Modern Crafter Award
We believe that the future is handmade. That, in an increasingly automated world, the crafts of years gone by will hold more value than ever. We champion the makers, the ones who painstakingly persevere to create their wares using traditional methods and techniques – forgoing the modern solutions to speed and quantity challenges, focusing on the conservation of a craft with intention.
With the resurgence of crafters during the 2020 lockdowns, this category was hugely important at this moment in time.
Grain and Knot
Beginning as a way to get away from her screen, Sophie is passionate about preserving a traditional craft with a modern edge. Championing community over competition, she has big ambitions to share her work and techniques with more people through workshops, pop up spaces and a book.
Basil & Ford
Discovering a love of screen printing whilst sourcing their own wedding invites, Matt and Lucy honed their craft in a cold, damp garage for four years. Now operating from a fully functional studio, the self taught duo continue to learn and develop their practice, always striving to be the best they can be.
The Judges
Sarah Sevier
Head of Retail, V&A
Sarah is responsible for the creative direction of all product sourcing and development at the world renowned V&A.
Jay Blades
Presenter, Founder of Jay & Co
Jay is a modern furniture restorer who’s passionate about sustainability. Famed for ‘The Repair Shop’ he is a passionate champion for the preservation of traditional craft.
Finalists & Nominees
Below you will find all of the businesses nominated for the Modern Crafter Award including the finalists. Huge congratulations to all nominees for this fantastic achievement.
Darwin & Gray
Darwin & Gray aims to inspire, motivate and raise a smile or two through their handmade banners and thoughtfully designed typographical homewares.
La Basketry
Weaving the world into a better place with baskets, woven accessories and DIY kits, La Basketry brings vibrancy and colour to your home.
Studio Emma
Homeware designs that celebrate colour, texture and the imperfect. Every piece is hand cast meaning the unpredictable material process results in each piece being entirely unique.
Alice Funge Ceramics
Alice creates a range of hand-thrown, functional ceramic kitchenware, decorated with coloured slips and beautiful snippets of her late grandmother’s handwriting.
Bamaluz Home
Elle creates woven wallhangings inspired by plants, the sea and a love for pets. The pet portraits are needle felted wool replicas of customers’ own pets.
Broken Hare
Sculpting techniques have been used for centuries but Broken Hare brings their craft up to the modern-day by using skills they used whilst working in the TV and film industry.
Emma Giacalone
Emma uses freehand machine embroidery to make missives for modern living, sewing together soulful words and skillful stitching to create beautiful, meaningful artworks.
Fumbalinas
Signature headwear and accessories that merge traditional styles with a contemporary vision. The bold, statement pieces are all designed and made by hand.
Goodwin & Goodwin
A collective of designers, architects, neon glass blowers and fabricators with a love of design and a passion for traditional sign making techniques.
heykiddostudio
Wire words shaped by hand & wrapped in 100% cotton, knitted yarn. Designed for a modern nursery, with a Scandi inspired colour palette.
Hutch Cassidy
Hutch Cassidy’s luxury stationery and homeware brand combines a love for our planet’s magnificent creatures with a bold use of colour.
KONOC
Skilled maker, Sally, turns the traditional craft of leather-making on its head with her cult, personalised keyrings. Using modern design and unique colours has helped Konoc become a ‘go-to-gift’ brand.
Lemon Pepper Studio
Delicate 3D embroidered artworks that preserve nature through the medium of thread. Celebrating the art of hand-embroidery!
Marna Lunt Picture Maker
A picture maker specialising in embroidered portraiture, using thread to create wearable art. A celebration of colour and the beauty of the human form.
Paper & Wood
Paper & Wood loves to bring what inspires him in the natural world, right into your home, whilst leaving the true beauty intact to inspire generations to come.
Polar Post
Letters from Father Christmas that are little works of art, transporting children to another world. They are more than simply letters. They are memories to be cherished.
Sign Hive
Mixing a mastery of the traditional techniques of gilding and signwriting with a contemporary wit and visual flair. Bringing to life bold, bespoke commissions in gold leaf and paint.
The Brilliant Sign Co.
The Brilliant Sign Co make signage that emulates the very best of their craft. They passionately believe that stunning signs are important in the success of a modern independent shop.
With thanks to our small business supporters
