Shop Local this Christmas

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20 Dec

Christmas Market Shopping in Porto, Portugal

Every year wrapped under the tree usually there are the typical brands like Lego and clothes for the kids from Zara, Mango, even H&M.

But as our worlds open up, and we can meet independent brands at holiday markets, supporting our local artisans feels more important than ever before.

I am an advocate for independent brands, meaning that I like to promote and support them as much as I can, through making videos like this one, and when possible buying from them directly.

How to support small brands

Supporting small brands during the holiday’s is simple. Find them and buy from them!

Christmas Markets are common and can be readily found. This year, I made a trip into Porto’s city centre to the Urban Market to stock up on gifts from Portugal’s finest makers.

When I go out on a venture like this, I am often pleasantly surprised by who I meet. This past year, we have been looking for a new home. In our search, we looked at one beautifully renovated apartment and I fell in love with this piece of art hanging on the wall in the bathroom. I snapped a photo of it and continued on. We didn’t end up buying that apartment.

But while I was walking to the Christmas market months after the apartment visit, I accidentally stumbled across the artist who made the piece. In fact I am due two pic two pieces I requested from him.

Why I buy from small brands

Connection

Connection with the creator feels as good as any shoppers' high, if not better.

Recently, while filming, I was asked by a brand owner “Why are you doing this?” I didn’t have an answer right away. In fact, it’s not until editing this video that I really started to understand the reason why I like to meet artisans, makers and independent brands. It’s because of the connection. Connection to the person behind the product, and a deeper level of connection to the item they have made. This is not a feeling I am left with after a shopping trip to the mall. In fact, mall shopping leaves me feeling fatigued, overworked and for some reason really thirsty.

Support

Supporting a small brand not only feels good, but it feels right. When you buy from a small business, or independent maker and creator, you are supporting the members of your community. After supporting a small business, I am left feeling so pleased to have found something special, unique and personable.

Sure I am helping them out by buying from them, but the truth is, they are helping me more by creating these unique gifts that I can give to my loved ones.

Personalisation

When buying from small brands, I have found that the creators are connecting with the gift receiver that I am describing, and they are looking at their product that they are so connected with, looking for the right item that aligns with who I am looking for. I was able to have gifts personalised and even made right there on the spot.

Experience

The experience of going to a market, meeting small business owners and seeing what creatives are up to is a far better, more soul filling experience than wandering a mall from shop to shop searching for something that is meant to be thoughtful, personable and memorable. Overall I find that at these markets there is something for everyone. And each vendor is unique.

There are those who started their brand because it coincides with their lifestyle choices.

Or they were looking for something to creative do during lockdown.

woman holding up macrame Christmas ornament — artist: @matahari.macrame

fuji film rolls turned into pull out drawings — artist: @setesloja

Or they are making beautiful, wearable and long lasting zero-waste accessories.

earrings made from acrylic — artist: @vraauu_studio

man showing a folded shirt inside of a box — Artist: @littlebadger

Or their unique and creative art is exactly the right style for the loved one you have in mind.

Or, they happened to be the person who brings these creatives together under one roof and opens up a market for people like us to find makers like them.