botanique workshop
So, tell us a bit about Botanique Workshop. What's it all about?
It is a shop and workshop based at Exmouth Market in London's design district Clerkenwell. The shop was born from Alice's passion for making and curating a locally sourced collection of hand-crafted lifestyle products. If you visit our Exmouth Market shop you will most likely be greeted by our shop dog Goose out on the pavement. Our own brand products are made during the working day, on the shop counter or in our workshop space. There is a constant hum of the sewing machine as our staff share their skills on the shop floor.
Our meticulously curated collection is sourced from like-minded, independent British designers and makers, who are based almost exclusively in London. We are proud to have nurtured close relationships with our suppliers and the local community to promote small businesses and traditional craft techniques. Our collection comprises accessories, jewellery, home-wares and cards making In With The Old a destination gift shop.
Give us a taster of some of the things you sell. Any favourites?
Our main focus has become jewellery and products made from Liberty Print fabric. We try not to follow trends too readily, just sticking with classic items that will be treasured in years to come. Particular favourites of mine are the wire hair turbans we’ve made. They come in a selection of gorgeous Liberty Print fabrics - they’re so easy to wear and are great for making hair that's scruffy and wild like mine still wild yet presentable! I also stock a beautiful range of children’s clothes by What Mother Made – all hand made in Hackney. They're gorgeous, I just wish they came in bigger sizes!
Tell us about your workshops
When I first opened my shop three years ago, one evening a week I'd invite people to come and make something with me and learn a new craft. I met so many like-minded local people this way and gained a bit of extra income. I was even approached to host workshops for Hen Parties, which I now do most weekends. Moving the shop down to Exmouth Market meant the shop had a basement, which I could dedicate to workshops. We teach a wide range of courses – screen printing is the most popular – and we also run beginners sewing courses. I'm also learning to use my letterpress so I hope to schedule a class for that soon. The atmosphere is always friendly and relaxed and we always have a glass of wine or two during our classes – it's meant to be fun after all!
What's important to you?
I pride myself in selling a unique range of London made products and supporting like-minded local craftspeople in their work. It is so satisfying to see how much enjoyment customers get from seeing us making the products they are buying. We're also proud to say that everything we sell is made in or near to London. Our shop is in the heart of Clerkenwell, London’s design district, so we really are spoilt for choice when it comes to sourcing the work of new designers.
What's on your bedside table?
I always have fresh flowers or dried foliage I have scavenged from the park on walks with Goose – flowers make me happy! I have an ever-growing stack of designer makers business cards, which I hoard from local craft markets. I have a mound of whatever I've emptied from my pockets that day; Goose's dog treats and components of things I have been making (beads, fabric remnants, price labels , string, paper…).