25 Small Independent Business To Buy From Today

If you bookmark one post this month, then please, please make it this. The run-up to the festive season is a key time for retailers, and across the U.K small independent businesses and traders need our support where possible. Remember that it doesn’t always have to be monetary; by following the social medias, sharing them with friends, liking posts, interacting with their content, or just sending some well wishes to your favourite retailers, are all ways to help out and spread a bit of love.

So here’s me spreading some love to some of my (mostly Brighton-based) small, independent businesses that I love to shop from and browse across whether I’m looking for clothing, interiors, stationery, books, food and baby bits. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re looking to TREAT YO’ SELF (you deserve it!!), or you’re starting your present-buying early. Here’s a great place to start…

WOMENSWEAR & MENSWEAR

Our Daily Edit. This shop guys, this shop. I could kiss whoever buys the stock for here because it’s just perfection. They do both womenswear and menswear and I can never make an order without Mark throwing in a few things too. My most recent haul? SOCKS!

Wolf & Gypsy Vintage. Stocking both vintage and brands, they do a bit of everything – but the one thing I love in particular? Their in-house tie-dye collection where they take dead stock of old tracksuits and tie-dye them. You know that tortoiseshell-like tracksuit I’m always wearing? It’s from here!

Tidy Street Store. If you have a chance to one day visit this shop in person, then do – because it’s a delight. But in the meantime they have their offering of clothing, jewellery and beauty online and available for nationwide delivery. Their straw bag collection in particular is spot on.

FOLD. A place to shop primarily U.K based and made brands, all under one roof (and online hub). It’s a great place to find designers or brands that you might not have heard of before and really lean into a conscious, more mindful approach to buying.

Epitome of Edinburgh. Now I discovered this thanks to my new Instagram crush Louisa Hatt, who is a regular in there – but they have a great range of clothing, accessories and footwear for women. I’m always going into places with Mark and lamenting at how the womenswear version of it just doesn’t exist – but this is it!

ORANSSI. Another new find for me and I can’t believe it because this place looks right up my street – a curator of pre-loved and vintage clothing right on my doorstep! There should (hopefully!) be a website up by the time this post goes live and I’m ready to shop.

Peggs & Son. It is impossible for Mark to walk past this shop without going inside. Actually impossible. If one of our friends came to visit (LOL those were the days), Mark would always go shopping with them in here. If you have a guy in your life, get them to check this out.

Cawley. This a new discovery for me, a womenswear and menswear designer and producer where all items are individually made and crafted in London. Pieces are made to order with a lead time of five weeks, a true slow styling staple.

Tribeca. I love the selection of brands available at Tribeca, they’ve really nailed the vibe and are one of the few places in Brighton that offer a great range of solid denim brands. They are available to buy from directly through their Instagram.

NOLA. A great place to find unique brands that are tricky to find elsewhere in the U.K; from Native Youth to Arizona Love. Think a ‘cool girl’ scandi aesthetic, across clothing, footwear and accessories; a small an curated edit that’s easy to shop.

HOMEWEAR & INTERIORS

Abode Living. Open for online delivery and click and collect, they offer a stunning collection of tableware, bedlinen, prints and wall art. There’s always something that I can find to buy in here, no exceptions.

Workshop. THIS PLACE IS JUST THE BEST. Firstly, the owners are just lovely guys (they even featured in our wedding photos as we walked past just after we got married) and secondly, their taste is just divine and therefore their stock just beautiful. Check it out for brilliant homeware and gifts.

Dowse. This place often gets missed as it’s just on the cusp of Brighton and Hove and more somewhere where I’d head for restaurants over shopping, so it’s time to give it some love. They have a great online shop featuring prints, paper goods and jewellery.

Vine Street Vintage. Ok I just got a little dreamy looking at their Instagram right now to link up for this feature – they have such good furniture finds! It looks like they are open for local deliveries during lock and their Instagram is the best place to keep up to date with their news.

Moderne Brighton. The place for mid-century vintage finds in the furniture department, available for delivery and click and collect locally too. I can’t wait to buy some bits from here when we move into the new place.

STATIONERY & BOOKS

Papersmiths. You tell me how it’s possible to enter this shop and leave empty-handed? It’s just not, ok? And that’s not a bad thing because the range of stationery, pens, books, cards – the lot – is just absolutely beautiful. They wrap online orders so beautifully too – such a good one to gift.

City Books. This place is a Hove classic. The times I’ve passed this on my way into town on the 5B bus – MEMORIES. Offering a vast range of selected titles, they’ll be open for orders and click and collect throughout the lockdown period.

Kemp Town Bookshop. How can I call myself a true Brightonian, when I’ve never visited this amazing three-storey bookshop?! Madness, and definitely something that I will be rectifying when possible, but in the meantime they take orders and offer a click and collect service.

FOOD & COFFEE

Cin Cin. WE LOVE CIN CIN! It’s our favourite place in Brighton and Hove to eat and they have done a fab job of adapting their business throughout 2020. We love their ‘Cin Cin At Home‘ boxes; a high-quality Italian meal for two for £35; featuring a starter, main and dessert that you heat up yourself at home – meaty or veggie. Add on a bottle (or two) and a Focaccia for sure.

Infinity Foods. Anyone who knows Brighton, *knows* Infinity Foods – it’s like the original health food shop around the these parts. London has Whole Foods, we have Infinity Foods and it’s brilliant. It’s now available for Brighton-based deliveries online which is great news.

Florence Road Market. I haven’t had a chance to get down here in person as I discovered it only a few months ago through a friend’s recommendation, but they do a version of their weekly food markets, in a box that can be delivered to your doorstep – I have a feeling it’s Brighton-based delivery only, but a great way to support local producers.

Pelicano. Mark is the coffee guy here. You know I’m an avid squash drink and hot drinks make me feel jiggly, but Mark is making fancy coffee for himself and my parents all day, everyday. I have it on good authority that this are his favourite beans – delivered U.K wide.

KIDS & BABY STUFF

Happyology. I can’t lie – I put this category in there just so I could mention this place. I LOVE buying my friends clothing for their kids from here. It’s pricey – yes – so it’s definitely one of those places that you head for gifts only, but the clothing is so cute and so beautifully made. A LITTLE LILAC CARDIGAN – are you kidding me!?

Junior Edition. OK, this place is a one stop shop for everything kids. They do kids clothes, baby clothes, toys, books, even clothing for Mums – the lot. You’re going to find what you want here – promise.

Loula and Deer. A super cute place to shop for toys – from birth and beyond. Including a books and stationery and also personalised gifts too. If you have a child in your life that just have no idea what to buy, this is a really good place to head.