On Saturday, Mr D, Molly and I visited a new pop up shop in Brighton called Make Away. Make Away sells prints, jewellery and t-shirts but also gives customers a chance to get hands on and have a go at screen printing. There are 9 designs to pick from, all unique and contributed and designed by local artists. You can print your chosen design on to paper, tote bag, tea towel, t-shirt or apron (the t-shirts costing the most, but still very reasonable at £15). If they don't tickle your fancy you can always bring in an item of your own (costs £10).
Make Away is made up of 12 young volunteers aged between 16-25. They are all part of a skills development and volunteering program, powered by The Retail Trust and Retail Ready People. This new initiative offers budding retailers the chance to set up and run a high street shop in their local area. The shop is only running till the end of November so get there soon before it's gone! These prints make great Christmas presents and you can proudly say, "I made it!"
I went for a design by, I Lurk in Bushes. It's of an Edwardian bear in a harlequin costume and top hat. I've been a bit obsessed with harlequin print lately, so this design was right down my street. I got a bit excited by all the colours and took a while to choose, but after much ado, I settled on pink and blue for my print.
The process is quite easy to do. First you lay your screen with your chosen design on a t-shirt and then apply your chosen inks at the top of your design. Using a squidgee you run the ink down the screen. Repeating the process if more coverage is required. The t-shirt is then dried and then ironed to set the print and .... Viola! Your t-shirt is ready to go!
Mr D and even little Molly had a go as well and this is what they chose to do below. Love the colours on Mr D's t-shirt and the cat design is just puurrfect for Molly :)
I think this is a fantastic pop-up shop, which gives people a real connection to the clothes and accessories that they wear. It's great to see that there are organizations out there that are trying do something about all the wasted, empty spaces that seem to be cropping up on our high streets, and that there are people out there, like those at Make-Away, who can bring something different to our shopping experience.
Make-Away itself is an innovative, fun and easy-on-the-pocket way to get some great looking clothes and accessories and I hope that it pops up again once it's stint on Brighton Square is done. If I were you, I'd get down there quick!
Ta ta,
AKA Hooting Miss Owl
