London Made Me Retail Development programme

Alice (pronounced Ah-lee-tse) is an Italian self-taught potter based in the Made by Tottenham zone. She first approached ceramics in high school in 2013, and, after a long break, picked it up again in 2020 as a release from a stressful PhD in Molecular Biology.
Alice’s ceramics practice consists of wheel-thrown tableware with harmonious lines. She makes her creations unique and original by either distorting traditional shapes or by decorating them with colourful drawings and patterns. Each piece is built with durability in mind and is meant to become an integral part of your daily ritual - definitely not to sit on a mantlepiece!

Pottery has been a huge source of happiness, grounding, and comfort to Alice over the past few years, and she hopes that her pieces will bring you as much joy in using them as they brought her in crafting them.

Alice currently juggles her daytime job as a medical research scientist with her passion as a potter and she works out of a shared studio in a former stable. 

@alicemakespottery_official

Tayo Bello from the Ealing Road and Alperton zone, is the jewellery designer and maker behind Bello Creations.

Her ethically-made contemporary jewellery designs capture the essence of natural beauty through the skilled use of smooth and fluid lines, sleek forms, patterns, colour and reflections. The inspiration behind her pieces is found within nature’s elements, such as the intriguing patterns and forms in flowing water, the swirling fluidity of the ocean waves and the environment she finds herself in.

All products are handcrafted in her West London studio, using Sterling Silver 925 and Gold, playfully integrating semi-precious stones to add a hint of colour for a distinctive and sophisticated signature style. 

@bellocreations_jewellery

Based in the Make it in Brixton zone, Black Culture Market is home to the best best black-owned brands. As a platform and marketplace established it is designed to give entrepreneurs of African and Caribbean descent visibility to flourish and make cultural products more accessible. 

With just 0.24% of capital in the UK going to black entrepreneurs, access to early-stage capital is limited. Black Culture Market aims to bridge the gap by encouraging communities to shop small with black-owned businesses. 

However, their value goes far beyond its pop-ups. At the core of its offering, the initiative brings the opportunity for great systemic advancement for African and Caribbean communities and those seeking to develop their businesses. The initiative attracts and supports thousands of businesses and visitors to its events from across the UK.

@blackculturemarket

Elvira Sazesh is a contemporary jewellery designer and artist based in the Hackney Wick and Fish Island zone, whose very first jewellery collection was snapped up by Liberty London.

Using existing materials is the ethos of the brand. Elvira loves working with unconventional materials such as upcycled lightweight suede and leather and believes one of the most sustainable ways we can consume newness is by upcycling and making use of what we already have. 

When you buy one of her unique handmade items you are buying from a London-based independent business. All the pieces are designed and crafted in London. 

Elvira Sazesh has been featured in British, Indian and Chinese Vogue, as well as 
Tatler, I-D Magazine, The Telegraph, The Times, Cosmopolitan, Company, InStyle, Grazia, Notion and more. 

@elvirasazesh

Katy, based in the Hackney Wick and Fish Island zone, has been working in the creative sector for more than 20 years and a passionate collector of ceramics for as long as she can remember. Katy began attending an evening pottery class 11 years ago, which went on hold when she had her daughter shortly after. Fast-forward to lockdown 2020 and a friend bought two of her pottery pieces out of the blue, re-igniting her confidence and desire to begin lessons again. 

Inspired by colour, pattern and form, Katy adores working with clay and creating hand-built artworks. Her pieces are playful and joyful - something to bring a smile and to look fabulous on your walls.

@katywheeler_

Keira, based in the Creative Enterprise West zone, has been developing her unique technique of typewriter art for more than 20 years. She has exhibited across London, the UK and internationally in solo and group shows and has typed at a wide spectrum of live and online events - from grass-roots projects and festivals to high-end corporate events. 
Keira has also been featured on the BBC and SKY, and counts talking at the British Library about her work just weeks after having her second child as one of her proudest, yet daunting career experiences.

@KRTypewriterArt

La Plante Carnivore, based in the Acton and Park Royal zone, was created when Hanaa finished her postgraduate course in Architecture in May 2022. The name La Plante Carnivore reflects Hanaa’s fascination of carnivorous plants, and her Mauritian roots.

Hanaa designs sweet and colourful stationery is inspired by England's and Mauritius' flora as well as meaningful anecdotes from family and friends. The products are designed and produced locally while Hanaa ensures that the paper products are recyclable, FSC certified, chlorine-free, wood-free and uses compostable packaging, when necessary. 

