we are busy working away, planning some exciting events and projects for 2013.
Be sure to check back here for updates and sign up to our mailing list for information as we announce new dates.
We certainly enjoyed a jam-packed 2012 menu of events and here's a quick round up of the highlights from last year!
Summer Festival Fun
Lollibop Festival:
We were really excited last year to be asked to take part in some of London's most exciting Summer events.
In August, we took part in Lollibop Festival, The Big Bash for Little People. Lollibop is an exciting children's festival that takes place in Regents Park.
We Make London were proud to host a special branded area showcasing over 30 UK based designers.
Our area sat along side food areas, the Spitalfields Collective and other amazing traders. The three day event hosted some fantastic music, entertainment and performances from some of the most popular children's entertainers.
Thames Festival:
For the second year running we took part in the immensely popular Mayor's Thames Festival. It is always an honour for us to take part in one of London's most exciting free outdoor festivals.
We Make London hosted an area at the heart of the festival at Bernie Spain Gardens showcasing over 50 UK based designers. The two day event hosted some amazing entertainment, a night carnival procession and a grand final firework display. Our area sat alongside one of the main stages at the festival including the amazing Homage to Rio performances. To see a full list of the amazing entertainment at the 2012 Mayors Thames Festival check here:
http://thamesfestival.org/brochure
Cally Festival:
To round up the fantastic summer events we were pleased to be asked to take part in the Cally Festival. This is a hugely popular community festival that takes part on the very busy Caledonian Road in North London. The one day festival sees a large part of the hugely busy road closed for the day. Local businesses, crafts people, organisations all unite together to provide a wonderful community based event to celebrate the local area. We Make London hosted an area with over 30 London based designers.
Winter Markets
Old Spitalfields Market:
Starting in October we were very excited to be asked by the management team at Old Spitalfields Market to take over a large section of the market for six dates throughout the winter months. Over these six dates We Make London gave over 260 UK based designers a chance to showcase their work and sell at one of London's most famous markets. During this time we also had the public launch of our brand new book Inspired:London with many of the designers in the book selling at the market that weekend.
Camden Lock Market:
We were very excited to be asked by the lovely Camden Lock Market Team to host one of their special relaunched Night Markets that ran throughout November and December. We showcased 18 London based designers during an evening full of Christmas cheer with mulled wine and wonderful food in the outside food market as well as live music and a wood carving workshop in the surrounding areas of the market. This made it a lovely, entertaining shopping experience. We are excitedly working away on plans with more events with Camden Lock Market later this year!
Chelsea Old Town Hall:
After taking a years break from our fair at Chelsea Old Town Hall we were back with a early winter market, showcasing over 80 UK based designers in a special winter shopping day.
Battersea Arts Centre:
Our big Christmas fair took place in the amazing surroundings of Battersea Arts Centre. The event took over four of the stunning rooms of the period theatre and the balcony and corridor areas, creating an exciting hive atmosphere of rooms to explore, with over 60 UK based designers showcasing their work. With a cosy cafe and some amazing workshops, including screen printing with Mr Wingate and fascinator making with Miss Millinery we certainly look forward to celebrating again at BAC this year!
More London Christmas Market:
In its second year, the More London Christmas Market took place over four days in December. With hot food, mulled wine and mulled vodka cocktails it was the perfect setting for a outdoor festive market.
We Make London were proud to host an area with over 30 London based designers selling their work to the public who came along to enjoy live music and a good dose of festive cheer despite the sometimes chilly weather conditions. We look forward to being back at More London this year.
Our Book - Inspired:London:
As well as all of the exciting events listed above, 2012 saw the launch of We Make London's first ever book "
Inspired:London - A Guide to Handmade in London". Showcasing over 160 London based designers and over 90 London based businesses that support designers the book was a personal labour of love for myself and the We Make team.
The guide profiles each designer with a short bio and images of their work and is aimed at bringing the public and those interested in local, handmade work directly in touch with the amazingly talented designers of our capital city. Please check out our special
Inspired:London blog for interviews with the designers featured in the guide.
The book can be bought directly online from us at:
http://wemakelondon.bigcartel.com/ or offline from a selection of amazing stockists:
http://www.wemakelondon.co.uk/stockists.html
We are busy working away on our second publication, check out our blog for updates on this throughout the year!
Mary and the We Make Team x
