A decade of Made in Bristol

It’s hard now to imagine the city without the Harbourside Market full of book stalls and photographers selling framed prints, or the Sunday market at the Tobacco Factory juxtaposing hot food and artisan soap. But back in September 2008, when Bryony Morgan was founding her business Made in Bristol, finding space for independent creative businesses in a city newly-dominated by Cabot Circus was tough.

“Bristol had very limited market activity and a small selection of independent Christmas events – we’re talking about a real handful,” Bryony says. “I found it really surprising that we didn’t have showcases that were inside, which is standard for retail. That was really where the idea to set up some larger direct-selling events for artists came from. It was very much a response to something that was lacking.”

Made in Bristol’s biggest set of events, their Christmas gift fairs, in which more than a hundred makers sell thousands of handmade products to the public, were borne from this desire and happily coincided with the opening of Colston Hall’s Foyer. This year it will return to the Foyer bigger, better and more varied than ever, for its tenth edition on November 24-25 and December 1 & 8.

The tenth Made in Bristol Gift Fair will take place at Colston Foyer over four dates in November and December 2018

Made in Bristol was established at a time of major economic downturn, and while it was a tough time for retailers of all sizes, Bryony was able to take advantage of opportunities to run pop-up shops in newly-built units in Quaker’s Friars that would not otherwise have been available. “There was huge desire for Cabot Circus as a retailer to make sure all the empty spaces within their larger offering were animated,” Bryony says. “We were able to access a level of footfall that is not normally accessible in places that artists usually run shops, and it was affordable. Pop-up is great when it works like that: it’s a win-win.”

With the relaxing of Bristol’s ancient market charter, Bryony helped to set up the Harbourside Market, and turned the Tobacco Factory market into a weekly rather than monthly occasion, and soon there were even more outlets for the artists she was working with. Add to that the rise of the internet and selling on sites like Etsy in the last decade, and the handmade revolution has really taken off.

“If you fast-forward ten years, there is so much going on – so much independent market activity, whether that’s in Broadmead or whether that’s Etsy events and people from outside Bristol coming into the city to set up events during the year to celebrate our creativity,” Bryony says. “I think that’s an amazing sign of how much the demand for handmade products has grown.

“The creativity has always been here, it’s just how we choose to celebrate it and showcase it as a city, and that appetite from the public and change in shopping habits has had this amazing affect. Starting with the arts trail season in the autumn and going right through to Christmas Eve, you will very easily be able to access handmade art, sometimes sold directly by the artist.

“We can shop in a way that supports our local economy and supports real people that we can see and not shareholders. There’s nothing like getting a buzz from buying something, and there are loads of really ethical ways of shopping. If what you’re buying supports your local community then you’re sort of supporting yourself.”

Bryony Morgan is the founder of Made in Bristol

This year, Made in Bristol have put together an online gift guide of ceramics, textiles, jewellery and homeware from a selection of artists taking part in this year’s Gift Fair, in the hope of making the process of choosing a special, handmade and inspirational Christmas gift easier. “We wanted to make a visual guide where it’s all together,” Bryony says. “The online marketplaces now are so large, you almost have to know what you want to be able to find it. But if you give something unique and handmade and has a story, you’re sort of telling someone that they are unique and special.”

Bristol’s shopping landscape has changed hugely in the space of a decade, but for consumers wanting to buy independently it’s better than ever. As Bryony puts it: “The world is made brighter by having art in it.”

The Made in Bristol Gift Fair takes place at Colston Hall Foyer on November 24-25 and December 1 & 8. Find out more at www.madeinbristolshop.co.uk and shop for handmade Christmas gifts using the Made in Bristol online gift guide.

Main image by Jo Hounsome