La Plante Carnivore is a reflection of who Hanaa is, always joyful and she aims for her work to bring you a smile too!

@_laplantecarnvivore

Precious Scars Studio, based in the New Cross and Deptford zone, and founded by Kira Smith, emerged from a personal journey of healing and transformation.

After breaking a simple bowl, Kira became captivated by the art of Kintsugi, finding in it a deep connection between the physical act of repair and the emotional process of healing from her own mental health struggles. 

This craft became an obsession, offering a way to honour imperfections and scars, both in objects and in life. Each piece she repairs, and every creation she offers, is a testament to resilience, embodying the belief that beauty lies in the marks of time. 

Through her work, Kira hopes to foster a sense of community and encourage others to see their own scars with grace and empathy, knowing that none of us are alone in the journey of healing.

@preciousscarsstudio

Scene in London is run by born and bred South Londoner, Samantha Foley, based in the Croydon Creative zone. 

With a love for art and the city, and more than 15 years design experience, Scene in London was created to celebrate the local neighbourhoods, each one distinct with their own personality and their own proud community.

Community is at the core of the business, and when Samantha isn't designing London art prints, she's showcasing her work at local markets and delivering creative workshops.
Alongside a growing collection of London art prints, Samantha also creates bespoke commissions if you're looking for something in particular.

@scene_in_london

Thandi Ojeer, is the founder of Tandi Fashion, and based in the Archway zone. Taking inspiration from her East African heritage, working with the iconic kanga fabric known for its bold patterns and Swahili proverbs. 

With a mission to allow individuals to wear their emotions, Tandi Fashion’s unique, limited-edition pieces celebrate personal expression while preserving cultural history.
As the daughter of an East African mother, Thandi cherishes the Kanga’s cultural
significance, blending her roots with her modern London life. 

Her non-traditional design approach —shaped by her dyslexia, where
art and form were her learning tools — rejects the typical fashion cycle. Instead,
she focuses on creating timeless, sustainable garments. Thandi’s journey includes self-teaching through pattern-cutting tutorials, followed by formal training at the Centre for Fashion Enterprise, Making for Change at the University of the Arts London, and the London College of Fashion. 

Her passion for elevating East African culture has led to her designs being showcased at prestigious platforms like the Victoria and Albert Museum as part of the Africa Fashion Exhibition, a monumental achievement for the brand.

Another defining moment came when actress Thandiwe Newton wore a Tandi Fashion design, celebrating the brand’s vibrant colours and messages woven into the fabric. 

In addition to her work in fashion, Thandi continues to support non-profits focused
on HIV prevention and education, further showcasing her dedication to impactful
and meaningful work.

@tandi.fashion

YIBRI is a fashion brand founded by Yvonne Lin in 2023 and based in the Hackney Wick and Fish Island zone. “Vibri” is an Esperanto word meaning vibration and Yvonne’s range is the reflection of that, anticipating to attract people with similar energy and beliefs to collectively become a stronger community.

YIBRI’s mission is to curate a refined, enduring wardrobe, embodying style, function, quality, and purpose beyond trends. Merging the timeless with the contemporary, the designs reflect a harmonious union of strength and sensitivity. Yvonne embraces the intricate interplay between fragility and resilience within the human form, celebrating its multifaceted nature and inherent contradictions.

@yibri_official

Yusuf Osman is a lawyer turned leather craftsman on a mission to help the world experience and connect with materials and craftsmanship. He is based in the in the New Cross and Deptford zone. 

His mission stems from his own journey transitioning from lawyer to leather craftsman. Yusuf was captivated by leather during a weekend course in the The Cotswolds in 2014. In turning his hobby into a business, he grappled with two questions - how do you start a business making products when the world is drowning in stuff and how do you start a business using leather because surely it’s the worst material in the world?

It took many years of crafting and learning, but with each stitch Yusuf realised that the problem isn’t making or leather - people have always been making things and using leather as a material before we invented woven cloth. Leather is the only material that connects farm, food, fashion and beyond and the craftsmanship is a panacea for our throwaway culture. 

Yusuf believes that many of the problems we experience today as individuals, communities and with the natural world are result of our loss of knowledge around craftsmanship and materials. The problem is the speed at which we make, the removal of craftsmanship and a decline in material quality.  Reconnecting with leather and craft can help us to navigate the complex issues we face as individuals, as society and with the natural world. In doing so we can uncover the threads that connect us all.

@yussico