Best indie places in Cardiff to buy gifts for indie women
This is my second instalment of a guide to buying presents for the independent women in your life, where I’m basically arguing that you should do that by supporting independent businesses and artists. I started contemplating this for a number of reasons, the first being that as somebody who has always prided themselves on buying good gifts I've noticed that a lot of the pleasure of doing so has gone out of it as I get older. (View the first one here)
Some of that can be accounted for because there are more pressures on my time these days, but I think the true reason for the feeling is because you see the same things on repeat every year. It gets boring and kills the magic.
I don't know anybody who thinks it's appropriate to see Christmas gifts being advertised in October. Yet, the high street relentlessly tells us it's normal to live life from one occasion to the next. It's hard not to feel cynical about the pressure on consumerism because we now know the environmental and human cost of our consumption. Capitalism relies on spending, it’s not going to change anytime soon, so, until the revolution, the least we do is reclaim the joy of buying!
Cardiff is a relatively small city, nowhere near as diverse as many other British cities, nevertheless, the independent business scene here is healthy and progressive. There are makers here challenging the patriarchy, popular culture and disposable fashion, while also championing sustainability, fair wages and locally sourced materials.
Knowing this, why buy imported stuff? Why not use the act of present giving, as an opportunity to show your engagement with what the women in your life really care about? Your gift can be your tiny act of resistance or, even better, a show of alliance. Trust me, it's a lot more exciting shopping with either of these motivators in your mind!
Twin Made: O Dan, Nos Da, Despenser Street, Cardiff.
Although it's hard to pick, I constantly find myself coming back to Twin Made when considering my favourite independent shop in Cardiff.
Some of the reasons are superficial, like finding it novel that the headquarters is basement beneath a youth hostel, or being smitten by the many many rainbows to be found littering the walls, whether they are cross-stitched into loops or taped across windows. But the real reason is probably rooted in the fact that Charlotte, the woman behind the business, is the perfect antidote to the, frankly depressing, average female shopping experience where beauty and shallow tropes of femininity are lauded above all else.
Yes, she too celebrates sequins and the multiple shades of pink to be found on the colour wheel, but balances that with political statement cross stitches. Proving, once and for all, women can be both obsessed with pretty and frivolous things (like pom-pom capes) while simultaneously engaging with the ‘issues’ of their generation. I’m not even going to try to be subtle here, if anyone was thinking of what to buy me, THIS is undoubtedly what I want the most, to go to a Twin Made class!
Charlotte runs exceptionally popular workshops (book in advance to avoid disappointment) that empower you to take home the know-how of how to recreate your favourite Twin Made product. Examples are: dungaree, lamp shade cover, macrame plant hanger and band T-Shirt blanket-making sessions. During the workshop, you will complete a product, in a pre-bought fabric of your choice, and have been guided through the process of recreating that product multiple times independently. It's like a gift that keeps giving! You get a product and a skill set for the same price.
You only need to look at Twin Made’s Instagram feed to see the grins on the faces of her customers, many of whom are swathed in a chaos of colours and patterns that you wouldn't find on the High Street.
Can you imagine how surprised somebody would be, whether a quirky teenager or edgy adult, to unwrap fabric that you had hand-picked with them in mind, and learn they were going to be able to turn that into something uniquely ‘them’? You would be gift giver of the year!
Find out more about Twin Made, and shop online, here
To see the outcome of workshops go over to Instagram
Sidenote: Unsure on where to go for fabric? City Road has some excellent options, like Butterfly and Calico and you can always try Cardiff Indoor Market. Charlotte can tell you the sort of material you will need beforehand and the employees are all approachable and willing to explain the uses of different materials.
Sunflower and I: Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff Bay
This venue makes the list for my ideal place to be taken for a date. That's coming from a girl who lives in trainers! It usually takes a lot to make me want to go somewhere 'posh'. When I first ambled into Sunflower and I, with mum saying, "Louise brought me here for my birthday and I know you're going to love it" I knew immediately that she was not wrong.
The place is divine. It could be co-owned by the Mad Hatter and Claridge's. A clashing eccentricity and classiness somehow work harmoniously to create this wondrous hidey-hole. The staff are all Tigger-bounce and flamboyance; I was ordered to see the Endometriosis bathroom, where information about the disease is hand painted onto the door, had my attention drawn to the bouquets composed by the owners (you can order one in advance for your table) and was told the quiz is "fab-u-lous".
Having never been taken on a date to anywhere approaching this level of fancy, without myself having booked it, I feel it's my duty to remind you, that just because she's a feminist, a bit tight, or a fuss-pot, like yours truly, doesn't mean you can't decide to show her a little bit of magic. In fact, if she'd struggle to do it for herself, it's even more important for you to do it! (I think I'm the only one of my close friends who hasn't been taken up the bloody Shard for some sort of fancy pants shenanigans!)
