Hastings Christmas Designer Maker Fair
Hosted and curated by James Thomas, this year we see the start of a carefully considered and accessible designer maker fair held in Hastings at the Observer building, bought together by local Retail & Hospitality champion James Thomas. James has worked within the retail & hospitality sector for over 25 years leading teams, creating marketing, product ranges and event campaigns. Having worked with global brands he now works locally in Sussex & Kent supporting local business and designer makers sharing his skills and ideas and responding to their needs.
This is the first of the Christmas Fairs planned over the next 5 years at the Observer building, chosen because of the positive energy the Observer team brings to its community and its cooperative nature.
There are 45 + designer makers taking part, including textiles, clothing, stationary, giftable items, ceramics, and Christmas related products. Hannah Adams, owner of Simply Garden will be bringing festive planting including alongside a range of Christmas Trees and door wreaths for you to pre order, the service also includes a collection service. Local creative, Imogen Andrews, from Radiator Arts will be this year’s Christmas Elf, with oversized characterful costume, giving away children’s books to children who attend kindly provided by The Book Festival. We are also excited that Artist Keira Rathbone will be creating LIVE Christmas cards for you to send to a loved one, who may live further away, using her unique skill of creating images of people live on a vintage typewriter. We also have two great organisations taking part, Elevate Creates, from Hawkhurst who offer a service for adults with learning disabilities who creative workshops and coach and train life skills, they will bringing a great range of products including T shirts, mugs, plant pots and prints. We have also opened the door to young makers to take part, a cooperative of young designer makers who are bringing their products, developed during their time at Bexhill college. I feel proud to have talented young people taking part using the latest technology to create products from re-usable items.
All this alongside mulled wine and cool Christmas decorations and music.
The Observer Building, 53 Cambridge Road, Hastings TN34 1DT