Where to shop local in Glasgow Southside this Christmas
Glasgow re-enters a stricter lockdown, but while life may feel like it’s being put on hold, Christmas is still looming large on the horizon - however different it might look this year.
Non-essential physical shops are closed until 11 December, but online, the Christmas markets are open. This doesn’t mean you have to line the pockets of the world’s richest man or take part in virtual 'Black Friday’ scrums. Instead, support the local economy by checking out these small, independent Southside online stores for something a bit more special.
If you have an online shop and want to be included here, email: notices@greatergovanhill.com
support the magazine
You can give the gift of good news this Christmas when you buy your loved one a membership for Greater Govanhill magazine!
This means that they’ll get four issues of the magazine posted out to them, along with a piece of prized Greater Govanhill merchandise. If they’re interested, they’ll also have the opportunity to contribute to the stories we cover.
And you’ll be helping us to produce future issues for the good of the whole community.
Clothing and Jewellery
Irregular Sleep Pattern
Jolene and Mil share a love of bold colours, strong patterns, great details and unusual cuts, but when it came to bedding and sleepwear they couldn’t find what we were looking for... so decided to make it themselves. Built around a carefully designed capsule proposition; their launch collection - designed in Glasgow, manufactured in Portugal using organic cotton - consists of two products: our eye-popping, gender-neutral, pyjama suits and our reversible duvet + pillowcase sets.
Anna is artist and maker based in Govanhill/Pollockshields. She makes silver gemstone jewellery and hand-embroidered textile items as well as (lately) fabric face masks.
AlbaClay is an eco conscious clay jewellery designer, based locally in Battlefield. All her ploymer clay earring products are handmade in Scotland, eco conscious and sold in fully recyclable packaging.
Art & Home Furnishings
Flore De Hoog
Flore de Hoog is a local artist specialising in hand-drawing wall patterns. Hoowever she also sells original handdrawn artwork on her website. Apart from drawings there are also cushion covers, wall hangings, and t-shirts available.
LOGS is a small framing studio based in Govanhill. It is run by Lois Walker, who collaborates with local artists. Lois’ dream has been to create colourful mirrors in unconventional shapes. A few batches of mirrors have been released this year, proving to be popular. For Christmas, LOGS will offer a wider collection of LOGS MIRRORS, to be advertised in the run up to the festive period and if time allows it, maybe even a door open day to view mirrors for sale. Follow her on instagram.
How Bizarre was created in 2017 by a Scottish lass with Persian roots, and a BIG love for bold colours, crazy patterns and cosy home furnishings. This Wee Rug Emporium specialises in affordable, vintage handwoven Persian & Moroccan Rugs. Based in Glasgow offering free UK delivery.
From his home in Pollokshields, Kieron makes and sell prints, many of which have a Glasgow/Southside subject. He tries to hand deliver as many prints as possible.
The Haunted Bouncy Castle
Jinx and Jonas are the creative partnership behind The Haunted Bouncy Castle. They’ve been creating art together for six years and are excited to have their own creative small business in the South of Glasgow. They specialize in handmade halloween items and pastel gothic home decor. Spooky mugs, gothic t-shirts, pumpkin plushies, ghost plant pots, witchy pin badges and more!
Verity-Rose lives in Pollokshields and is freelance broadcaster, occasional zine queen and artist. Verity makes tote bags and zines that explore mental health and LGBTQ issues.
From her studio in Torrisdale Street, Saira makes personalised gifts including wooden family trees, frames, gifts and mugs.
Ceramics
Saltware Stoneware
Saltwater Stoneware is a range of handmade functional ceramic ware for the table and home, made by one woman and her two hands in a studio on Glasgow's Southside. Pieces are hand-built using soft shapes and tactile curves, in colours and textures inspired by the Highlands and Islands, and are designed to be mixed and matched, working harmoniously as a collection. Purchase from the online shop or buy in person, by appointment, from the studio in Govanhill - one-to-one and very small group workshops will shortly be available to book. Instagram: saltwater.stoneware
Eva Gurney sells hand-painted plant pots from her Instagram shop called the Odd Pot Shop, providing bespoke plant pots in all different sizes. She stocks one-of-a-kind pots (all within her particular painting aesthetic) and can also do commissions to tailor to a particular colour palette or style.
Food and Drink
Milk Cafe Hampers
The shutters may be down on local social enterprise, MILK cafe, but the elves are putting MILK Homemade Hampers together to see them - and you - through the winter months! The large hamper will include all of the following, and the medium hamper will include six items: MILK blend HomeGround Coffee with beans sourced through Feminino Cafe Women's cooperative; bag of loose-leaf Libertea, a Lothian based enterprise; fruity brown sauce; Spiced Beetroot Pickle; Traditional Scottish Tablet; Spiced Sugared Nuts; Crispy Peanut Chilli Oil; Snaa's Facemasks; Festive Chai Syrup. Please email: hellomilkcafe@gmail.com for more info.
Braw Wine Selection is a natural wine webshop based in Glasgow. They select wines from some of their favourite small producers for you to try with cheap local delivery. Natural wine is farmed organically (biodynamically, using permaculture or the like) and made without adding or removing anything in the cellar.
Stationary
Laurabelle Studio
Based in the Southside, freelance graphic designer and illustrator, Laura runs Laurabelle Studio, an online shop selling planning and productivity tools, cards, prints and paper stuff, including Christmas cards and wrapping paper, along with funny cards to make you giggle, beautiful watercolours to make you smile and cracking planners to help you organise!
Luffingham Designs
Looking for that extra special Christmas card? Or bespoke wedding invitations? Luffingham Designs creates gorgeous handmade bespoke stationery with sustainable materials from her living room in Glasgow
Books and Music
Outwith Books
Outwith is a bookshop on Glasgow’s Southside. In a carefully curated space, they stock ew fiction, short stories and a bit of non fiction, along with. They can order books for you! Just fill in their online form.
Did you know that local LGBT+ bookstore do lots of home deliveries of queer books, comics and zines - and can ship worldwide! They also operate a pay-it-forward shelf, so you can cover the costs of someone else’s book.
Govanhill’s own independent record store can also be found online. They stock an excellent range of all genres of music with a real focus on vinyl. Through lockdown they’ll be offering pick up from the store and are hoping to be able to do free local deliveries.