HANDMADE IN LONDON

LOCAL PRODUCTS Handmade IN LONDON Gorgeous products from the city’s top creatives

We’re so lucky that London’s brimming with supertalented creatives who design, make and sell gorgeous products. Not only do these products look amazing, by buying local you’re supporting independent businesses and reducing your carbon footprint. What’s not to love?

LAURA SEE | LAURA SEE LONDON WWW.LAURASEELONDON.COM

Tell us about your company... Laura See London creates luxurious, high-quality footwear aimed at women who enjoy looking stylish, feeling incredibly comfortable and living life to the full.

What’s your most popular product? We have two that have been equally popular this year, both from the SS collection, the Stellula 85 in lavender and Esmeralda 105 in blue.

Why do you love what you do? Being creative makes me happy and Laura See London’s a dream come true as it combines my passion for art and shoes. I’ve always loved painting and working with colours to create vibrant patterns. These designs are printed onto the leather of every pair of shoes giving them an additional pop of colour and making them stand out from the crowd.

I love knowing that women around the world are choosing to buy the shoes I’ve designed and made. It’s hugely satisfying.

Why should couples choose local suppliers for their wedding? Buying locally helps to reduce our carbon footprint whilst doing our bit to keep indie businesses alive and thriving. Without the independent suppliers our high streets will start to die and our communities that are so familiar and special will be lost.

What’s your signature style? The high-heeled sandal that features more of my artwork than some of the other styles. It’s designed to be the perfect occasion and party shoe that not only looks incredibly stylish but is extremely comfortable to wear – no need to bring flats to change into halfway through the night when you’re wearing a pair of Laura See London sandals!

LIV LINDLEY | LIV LINDLEY SILK STUDIO WWW.LIVLINDLEY.COM

Tell us about your company... Queensmith is an award-winning jeweller that specialises in capturing each couple’s love story with engagement and wedding rings, crafted in-house, just for them! Part showroom, part workshop, clients come face to face with diamond experts, designers and goldsmiths who are all ready to work with them to create each bespoke commission and craft the most exquisite, refined jewels.

Our team of leading industry experts bring couples’ visions to fruition, through expert-led consultations, considered design, and meticulous craftsmanship.

What’s your most popular product? Simple and refined engagement rings. Classic solitaire and halo rings never go out of style. Traditionally, round diamonds have been the most popular choice for engagement rings - but now we’re seeing couples turn to elegant ovals and more edgy pears or emerald cuts. Subtle diamond additions are really taking off – hidden halos, diamond set bridges and claws and tiny extra diamonds that give simple designs an alternative spin.

From our wedding ring collections, most men opt for plain designs and our diamond bands are popular with women.

Why do you love what you do? Capturing a couple’s love story and doing it justice with such personal jewellery is a big responsibility, but a seriously enjoyable job.

Most of our engagement ring clients stick with us to craft their wedding rings a year or two later. It’s a beautiful business to be in – getting to know our couples and celebrating life’s milestones with them.

Each member of the Queensmith team’s passionate about their area of expertise. From the gemmologists that select each diamond and the

Tell us about your company... Liv Lindley is a London based lifestyle brand underpinned by the belief that we can all benefit from a little affordable luxury in our lives and silk accessories deliver just that.

The inspiration for launching my business started as I struggled to find a timeless, quality dressing gown to wear on the morning of my own wedding. I knew I wanted it to be silk, so it’d feel luxurious to wear and breathable. I was fed up with the fast-fashion bridal dressing gowns that’d flooded the market, so I wanted to create one that wouldn’t cost the earth but would be a special keepsake that could be worn well beyond the wedding day. As well as accessories and gifts for the bridal party, my collection includes other items such as pillowcases, eye masks and scrunchies.

What’s your most popular product? My gift sets are the most popular, including our sleep set with a silk pillowcase and matching silk eye mask, statement scrunchie gift box and Bridal Beauty Silk gift set including a silk pillowcase, ‘Bride’ eye mask and scrunchie in pearl white. My silk dressing gowns are also popular. I always wanted to create that moment of excitement and pure joy when a customer receives their order, so a lot of thought has gone into the development of our packaging and gorgeous gift boxes. We even offer complimentary gift wrapping on all orders over £40.

