I first saw the FAO Shop pop-up at Design Junction back in September where it had an excellent spot near the entrance and opposite the Artek bar. And, as you can see from the pictures below (top left and bottom right are of their stand at the show) they also had some pretty slick presentation skills, in the form of artist and set designer Andy MacGregor. FAO Shop is a real passion project, and a true indie: run by two friends who source and edit all the products on the site, they run a quarterly online magazine which tells the stories behind the artists/designers, and they organise pop-ups to ensure the brand has a physical presence and isn't solely online. They're doing all the work, so you don't have to.
Who are you? Gemma Fabbri, Creative Director of FAO
Describe your store in five words: Curated, Contemporary, Fashion, Art, Objects
What makes you different? Our collection is a carefully curated selection of the best in independent design from across the globe. We are passionate about design and promote the talent we represent. Our quarterly online lifestyle magazine features interviews with selected designers and art directed photo shoots. We also do regular pop-up shops and designer launches.
How do you decide what makes the cut? We look for beautiful innovative pieces by independent designers that fit the FAO style.
What were you doing before you did this? I was busy running Scene my design studio. We design furniture, interiors and curate design shows.
If you were starting again what advice would you give yourself? Don't be so hard on yourself and trust your instinct.
What are you most proud of? I'm really proud of our achievements at FAO. The team are really passionate about the brand and work so hard. All the incredibly talented designers on board have been really supportive of us too and have helped create an amazing collection to be proud of.
Do you have a favourite thing in the store right now? Of course I love it all but what particularly stands out for me right now is the graphic collection of products from CUSTHOM. I also love the Brogue Table by Bethan Gray.
What's hot for 2013? Bright, bold and colourful pieces are hot. I love the geometric scarves by Clare Gaudion and colourful works of art by Emma Lawrenson.
Every Wednesday 'Indie of the week' celebrates the best independent stores around. These places sell interesting and varied collections of design-related things you don't see everywhere else. They may support young or local designers or be great at finding unique things from around the world. By thinking a little more creatively about what they stock they are fighting the bland homogenisation of so much of the high street. And since I'm down with the realities of modern life, online only stores count too, because a beautiful and easy to use website is just as delightful an encounter in cyberspace.
Every Wednesday 'Indie of the week' celebrates the best independent stores around. These places sell interesting and varied collections of design-related things you don't see everywhere else. They may support young or local designers or be great at finding unique things from around the world. By thinking a little more creatively about what they stock they are fighting the bland homogenisation of so much of the high street. And since I'm down with the realities of modern life, online only stores count too, because a beautiful and easy to use website is just as delightful an encounter in cyberspace.
Do you you have a favourite store? I'd love to hear from you.
Former London interiors stylist Rosie Brown has been championing the work of Scottish designers and makers for the past eight years. She set up Papa Stour - an online showcase for local craftsmen - after moving back to Scotland to sort out her work/life balance. It's the kind of company the internet was made for, giving these products an audience way beyond national borders. Brown has also refurbished, and rents, a holiday cottage called Callakille so you can live out your Highland fantasy, if only for a week.
Describe your store in five words: finest contemporary scottish craft & design
What makes you different?PapaStour is a curated collection of work by designer/ makers based in Scotland. We like people to think about how they source homeware and gifts and we offer beautiful handcrafted work at affordable prices.
How do you decide what makes the cut? Our artists are often Art School graduates based in their own studios all around Scotland, they produce fresh designs and a quality product which we feel shows off the finest of Scottish design. Our Collections show pieces which we believe would look fabulous in any home.
What were you doing before you did this? I graduated from Duncan of Jordanstone Art School (Printed Textiles) and Glasgow School of Art (MA). I was then a freelance stylist based in London working with interiors editors at magazine such as Elle Deco and Living etc. I loved London, but returned home to Scotland to get the right work/life balance.
If you were starting again what advice would you give yourself? Planning is all important, make a date to regularly review how you are doing. It's too easy to focus on what you are doing and not how you are doing it - take a step back and you'll get lots new ideas.
What are you most proud of? I set up PapaStour in 2005, and it has continued to grow from 20 artists (many of whom are still with us) to over 60. We are proud to support them and delighted when we can get them national and international press coverage and awareness. We're also proud to get mentions such as The Sunday Times Style section saying we are one of the online retailers: "revolutionising the way we kit out our homes".
Do you have a favourite thing in the store right now? Ooh... a luxurious handmade suede Kindle case which is handcrafted using local leather and lined with charcoal coloured felt. It's fun because it's embroidered with a graphic embroidery motifs in sign language to spell out the word B -O - O - K.
