Fabrication is a Social Enterprise set up in 2008 to help micro crafts businesses with retail and workspace by designer & costume maker Dawn Wood and specialist leather and metalwork craftsman Andrew Clark
Initially operating from an 18th century building in the heart of Leeds city centre, with jewellery, leatherwork, metalwork, clothing and textile work stations available to hire on an adhoc basis.
We graduated in 2011 into a retail environment. Firstly as a pop up shop on Kirkgate before moving to the Merrion centre for a year in January 2012. In October 2012 we moved into a 3,000 sqft shop in The Light Leeds.
In November 2018 we took a popup on Coney Street in York and in January 2019 we took a 10 Year lease on a shop on Albion Street in Leeds City Centre.
We Survived Covid and in May 2022 we took over the old River Island in Coney Street York as a pop up, and establishing workspace in there too
In October 2023 we moved to Briggate in Leeds and in November 2024 to Stonegate in York and took on further buildings as workspaces
We have supported over 600 micro businesses since opening in 2008 with 17 of our makers going on to open their own shops and earning over £2500,000 for them
Awards and Nominations
Nominated as Best Business Start Up in the 2009 UnLtd enterprise awards,
Finalist The Yorkshire Evening post community awards 2010, best community business,
The Radio Aire Style Awards 2012 in the jewellery & independent categories,
Finalist Leeds Love Affair Independent Leeds Awards Best Indie Shop in Leeds in 2014 and 2016
Shortlisted in the Yorkshire Choice 2016 Awards
Nominated in several categories in the What’s on For Me Awards,
Voted best Independent in Yorkshire in the Great Exhibition Awards 2012.
Voted Best Micro-Crafts Social Enterprise 2018 in the SME Magazine Yorkshire & the Humber Enterprise Awards,
Finalist Drapers Independent Retail Awards 2019
Voted Best Creative Business Incubator 2019 in the SME Magazine Northern Enterprise Awards.
Unlike other rent a shelf shops that have cropped up over the last few years our remit is to remove social isolation by those working in micro crafts businesses, and to prevent having to have additional staff costs so we can pay the rent and rates to take on larger premises. We ask our sellers to work in the shop, in the way you would at a fair.
This also means you are able to take on bespoke work and meet customers in a safe environment, as well as network with other sellers, and it creates the type of environment you would normally get in a craft fair but on a much firmer footing.
As such the shop runs as a cooperative, with the input of all involved. Those makers are then be able to work with us to increase their business skills, network, run workshops and attend trade fairs as a collective, and it has become a community creative space.
Our current stockists have a wide range of items, from jam, to clothing, jewellery, art, ceramics, glass, furniture, homewares and body products, with us having a policy of no 2 sellers offering identical products to negate treading on each other’s toes. We aim to sell the best the city can provide with high quality locally made products.
We also offer workshops and as such you will be able to join our tutor team and run your own, as well as accessing studio space and a wide range of business classes to help you grow and a mentor service.
You will need to commit for 6 months, In return you will have an option of either an approximately 3ft, 2ft or 1ft shelf permanent space, being seen on a daily basis, inclusion in our pr and marketing and a chance to be part of a popular up and coming retail store with a proven track record and following. We also run an online shop at no extra cost beyond commission and payment fees.
We do occasionally have no hours contracts, for a higher fee, or at home admin work that can be done in lieu of shop hours.
Vendor Information
For info and media about the shop to date see
https://www.facebook.com/FabricationCrafts
Info@fabricationcrafts.co.uk, www.fabricationcrafts.co.uk
Ltd Company Number 07435604