Black Friday sales have become a staple of the run-up to Christmas, but we’ve decided not to participate in the retail tradition. At not just a shop, we believe in supporting artists and makers. The products we sell take hours of artistic endeavour—a recent graduate, an emerging artist, or someone who’s honed their craft through trials and triumphs.
When you buy from us, you’re embracing someone’s passion, commitment, and the love poured into their creations.
We believe in upholding this value, so we don’t participate in flash sales on Black Friday. We’re not just a shop but a thriving community of artisans crafting unique gifts and exclusive pieces. Together, we support students and graduates, empowering them to make a living doing what they love.
Instead of buying into impulse buys, we’re highlighting five fantastic stores started by UAL Alumni you can shop at this Christmas to support independent makers.
Nata Concept Store
Nata is Anna + Tatiana, based in London. Pioneering the sculptural candle obsession, Nata Concept Store offers decorative candles for the home to bring a colourful and playful touch to any room. Handmade in London, each candle is created using natural ingredients. Nata Concept Store creates one-of-a-kind designs inspired by art, food, and history. They make their own design from start to finish and hand-pour each of them in their small London studio.
The Completist
The Completist is a husband and wife duo, Jana and Marko. Starting as a fashion illustration blog, the brand became fully fledged in 2016. Many of their products are inspired by interactions with art, fashion and history, bringing a little bit of joy through colour and print with every object.
All paper goods are made from FSC-certified paper and come in biodegradable film bags. All other packaging is made from FSC-certified card or recycled paper. They are proud to work with many independent stores across the UK and bigger stockists such as Selfridges.
Yod & Co
Yod and Co. works with visionary designers to create beautiful objects. Founded by Central Saint Martins graduate Yod Suntanaphan, the brand aims to make everyday life a little more enjoyable.
Yod and Co. combines a considered use of colour, material and manufacturing techniques to create products that are beautifully functional and simple in their design.
Yard + Parish
Yard + Parish is an eco-luxury shopping destination inspired by African beauty rituals and island living. Their curated online shopping experience champions a natural, conscious and colourful lifestyle. Here, you can indulge in an array of independent brands offering clean beauty, wellness, handmade jewellery, fashion accessories, homeware, cultural novelty, and much more.
Aura Que
LAURA QUE is an abbreviation of designer Laura Queening’ name, who founded the company in 2008 after graduating from London College of Fashion.
AURA QUE products are developed in collaboration between Laura and the small producers she works with in Asia. She sources and works with various charity handicraft units and fairtrade producer groups in Nepal, Vietnam and India to bring local sustainable materials, craft skills and designs to western markets, both for AURA QUE and bespoke projects.
The AURA QUE studio is based in Peckham, but the brand’s handbags, accessories, homeware and gifts are stocked by independent boutiques throughout Europe.
This season, shop slow, shop small and support makers. We’d love you to check out these amazing businesses this festive season. You can also, of course, always support small, independent makers from University of the Arts London by shopping our collection of unique gifts, with all proceeds going back into enterprise education for students and graduates.