LOINNIR JEWELLERY
This is the first stall that caught my eye, and I fell in love immediately. Cara, the designer behind these pieces, was so nice and helpful. All her collections are inspired by pieces of Irish landscape or history. With every piece comes a little information card about the inspiration, which is adorable. Her pieces come in silver and gold, and are all quite minimalist with a touch of originality. I had been looking for months to replace the Claddagh ring I always wear by something else from Ireland, and her Tumulus ring was the one. I loved how delicate and elegant everything was, and I'll be keeping an eye on her designs for sure!
DANU CERAMICS
Then at the very next stall, I discovered DANU Ceramics. I had seen her work in the advertisement for the fair, and I knew I was gonna love it. She makes all kinds of ceramic pieces, from ring dishes, to bowls to jewellery. Her trademark definitely seems to be the touch of golden elements inspired by nature. I love the simple but unique designs. The pieces are modern and classic at the same time, and I can see them going well with so many styles of home decor!
PALM FREE IRISH SOAP
I actually discovered Palm Free Irish Soap at the Gifted fair last year. I had a lovely chat with them and the man at the stall kept insisting I try their shampoo bar, even though I kept saying I wasn't sure about it. Well, I can now officially say I was wrong! I have their Thyme Shampoo Bar, and it's been great for my hair! I am currently alternating and testing a few different products, but I was really impressed by this one. What I like about this brand is that their ethos are great, no palm oil and as packaging free as possible, but they are also so accessible. I've seen them stocked in different health stores around Dublin and their prices are quite cheap. I have tried some of their regular soaps, and I have to admit I haven't been a fan of the scents. I'm not a huge fan of essential oils and most of their soaps have that smell. I mention this because they recently came out with a Honeysuckle scent and My oh my, I'm in love! As soon as I get through my current backlog of soaps, I'm buying this one!
SOILSE CANDLE COMPANY
I had been meaning to try soy wax candles for a while, and this is the company that finally got me to cave in. Most of Soilse's scents are inspired by Ireland. As I was sniffing through her range (I guess there isn't a prettier way of saying it?), I was very happy to see a wide variety of fragrances. Some are very strong and heavy, and some are a lot more delicate for the sensitive people like me. My two favourite scents were from her Apothecary collection, one is called Turf and the other is Rain. The lady there told me that they've been trying to reduce their packaging so this collection doesn't come in boxes, and comes in glass jars. The lids are still plastic though, so if you're looking for a plastic free solution you could go for her travel candles, which are in tins!
FAB COW BY FRANCIS LEAVEY
Okay while this isn't a sustainable item per se, I will always be in favour of supporting and investing in art. I think prints are a great addition to a home and can last for years and years as well. With that in mind, I absolutely fell in love with Fab Cow's collection of one line minimalist drawings. I always say I don't want a second tattoo, but I ever were to get one, it would probably in that style. I love how his designs can transmit powerful emotions through something so minimal as a line. My favourite one was a piece called Embrace, which I didn't buy because I'm putting it on my Christmas Wishlist.
THE ETHICAL SILK COMPANY
Then I just had to stop at the Ethical Silk Company's stall. I purchased a silk pillowcase from her at the fair last year and never looked back. I talked about it in my bedroom makeover, but if you don't like the traditional texture of silk, this is for you. Her products are soft without having the classic "slippy" feel that silk usually has. I've been able to machine wash my pillowcase without affecting the quality of it too. On top of the pillowcases she does wonderful robes and pyjamas, and I can't recommend her products enough! If you're curious about her process she often shows behind the scenes on Instagram!
COPPER FISH STUDIO
Just look at these lamps! If I were a bit more certain about where like will take me in the next few months, I'd be buying something. Each lamp is made from reclaimed wood found around his area in Wicklow. Each piece also comes with a little description explaining where the wood was sourced which is brilliant. On top of this, the bulbs he uses are LED and can last around 30 years! For such beautiful pieces I also think the prices are very reasonable, so I'm certainly keeping this website in mind next time I want to update my apartment.
STÓR
I had seen STÓR last year at the fair too, I even bought some bamboo toothbrushes from them! That being said I never really looked back because most of their products are for men. Well I saw them at the fair this year and saw they had T-Shirts. I decided to give it a go and buy the black T-shirt I'd been looking for. I got the size S (for men) and it fits me just right. It's more fitted around the bust and looser around the waist which is the fit that I generally like. The shirt is made of a mix of Bamboo and organic cotton, and it's so soft! So if you're a man, or you're looking for a gift for a man, they might be a great idea to look into!
INNER ISLAND
This is the second jewellery stand that made me sway from my carefully planned budget. Her displays were so pretty I couldn't help myself! Her collections are quite varied in styles and include statement pieces as well as tiny minimalist items. Because of this I can see a lot of people finding something for their taste. I ended up buying the gold ring in the photo, which was inspired by boat building! It's definitely more of a statement piece compared to what I usually go for but I love it already. Again I will certainly be keeping an eye on their website from time to time.
JILL AND GILL
This was the first I heard of this brand. Jill and Gill was founded by two artists and designers, and started purely as a print and design business. However they've now launched an apparel collection with their vibrant designs! I love how different, edgy and badass their designs are. Currently they sell t-shirts, sweatshirts and tote bags, made from organic cotton. If you're looking into adding a bit of punch and colours to your wardrobe, this would be a great place to start.
THE BURREN PERFUMERY
What initially drew me in to this stall was the design and the colours from their packaging. Me and my sensitive nose usually stay far away from perfumeries, but I just had to check it out. The Burren perfumery is a family business located in the Burren (!) County Clare. Not only do they do fragrances, but their line of skincare product is pretty comprehensive. The fragrances were light and not overpowering which I definitely appreciate. Their calendula and rose cream cleanser is now on my radar for what to try next. Their ingredients are clean, the products seem amazing, what's not to like?
ARAUCARIA CERAMICS
There are usually so many ceramics stands at crafts shows that it's very hard to stand out from the crowd. However, Araucaria's designs are more rugged than the usual ceramics. The colours are what initially drew me in, as it looks almost more like concrete. I thought it was so interesting that they do so many things. Their collection includes the usual ring dishes and vases, but also reusable coffee mugs, drip coffee makers, planters, etc. I instantly wanted to buy so many things! I finally settled on a small candle I will eventually be able to use as a ring dish. Their online shop seems to be in construction, but I say they're certainly worth a look.
FRESH CUTS CLOTHING
I've spoken about Fresh Cuts Clothing in my Sustainable Dublin guide, but I really wanted to mention them again. I often feel like the ethical and sustainable world is mostly online, and Fresh Cuts happen to have an actual physical store. They produce their own streetwear designs in Dublin and also stock clothes from other sustainable fashion brands. They stock mostly good quality basics and then more streetwear styles pieces. They have pretty cool bamboo sunglasses, bags and shoes as well. Their own designs are usually limited edition though, so if you see something you like you might want to grab it while you can!
DALKEY HANDMADE SOAPS
I've been following Dalkey Handmade Soaps for a while on Instagram but had never managed to see them in person. They do all kinds of bar soaps, shaving soaps, shampoo bars etc. They have so many options something will definitely appeal to anyone. One thing I though was so clever and different was their use of rope in their shampoo bars! Bar soap can get slippery and it's so easy to drop it. Their shampoo bars (as you can see in the photo) are big cubes in which there is also a rope lenyard which will help you hold on to it better. Now that I've been able to see and smell everything, I know which ones are on my purchase list.