Why do you love what you do? It’s so rewarding to receive positive feedback from customers who’ve loved my products and it’s amazing seeing pictures of brides wearing my silk dressing gowns on their wedding morning. design-obsessed CAD team, to goldsmiths and diamond setters with a knack for perfectionism. Creating standout, exquisite and refined jewellery is our passion.

Why should couples choose local suppliers for their wedding? Being located in London’s Hatton Garden, we’re lucky to have really great diamond and metal suppliers on our doorstep. We don’t rely on international factories or mass production, and we can ensure our crafters are paid fully and fairly for the outstanding work they do.

Above all, crafting jewellery in-house means we can control costs and ensure exceptional quality every time. It’s peace of mind that your ring has been locally made by accomplished industry experts, at a price that’s fair.

What’s your signature style? Our style is rooted in refinement: beauty lies in simplicity. This gives our crafters nowhere to hide – the crafting standards have to be extremely high for a seamless finish that’ll last a lifetime.

One of the core values of the business is to help people find time in their busy schedules for a little everyday self-care. Throughout the pandemic I saw many people struggle with sleep, stress and anxiety and the impact this was having on their mental wellbeing, so I wanted to find a solution to help. The many advantages of silk are still not widely realised, so my ‘Silkology’ concept helps explain all of the health and well-being benefits of switching to silk.

Why should couples choose local suppliers for their wedding? Most of the suppliers for my wedding were local and I loved that everyone already knew each other, which created a lovely buzz and atmosphere, especially on the morning of the wedding when everyone was working together to get everything set up. I think it creates a real sense of comradery where all your suppliers genuinely want to support each other, and they passionately work together to create the day of your dreams!

Tell us about your company... I design and handcraft beautiful jewellery and wedding hair accessories, keeping collections limited to retain individuality. Part of my collection blends stunning vintage elements, ranging from rare, signed brooches to gorgeous original Art Deco pieces. As a result, each handmade design is a one-of-a-kind piece. I compliment my fabulous vintage finds with sparkling crystals, pearls and other luxurious gemstones.

What’s your most popular product? My hair accessories and jewellery are bespoke pieces so it’s tricky to know! However, hair vines are very popular and my mixed pearl hair pins have been a real hit this season.

Why do you love what you do? It’s the perfect outlet for my creativity when I’m not hairdressing. I love to make people feel happy and contributing to a special life event is such a rewarding feeling for me.

Why should couples choose local suppliers for their wedding? When you tap into your local community, it’s a game changer for all involved as you’ll get that personal touch, local knowledge and contacts where they know other wedding suppliers in the area.

Being a bridal hairstylist for so long I’ve always enjoyed a team coming together at a wedding, where everyone knows their job and works in harmony. It’s such a lovely vibe.

What’s your signature style? I’m always driven by what my brides request. I do a lot of bespoke work to make their ideas come to life. However, I’d probably say classically elegant with a contemporary twist.

MERVE BAYINDER | MERVE BAYINDER MILLINARY HTTPS://MERVEBAYINDIR.COM

Tell us about your company... We’re a mother-daughter team that put hats back on the fashion map in Turkey. It’s hard to become an international designer from Turkey, so in 2016, we moved to London and quickly got recognition for our work. All of our products are handmade in our studio and our suppliers are fairtrade.

What’s your most popular product? One of our light pink saucer hats with small roses is the favourite of the season, but our signature is a single large flower that we renew and add up each year. Also from our bridal collection the three-bow hat seems to be a favourite.

Why do you love what you do? It’s a family trade. We both learned tailoring from my grandmama so it’s in our heritage. I put so much into each design and every creation fills me with joy and pride. When we create a hat, what I love most is seeing the faces of clients when they finally wear the finished piece. It’s the pleasure of making someone’s dream happen.

Why should couples choose local suppliers for their wedding? There’s a connection there. We remember all our clients by their hats. You’re not just another customer, you’ll be cared for and taken care of. We emotionally invest in the wedding just as much as our clients do.

elegant. Every women has a playful side so I like to think and believe all my hats have small surprises when you look carefully. But most importantly comfort is the aim and always will be – so much so that you’ll forget you’re wearing a hat or headpiece after a while.