50 Irish makers to support and buy from this Christmas

1 Two Wooden Horses

Terry Cullen is the award-winning woodworker based in County Wicklow, who is behind the sought-after craft brand Two Wooden Horses. Specialising in handmade furniture and kitchen utensils, below, made using sustainably sourced Irish hardwood and materials, this is a brand that has integrity and sustainability at its heart. And the products are beautiful too. twowoodenhorses.com

2 Rathbornes 1488

Did you know that the world’s oldest candle company resides on these shores? Based in Dublin since 1488, Rathbourne lit the streets of Dublin and have continued to innovate by creating beautiful, slow-burning candles that incorporate the scent of Ireland’s landscapes. Their Dublin Dusk candle is a favourite, especially coming into the winter season. rathbornes1488.com

 

3 Sorrell Reilly

Selling her landscape prints in some of our favourite shops (including Irish Design Shop), Sorrell Reilly is based in Co Clare and combines her traditional printmaking skills for a digital element, creating unique, lino-inspired illustrations of Ireland’s countryside and urban landscape in beautiful colour palettes. She also offers a number of her designs in card-form and they’d make an excellent alternative to Christmas cards this year. Not only are you supporting Irish but they can be left on display all year around. etsy.com/sorrellreilly

4 Astrl Fibres

Based in Belfast, Astrl Fibres is here to tend to all our plant-hanging needs with its unique macrame creations. As we all have become truly devoted parents to our house plants this year, you can choose a hanging design to suspend your leafy favourites and make sure they maximise on daylight and air, or buy the kit and try your hand at macrame yourself. astrlfibres.com

 

5 Rebecca Killen

We have been smitten with this Northern Irish ceramicist’s adorable bone china milk bottle for some time, and with every drop she’s put a delicate twist on her signature design. Using a palette of mostly blues and soft pinks, she also has a range of china Christmas baubles, all handmade and painted in her workshop. However, these tend to fly out the door so keep your eyes peeled for her next shop drop in mid-November. rebeccakillenceramics.com

 

6 MAKA Ceramics

This ceramicist duo work from their studio in a wildflower field in Kilkenny and you can see how it influences their designs. Earthy and functional yet colourful and fine, they have a wide selection of tableware, jewellery, Christmas decorations and planters to choose from, all with their signature painterly finish. makaceramics.com

 

7 This Makes Scents

These are a new entry to Ireland’s surprisingly large candle-making community but their hand-pour soy wax candles are a welcome addition. Launched during lockdown, there is an emphasis on being as sustainable as possible, using recycled glass jars, bamboo burners and recycled paper packaging. Their selection of scents is equally as considered with natural combinations like peony and suede, frankincense and myrrh, and sage and seasalt. thismakessensecandles.ie

 

8 Loom Irish Linen

Another newbie, Loom Irish Linen is a sustainable linen pyjama brand born during lockdown in Tipperary. Keeping every element of the production as plastic-free and local as possible, the linen is milled in Antrim and then made in Dublin. Coming in a simple, classic design in three colour-ways, who doesn’t love to get fresh jammies for Christmas. loomirishlinen.com

 

9 KaroArt

A gorgeous Dublin potter, Karolina’s work bridges from tableware to decorative plates and unique baubles, all featuring her pastel palette and whimsical fairytale creatures. Working with clay, she also takes commissions including house plate numbers and some beautiful one-off pieces. karoart.eu

 

10 Glint Glass

The tagline of this glass studio in Dublin is “sustainable, ethical and Irish made”, and that’s exactly what you get with its simple range of glass beakers, vases and soap dishes. Run by glass blowers Sinead Brennan and Róisín de Buitléar, they reuse used glass like old wine bottles destined for recycling or landfill to create functional pieces. glintglassstudio.com

 

21 John Hanly

Making capes, scarves and wraps, it’s John Hanly’s merino cashmere blend throws that really caught our eye. Butter soft and in an array of colours and patterns, they are a worthwhile investment you’ll wrap yourself in for winters to come. The company, based in their mill by the Nenagh River in Co Tipperary, has been around for almost 130 years, and is still run by the Hanly family. johnhanly.com

 

 

22 Coolree Design

As well as making beautiful timber furniture, Coolree Design in Co Kildare has a number of smaller pieces perfect for gifting. From delicate timber vases and coasters to their colourful selection of Wrap wall hooks, their decidedly simple approach to woodworking sets them apart. coolreedesign.ie

 

23 Blue Badger Studio

In West Cork Kathryn Kneefel specialises in ink paintings and pastel portraits of people’s pets, as well as offering customisable creature prints and greetings cards in her online shop. bluebadgerstudio.ie

 

23 Jando

Founded in 2015 by husband and wife Julie & Owen Mc Loughlin, JANDO is a multi-award winning printmaking studio based in Dublin. Combining cinematic perspective and a love of architecture – with a pop culture sensibility – JANDO’s work is exciting and modern, with a strong emphasis placed on kineticism and a playful use of colour. jandodesign.com

 

