Fabric of the North is delighted to announce the inaugural North is Now pop-up shop, curated by our founder Kate Baxter, and hosted by TYRO (studios) in Shipley, West Yorkshire.
With hand-picked brands from across Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Cumbria, Merseyside, Cheshire and Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the product selection spans a diverse range of sectors from fashion, skincare and jewellery to homeware, stationery and publishing, highlighting the incredible wealth of creative talent operating in the North of England today.
As a collaborative venture between Fabric of the North and TYRO (studios), North is Now will ultimately become a new community for contemporary Northern brands to connect and gain access to small business support, advice and mentorship, with the disparity between opportunities for small creative brands based in the South versus the North lying at the heart of the venture’s formation. For the inaugural event though, we wanted to provide the small independent Northern businesses we loved the opportunity to showcase their goods in a unique retail setting, bringing a curated edit of mindful and aesthetic and sustainable products to a brand new audience. The TYRO (studios) event space in Shipley felt like the perfect venue to host, with their calm and airy studio space that hosts a range of creative, beginner-friendly, workshops throughout the year, including pottery, watercolour painting, life drawing, macramé, candle making and more.
Kate’s Editor’s Letter from the accompanying North is Now magazine, which is available in-store as a complementary gift with any purchase, is below:
“When I relocated from London to Manchester in early 2017, I was struck by just how much creative talent – and beautiful spaces – there were in the North, that I had previously been blind to. Growing up in London I had become accustomed to the relentless pace of consumerism on a global scale, and bought into the misplaced belief that the capital was the beating heart of the country – and the only place to be.
As my personal lifestyle blog, Fabric of my Life, evolved during my time spent in the North, a new editorial website became a natural progression. In 2020 I launched Fabric of the North, designed to celebrate and champion mindful, aesthetic and sustainable businesses in the North and share their incredible stories. The North is Now pop-up, hosted by TYRO (studios), is the next wonderful step in its evolution.
Now, more than ever, I believe it is crucial to be looking close to home for brands and products that champion contemporary, ethical and sustainable ways of living. While it’s easy to believe that brands like this exist only in the South – where small business support, an affluent customer base and a robust PR machine seem readily accessible – I’m here to tell you that’s simply not the case. There is an abundance of contemporary design and exquisite craftsmanship right here in the North that deserve not just our attention and admiration, but our amplification too. We’ve curated a wonderful selection across multiple disciplines in the inaugural North is Now pop-up to prove it!”
⊗ North is Now pop-up, 29 April – 8 May 2023. TYRO (studios), 42 Westgate, Shipley BD18 3QX. Open daily, 10am – 5pm. View map.
⊕ Planning to make a day trip to Shipley for the pop-up? Discover more wonderful local things to see and do in the Northern Neighbourhood Guide to Shipley & Saltaire.
→ NorthIsNow.com / @NorthIsNow
All photography © Kate Baxter / North is Now
♥ Did you enjoy this post? You can buy me a coffee to help support the site’s running costs. Alternatively, why not share this post with your friends or follow along on Instagram.
Kate is the founder and editor of Fabric of the North, borne out of her passion for supporting mindful, aesthetic and sustainable small businesses. Based in the North West, by day she helps thoughtful small brands and solo business owners achieve meaningful growth through 1-2-1 guidance, intentional strategy and considered content creation. She is also a veteran blogger, having launched her award-winning interior lifestyle blog Fabric of my Life back in 2009.