SUPPORTING LOCAL MADE EASY

SUPPORTING LOCAL

MADE EASY.

Words by Maria Eileen Fsadni Photography by Julia Boikova

Karolina Rostkowska is the entrepreneur behind il-lokal, the gift shop located on Old Bakery Street in Valletta. Over three short years, she's brought together over 70 makers, artists and designers, showcasing everything from ceramics to clothing and jewellery to prints, among other things. The underlying theme which ties the varied creators together is that they are all Maltese or Malta-based.

In 2017, Karolina arrived in Malta from Poland, on a six-month exchange programme for budding business owners. But, like other expats from colder countries, she fell in love with Malta’s yearround sun, and three months into her stay, she decided to make the move permanent. Having a creative background herself, she naturally gravitated towards the island’s local design scene where she met like-minded people, such as Ed Dingli and 2point3.

This led Karolina to start a humble Instagram account which she titled il-lokal. Here, she shared images of prints, artwork and any other creative pursuits from a curated selection of local creators. But it didn't take long for the account to reveal a burgeoning need for an outlet which celebrates all these creators under one roof. Karolina’s entrepreneurial spirit inspired her to launch an online shop in 2020, which was quickly followed by il-lokal’s first physical shop, less than a year later.

The recent relocation of il-lokal to a larger shop was made possible through a community-supported crowd-funding campaign. It was triggered by the need to address another gap which Karolina saw: the room for collaboration. She now aims to create a platform where one can meet and learn from one another.

The space is shared together with the boutique graphic design studio 2point3, and will further bridge the gap between the wider community and the creator by turning the shop into a hub of creativity. Together with some of Malta’s most experienced makers, Karolina is creating a dynamic programme of workshops, wherein creators get to share their passion and knowledge with anyone interested in building their creative skill set. They will also organise meet-the-artist days, pop-up exhibitions and book launches. Karolina explains, "the most important pillar of il-lokal is to help local artists get exposure, and hopefully, for them to create a full-time living out of work which they're good at." She believes that while there are some opportunities for artists to apply for government funding, offering independence can further enrich the sector. Staying true to her mission, Karolina thoughtfully designed the shop with furniture sourced in Malta. The space is brought to life with the bold designs of Malta-based artist and architect Tom Van Malderen’s DRITT collection, made together with the local, familyowned furniture manufacturer.

The ever-evolving branches of il-lokal gave rise to another collaboration with 2point3, the aptly titled Nice Things Market, which further champions the values of supporting small and local enterprises by placing the creators and business-owners at the heart of its mission.

Ultimately, il-lokal, together with its many variations, offers the ideal alternative to buying mass-produced items which have come to define our contemporary shopping experience. In her own words, Karolina says that "supporting local means that you're supporting an individual. The things we stock all come with a story, and it’s incredible to see how much creativity such small islands can spark. The Maltese craft and design scene is booming right now, and with that level of energy, the inspiration goes far beyond the traditional motifs’.

With Karolina’s keen eye, il-lokal has still maintained its streak of choosing quality items and designers, despite its several iterations and rapid growth. It stands out as a jewel among the run-of-themill gift shops which have flooded the capital city over the years.

Favourite

Designer Silk Shirt Saz Mifsud

An effervescent feast of the pattern, translated to silk by a painter and fashion designer, Saz Mifsud. These shirts seek no gender. They are for the colouradorers, the vibrant show-stoppers, the spirited, the passionate, the vivacious.

Things Guide curated by il-lokal, a community of local designers, artists and independent brands.

Hand-poured Candle Candle Co.

Handmade Polymer Clay Jewellery

Frankly Bold

As bold as it gets! Fun, colourful and playful polymer clay jewellery, designed and hand-crafted by Fran Borg. These unorthodox and often abstract, wearables seem almost like an extension of Richard England’s iconic architectural work in Malta. All-natural, pure essential oils sourced from around the globe and soy wax - a simple yet mighty combination to gently calm your senses. These wooden wick candles are consciously mixed and hand-poured at small manufacture in the heart of Gozo.

Limestone Home Objects floating world

On the island where limestone pretends to grow, Floating World steps in with its first collection of home objects. Drawing inspiration from the limestone heritage of Malta, the collection explores the use of limestone dust to reimagine the applications of limestone in new and unusual ways, creating functional pieces for the home.

Brick Tree, Limited Edition Print

2point3

The unsustainable construction of new roads and buildings seems to be incessant. But when are we going to stop the destruction of our environment? We risk ending up building monuments to remember what once was.

Leather Bags Fold

With their clean lines and precise geometrical cut, Fold belt bags are made from just two fine materials – soft pliable leather and brass hardware that holds the fold together. The belt is engineered to neatly adjust in length, whether you want to wear it around the waist or across the body.

Marble Tabletop Lamp bloc

Restored Maltese Cement Tiles Lazarus Tiles

Each Lazarus Tile is a unique, handmade, Maltese tile that has been salvaged from a house where it couldn't be re-used.

While they no longer fulfil their original purpose, Thomas Camilleri, the founder of the project, likes to think of these tiles as though they are enjoying their retirement, not having to bear any weight after generations of doing so in their original homes. The unused fragments that remain from the process of marble quarrying contain geometries that are at once incidental and intentional. The way light hits every crevice seems to celebrate these incidents and intentions in equal measure.

There is no single orientation for the objects to be considered in, as with each rotation, the light plays all together differently.

Maltese Sheep Milk Soap Sapun ta' Malta x il-lokal

Handcrafted by a small, family-owned manufacturer in Kalkara, this fragrance-free soap is recommended for all skin types due to the moisturising benefit of its main ingredient - Maltese Sheep Milk.

Sustainable Beach Towel

Maduma

From plastic to lightweight fiber. This beach towel is made purely out of at least 14 recycled plastic bottles. Inspired by traditional Maltese floor tile patterns, it is quickdrying, ultra-absorbent, and lightweight. Most importantly, it helps to reduce plastic waste from ending up in the oceans and landfills.

 @il_lokal