You could go here for dinner (Polish cuisine), dessert or afternoon tea. But it stuck in my mind, as being a wonderful place to go for cocktails, they are all 'floral inspired'. The Nettle Spritzer is a concoction of dry Sauvignon Blanc wine, elderflower cordial, nettle infused gin garnished with gypsophila and balanced with fresh citrus. Bunch of Roses (with romance written all over it) is wild rose infused cherry vodka, built with chilled rose wine with a dash of lemon, topped off with rose petals and sliced strawberries. I bet the love potion J.K. Rowling imagined, that Ron drank and promptly began acting like a fool because of, looked like this in her mind’s eye!
Finally, why oh why don’t I like vodka and must I cringe at the mere mention of the luvvies favourite, Prosecco? If my taste in alcohol was different, or existent, the Lavender Lady would be right up my street: Bison Grass vodka stood with lemon balm, lavender shrub and green cactus tea, topped with dried lavender and that dreaded P.
For details about the menu, purchasing flowers and upcoming events, visit: https://www.sunflowerandi.co.uk/
Whim Wham: Romilly Crescent, Canton (right by The Printhaus, 2 birds, one stone!)
This little shop is an obvious choice if you're the kind of person who wants to peruse products in a clean, white, and nicely-spaced environment. Jan, the owner, has an eye for colour and quality. When I chatted to her about how happy I was to see she stocked a range of 'School of Life' pieces she just lit up, over our shared passion. The whole reason Whim Wham exists is so that Jan can showcase things she finds adorable without having to put them all in her own home.
Expect to find niche products from British companies. Herb Lester Associates, who print all of their products in England on 100% recycled paper, specialise in travel literature, tiny illustrated guides that offer to reveal the "usual and unusual" about a place.
Paper Thinks, with a moto of 'Think Colour. Think Green' has a beautiful range of coin purses stocked in Whim Wham. All their products are made from recycled leather, (the offcuts, trimmings and shavings from the wastage of other leather manufacturing processes like cow leather gloves and jackets) this reduces the wastage going to landfill. Their colour treatment doesn't involve chemicals that pollute the water table because they use a laminate technique.
There's a section dedicated to baby and children gifts and every single one seems to scream, "wholesome". You could definitely earn brownie points by selecting a small human a gift from here. Drop in and root through this trove of contemporary treasures.
A word of advice, go with the person's favourite colour in mind! So many products come in bold shades, you might as well know which one would steal their heart. Whim Wham regularly update their Facebook account with their latest products and you can find their website here.
Nelly's Treasures: The Printhaus, Canton (Near Whim Wham) and online.
Helen Smith is a screen printer who specialises in textile design. All her products are modelled on her own illustrations and are pretty much rainbows, glitter and confetti turned into cushions, prints and pins. Every product is an obvious result of a heart bursting with joy.
Nelly's Treasures Etsy shop displays many of the products in the arms of children. Something that initially made me laugh, as I have a fair few in my childless home, but, upon reflection, I can picture these products in nurseries and children's bedrooms. There's not a trace of cynicism to be found in any of Smith's creations, they just all hit a refreshingly celebratory tone.
To learn more about Nelly's Treasures, Helen's residence at The Printhaus and what she's working on now, click here.
To buy directly from the Etsy shop, click here.
Something else to consider, British 'Makers' have started using #justacard on social media posts, to reflect the significance even the smallest of purchases has on the success of freelance workers and independent businesses. With just a few pounds you can show your support in the livelihoods of talented people like Helen.
Sobeys, Royal Arcade
This place wins me over because of their staff. Hands down, the employees here, whoever they happen to be, serve excellent customer service 100% of the time. I've been offered advice on how to pair things, had favourite items pointed out and been told about where the clothing comes from. It's just the kind of place where you can relax as you browse, which is an atmosphere that's difficult to achieve in smaller boutiques.
If you're buying for anyone who likes vintage or upcycled clothing, Sobeys will be an easy one-stop shop for you. There's a collection of denim skirts that are cut-offs from jeans; gorgeous midriff-baring silk shirts (that used to be full length) and some hideous cardigan jumpers that look like sacks your gran made, but Georgia assures me are "excellent" (if you're into that!).
Plus their range of caps, hats and beanies are a safe bet if you're buying a winter gift; the snuggly woollens being my personal favourite because of their lovely autumnal colour blends.
For more info on Sobeys visit their Facebook page (which also promotes their Bristol and Exeter branches)
My candid roundup: I can't stress enough how much I think it's time that we use our money to support local businesses, independent artists and companies that share our values. Talk is too cheap, social media is too easy; invest in people and production practices that are kind to the earth and pay fair wages. Be honest with yourself, how many gifts have you been bought in the last five years that you remember? How many struck the right chord and made you feel really 'seen' by the giver? Be even more brutally honest, how many times have you opted for the obvious? Is there someone in your life who you know will give you the same product again and again irrespective of whether you've ever shown any interest in it? (Candles anyone?) DON'T BE THAT PERSON! Be a gift giver extraordinaire!
Don't forget to check out my previous post for 5 other top picks in Cardiff (and online). Tell me in the comments if there's somewhere, or someone, I need to know about. I'd also love to see snaps of anything you buy, or experience, after reading either of these blogs. You can tag me on Instagram as @candid.kelly or post below.
