Back once again for the Renegade Craft Fair
It was for the second year that the Renegade Craft Fair visited London’s Truman Brewery, the Chicago based movement have been running large scale indie craft fairs across America since 2003.
There were 87 makers showing their work in the vast bright space of East London’s Truman Brewery, it was exciting to enter the fair with the buzzing atmosphire and music in the air. A few of Brighton’s own were showcasing their work alongside local Londoners and makers from further a field – as far as Canada.
There was a super high caliber of work, most of which I was impressed by and some which really raised the bar with its wit, exicution, display and thought. Here are a few of my favorites…
The bright and vibrent print work of “Hello DODO” was one of the first stalls that I looked at, they are from sunny Brighton and it shows in their work! The prints really stood out and all of the work has a vivid and fun feel. The display was super eye catching and Jam and Ali were on hand looking very friendly and being very helpful. I love the “Party Animal” badges and the “Il Pleut” bag is soooo cute, you can see the whole range in their Etsy shop.
I have had my eye on the gorgeous leather work by Jules and Joshua aka “Love Jules” on Etsy for a good few months now. Their work combines traditional craftmanship and artestry to produce highly desirable footwear, bags and an amazing camera strap. Illustrations such as pistols and anchors are laser etched into the leather giving the work a uniqueness and originality and make for fab gifts for men and they ship globally from their Etsy shop.
For me another highlight of the fair was to see the friendly faces of the Brighton duo Karli Dendy and Jacques Keogh who make up Designosaur, these bright young things are going to go far. Their laser cut jewellery is ever evolving and going from strength to strength, always with a fresh and fun vibe running through the work. They had a new bang gun necklace on display which is super cool, intricate and well made and designed and guess what……. they too have an Etsy shop.
I guess that I was drawn, as ever, to the jewellery as there were two other artists work that has really stuck in my mind, one being “I am Acrylic” and the other “Datter Industries”.
“I love Acrylic” is a London company who’s workshop was close by the Truman, again another duo of makers Ruth Williams and Brendan Fan. They produce acrylic jewellery which is athletically balanced, there is simple poetry to the pieces but most impressive of all is the fact that all of the pieces are completely made by their fair hands, no laser cutter in sight here! Out of all of the work that I saw these guys really struck a chord with me, I had pangs of laser cutting guilt and “I must work harder” was running through my mind. Even their display was almost to cute and well done for me to bare! Their prices and the website are pretty sweet too.
And then there was Datter Industries, working in silver and brass Kaye Blegvad makes jewellery that it both dark and elegant, right up my street. Way more subtle than my own work, Kayes pieces look and feel handmade, they are not perfectly polished, smooth and immaculate but are more illustrative and tactile. I always kick myself when I cant help buying another makes work, damn!! I bought a tiny arrow on fine red cord which i absolutely love, you can visit the Etsy shop if you dare to!
As I mentioned there were just under 100 makers at the fair and it was pretty overwhelming. I’ve just highlighted a few that really captured my attention, all of the makers are listed on the Renegade Craft Fair website with links to all of the artists online presence, if you’ve got some time to spare they are well worth a browse….
17/09/2012
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