10 Oxford Indies to check out in half term
Independent Oxford was featured in the Oxford Mail magazine this weekend with a run down of our favourite Oxford Indies at the moment. So if you missed it on Saturday here’s a recap of our top 10!
Indigo
62 Cowley Road, Oxford, OX4 1JB
01865 794176
www.shopindigo.co.uk
Indigo is a gorgeous shop selling gifts and clothing from high quality fair trade suppliers from all over the world. I love checking out their ever changing window displays and beautifully merchandised range.
I love their range of products from Nkuku, especially these gorgeous mango wood Pizza boards at £24.95.
http://www.shopindigo.co.uk/nkuku-pizza-board/
Illyria
104 Walton Street Oxford, UK OX2 6EB
07450 256630
illyriapottery.co.uk
This Jericho based studio and ceramic shop is owned by Katie Coston who makes all the pottery on site with the help of her cat Lucie Maud.
This store is always stunningly merchandised and the bright and airy shop is always a welcoming space, plus who doesn’t love a shop cat?
This super cute Hand Jug has to be one of my favourite pieces, and makes a great gift at £18.
http://illyriapottery.co.uk/etsy/211241798
Love Your Plane
247 Iffley Road, Oxford
01865 580455
Love Your Plane is a studio based shop selling art and design led gifts from UK designers and artists.
Owners, Josh and Amy, always offer a friendly welcome, and their ever changing Bus Stop Gallery makes for an interesting trip each time.
Love Your Plane want to inspire creativity and making. With this in mind, they have assembled this awesome lino cut kit ideal for anyone who wants to make their own cards or artistic prints. Happy printing! (£22.50)
Shop at The Old Fire Station
40 George Street Oxford OX1 2AQ
01865 263980
www.oldfirestation.org.uk/shop/
A stylish and design led collection from over 100 UK designers and artists, with over half of that number from Oxfordshire.
I love stopping in and checking out their evolving range. It’s a great indie to check out if you’re in the town centre and offers something different from the high street just yards away.
The OFS champion young designers, including Independent Oxford’s own Anna Munday! Find a great selection of Anna’s tapestry jewellery in the OFS shop. Prices from £6.
http://www.oldfirestation.org.uk/maker/anabelle-lou/
2 North Parade
2 North Parade Ave, Oxford
01865 552311
Suppliers of the finest local produce and a treasure trove of seasonal fruit and veg, local dairy produce, beers and ciders, charcuterie and more.
This super stylish store is a delight to browse and a feast for the senses. A true gem in North Parade.
Their cheese selection is deliciously tantalising. I love the Lord of the Hundreds Ewes milk cheese (£35/kg) and also have my eye on the Dorstone Goats cheese (£7.95).
Gilt & Grain
135 Hollow Way Oxford OX4 2NE
01865 778539
www.giltandgrain.com
Gilt and Grain sell good quality vintage and antique furniture and furnishings at affordable prices. They have a fantastic range of styles and eras to suit a whole host of tastes.
Tucked away at the top of Cowley Road, their ever evolving collection of intriguing objects and furniture makes it worth the trip every time. I particularly love their mid-century pieces including this awesome hard wood coffee table (£60).
Annie Sloan
33 Cowley Road, Oxford, OX4 1HP
01865 247 296
www.anniesloan.co.uk
A beautiful interiors shop selling the best paint in the world, Annie Sloan Chalk Paint!
Pop into this friendly store to pick up some of Annie’s unique French finds like pretty cutlery or glassware and check out their in store displays for styling and decorating inspiration. Their range of paint colours is gorgeous too and I love upcycling old furniture using Annie’s easy to use chalk paint.
http://www.anniesloan.com/acatalog/United_Kingdom.html
Objects of Use
6 Lincoln House Market Street Oxford OX1 3EQ
01865 241705
www.objectsofuse.com
Objects of Use provides a source of enduring household tools and functional items.
I love this town centre shop, full of interesting objects, each with fascinating history or production. My current crush are these gorgeous milk pans in pastel hues (from £18.50) made in a hydroelectrically powered factory in Austria.
http://www.objectsofuse.com/products/kitchen/Milk-pans-and-beak-pots#.VVHT9vlVhBc
Darn It & Stitch
Blue Boar St. (Just off St. Aldates) Oxford OX1 1DL
01865 242 779
www.darnitandstitch.com
A bright and cheerful haberdashery nestled next to the Town Hall in the heart of town.
This is a great store for any fellow crafters out there. It’s a real feast of gorgeous materials and crafting supplies, beautifully merchandised by owner Jo Watkins. Jo picks an amazing array of gorgeous fabrics, including this bright and beautiful print, perfect for the summer! (£3.60 per 25cm)
http://darnitandstitch.bigcartel.com/product/prints-bright-and-beautful
Modern Baker
214a Banbury Road, Summertown, Oxford, OX2 7BY
01865 554 679
www.modernbaker.com
A welcome addition to the Summertown café scene, selling healthy and alternative baked goods and natural products.
This little café sells an ever changing range of delicious and nutritious cakes, bakes and breads including gluten free and raw treats. Their shop is also stocked with a delicious array of goodies to take home and try such as specialist teas and nut butters. I would definitely recommend their sumptuous chocolate and beetroot brownie, delicious!
I hope this has inspired you to visit one of your local independent stores over half term!
Love Rosie xxx