What's hot for 2013? We love the fresh colour in Yoke's bright prints such as Hello Sunshine, the ethereal quality of Elin's hand blown glass work and Sharon's beautiful wooden Key Hooks which are sculpted using the shape of the wood so each is unique and unusual.
Every Wednesday 'Indie of the week' celebrates the best independent stores around. These places sell interesting and varied collections of design-related things you don't see everywhere else. They may support young or local designers or be great at finding unique things from around the world. By thinking a little more creatively about what they stock they are fighting the bland homogenisation of so much of the high street. And since I'm down with the realities of modern life, online only stores count too, because a beautiful and easy to use website is just as delightful an encounter in cyberspace.
Do you you have a favourite store? I'd love to hear from you.
The Hambledon has been described as Winchester's answer to Liberty and it's easy to see why. This urban outpost is a haven of highly covetable homeware, beauty products and fashion which have been hand-picked to fit a certain aesthetic and customer. It's the kind of place where people don't just like it, they love it.
Who are you? Victoria Suffield, owner of The Hambledon.
Where can we find you? 10 The Square, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9ES and online www.thehambledon.com
Describe your store in five words: Friendly, varied, inventive, funny and serious.
What makes you different? We're sort of ploughing our own furrow. We're a bit like a department store but we just sell what we like. We're obsessive about the look of shop. And we're very enthusiastic.
How you decide what makes the cut? We have to really love something. And we like to have an imaginary mood board for the season when we start buying. We then try to shoe horn things to fit our mental image. Spring is all about soft colour with flashes of neon.
What were you doing before you did this? My mum has always had a shop (The Hambledon Gallery, Dorset) so I was brought up with retail. I've worked as an art dealer, for a film company and had a mail order business but there is nothing better than good old fashioned shop keeping.
If you were starting again what advice would you give yourself? Try not to fret, don't procrastinate and buy the bloody building.
What are you most proud of? Most of the time I'm pretty proud of the shop as a whole and I work with the most lovely, lovely group of people. It's not really for me to be proud of them but I am! And we're still here, 13 years later.
Do you have a favourite thing in the store right now? Womenswear for Spring is just being delivered and it's very, very pretty. We're all looking at quite hefty personal orders!
What's hot for 2013? I'm loving new paper cups and plates from France- geometric designs and subtle colours. Roll on the grown-up party.
Every Wednesday 'Indie of the week' celebrates the best independent stores around. These places sell interesting and varied collections of design-related things you don't see everywhere else. They may support young or local designers or be great at finding unique things from around the world. By thinking a little more creatively about what they stock they are fighting the bland homogenisation of so much of the high street. And since I'm down with the realities of modern life, online only stores count too, because a beautiful and easy to use website is just as delightful an encounter in cyberspace.
Do you you have a favourite store? I'd love to hear from you.
I stumbled across Solid ID at Design Junction last September when my eye was caught by the fabulous anchor light shown above. It just seemed a really fun and playful way to show what you can create through the re-use of materials and the re-imagining of what things could be. Perhaps I should have guessed there was a Dutchman behind it (I'm married to one) as they are known for their ebullient approach to design/life. Eelke Jan Bles is from The Netherlands, but now lives in Spitalfields, and Solid ID is his quirky shop on London's Fulham Road.
Who are you? Eelke Jan Bles of Solid ID.
How can we find you? 273 Fulham Road, London, SW10 9PZ, online Solid ID, or on Pinterest.
Describe your store in five words: Off-beat goods for the home.
What makes you different? We source and curate our collection of individually designed items with care and a quirky eye.
How you decide what makes the cut? The main proposition is: we only sell what we like and or would have in our own homes. As long as items sit well together, being old or new does not matter, they just need to talk the same language.
What were you doing before you did this? I started my professional career as an interiors and food photographer. I own bespoke floor company Solid Floor and I also work as an interior designer and am very passionate about contemporary art. Solid ID is a natural progression of what I have done previously.
If you were starting again what advice would you give yourself? To have more patience and to be bolder.
What are you most proud of? The bestselling items in the store have been those we have individually designed or re-worked ourselves: the flower cage lamp, the hand painted storage jars and the resin topped butcher tables. It’s really gratifying to see that these pieces have had such a resonance with our customers.
Do you have a favourite thing in the store right now? Vintage butcher tables with cool resin tops.
What's hot for 2013? Vintage re-invented with a bit of colour. Heritage pieces paint dipped and re-worked to suit a modern interior.
