Brighton trio provide an online space for makers

This article was published in the Brighton & Hove Independent on Monday 14th January 2019. You can read the original article here.

Kraft Space aims to do things a bit differently and offers creatives a new online market place to showcase items. Buying handmade and unique pieces has just got a little bit easier thanks to website Kraft Space.

Brighton trio Shaloam Hodge, Rachel Turton and Jasmine Newland set up the online market place in November, offering creatives a place to sell their wares.

“We are all quite creative and wanted to offer something different for people alongside Not On The High Street and Etsy,” explained Shaloam.

“We became frustrated with the huge global mass-produced markets online who rarely contribute ethically to the world’s environmental issues.

Photo credit: Ink + Ocean

“We found that on Etsy anyone can go on there and sell.

“It doesn’t matter if you make things by hand or mass produce it on a machine, also it doesn’t look at the business’s ethics so we felt there was a gap in the market for something different.”

One of the aims of the website is to showcase traditional skills that are dying out, skills such as those that work with leather or blacksmiths.

“We wanted to go back to the roots of traditional skills, natural materials and ethically handmade products.

“If you use a sewing machine that is fine but what we don’t want is items that are mass produced by a machine,” she added.

“We also look at the materials used and prefer natural materials over plastics.

“We also prefer if the products use ethical ingredients.”

At the moment the website has about 60 vendors but after appearing on TV they received more than 1,000 applications. This means they can cherry pick who they want to feature, and they think they will be able to add another 20-30 vendors in the coming months.

Currently listed are a patchwork chair by Mad Chair Co, illustrations by Kate Moby, accessories by Abi’s Attic Boutique or new mum letterbox gift sets from Letterbox Luxuries.

Photo credit: Glenouther Crafts

They are keen for anyone who does something a bit different and unique to get in touch about featuring on the website.

“The more weird and more wonderful the better really,” she said. Rachel and Shaloam have known each other for 15 years having worked in graphic design together, while Shaloam and Jasmine are sisters.

“We have used our skills as graphic designers, makers and artists together to create a curated UK online craft market – designed by makers, for makers,” she said.

Shaloam makes natural skincare products, Rachel makes soy candles and Jasmine is a musician so their creative spectrum is far reaching, ideal for when they are picking what goes on the site.

“I had done Etsy markets in the past so had seen all the amazing and different people out there and wanted to showcase what they do,” said Shaloam.

Although the business is based in Brighton they feature creatives from all over the UK, including Stella and Wolf from Buckingshire, Mogwaii Design from the Isle of Lismore, Scotland and Ooh So Darling in Suffolk.

Shaloam revealed: “We do feature a lot of people from Brighton. “I feel the city is the home of creativity and being from here we see so many makers that we want to showcase, but we have people from all the UK which is exciting.”

To see the vendors and see how you can apply to be on the website, visit www.kraftspace.co.uk or ‘like’ on Facebook www.facebook.com/pg/kraftspaceuk or follow on Instagram @kraftspaceuk