24 We Make Good

We Make Good products are designed by some of Ireland’s best emerging designers and made by people facing social challenges who have been supported to develop valuable skills and gain employment in their craft. Each product they offer stands for big ideas – hope, opportunity and a belief in each other. They offer a huge range, from beeswax candles to linens, to wicker baskets. wemakegood.ie

 

25 Foxford Woollen Mills

Scarves, throws, baby blankets, bed linens … whatever way you like to snuggle up to natural Irish wools and linens, Foxford have you covered. An important Irish heritage brand, Foxford have been keeping us under wraps since 1892 and continue to make long-lasting quality and enduring style their trademarks. foxfordwoollenmills.com

 

26 Sally Caulwell

Sally Caulwell is a Dublin-based illustrator and designer producing absolutely gorgeous prints of Irish flora and fauna as well as customisable name prints, which make beautiful gifts. Caulwell’s talented use of line, texture and colour combine to create stand-out images that work well in any home. sallycaulwell.com

 

27 Hey, Bulldog! Design

“Future friendly design”, is how partners Amanda and Joe describe the quirky, colourful and sustainable products, which really emphasise the notion that “life’s too short to surround yourself with dull, drab homewares!” Amanda and Joe come from a Fine Art and Engineering background allowing them to play with materials and colour and from this process create beautiful, handmade homewares. heybulldogdesign.com

 

28 Martina Scott

Line, pattern and “the drama in our everyday life” inspire Martina Scott, whose nature prints are hand screen printed on to Irish linen. The texture and natural finish of the linen adds a beautiful depth and richness to the drawings. Each limited edition print looks slightly different to the last, these differences being part and parcel of the natural handmade process. Uniquely cherishable. martinascott.ie

 

29 Fiáin

An Irish grooming and lifestyle brand, Fiáin products are as beautiful to look at as the are to use. From unisex shaving products, to cologne-infused candles made from sustainable coconut and soy, to hand-stitched and crafted leather goods, this Galway outfit has something for everyone. fiain.ie

 

30 Flock

Jamie Lewis’s Felt Animal Collection is a delightful range created by a craftsman who has been working with felt since 2003. Originally an outlet for reusing his own wool and felt off-cuts and waste from other work as stuffing, his wool creatures have blossomed into their own brand and Jamie’s main business. Loveable, tactile pieces to treasure. flockstudio.ie

 

41 Drift Knits

Hand-knitted lovely, woolly scarves and snoods from Drift Knits mean social distancing outdoors can be done snugly while still looking pretty swell. Made in 100 per cent pure wool, they will also last a lifetime if properly taken care of. Slow fashion at its best. Available from Drift Knits’ online store now. driftknits.com

42 Jennifer Slattery

Beautifully crafted heirloom linens and woollens are Jennifer Slattery’s stock-in-trade. Produced in her studio/shop in Dublin 7, her pieces find their way to all corners of the globe, such is their unique appeal. From personalised gifts, to trays, napkins, table runners, apparel, and more, these are an excellent contemporary/classic expression of Irish textiles. jenniferslattery.com

 

43 Diem Pottery

Thomas Diem is a second generation designer and potter. Born in NYC but living in Ireland since he was a child, his first taste of pottery came in his own father’s studio. At Diem Pottery they “believe that the objects we use have a great effect on our lives”. Designed and created by hand, the pieces combine traditional skills with a contemporary design edge. diempottery.com

 

44 J. HILL’s Standard

J. HILL’s Standard make tactile and beautiful objects in glass. Currently, we are very fond of their crystal candle holders and beeswax candle sets, which have been released just in time for Christmas. Part of the Nigel Peake collection, the holders are mouth blown and hand cut, and the beeswax candles smell wonderful.  jhillsstandard.com

 

45 WildBird Studio

Deck the halls with gorgeous recycled glass decorations by Irish artist Alison Byrne of WildBird Studio. 100 percent recycled, Alison’s clever new collection of contemporary Christmas decorations utilises her glass studio’s off-cuts, delivering a whimsical array of frosty and fabulous tree ornaments, which we love. wildbirdstudio.ie

 

46 G’wan Ireland (Hen’s Teeth)

The ever-cool cats over at Hen’s Teeth give a monthly shout-out to “up-and-comers and all-stars” from the Irish art and illustration world. The prints are usually exciting and always covetable. A lovely gift idea for the visual nerd in your life. hensteethstore.com

 

47 Field Apothecary

“It’s a dream job to ‘bottle’ the scents of Ireland; and take you on a fragrant journey from the mist and sprays of an Irish rainstorm to floral patchwork fields.” We tend to agree with Alix from Field Apothecary, whose scented candles are nourishment for the soul. fielddayireland.co.uk

 

48 Lovern Leather Goods

Eye-catching, understated, crafted from the finest Italian leather … with its good looks and endless practicality Sandra Lovern’s immutable ‘barrel bag’ could genuinely be considered a bag for life. For many clued-in Irish women it is. lovernleathergoods.com

 

49  Turbante-se

Turbante-se specialise in gorgeously graphic, colourful turbans and head wraps. They also know a thing or two about their history and the connections between aesthetics, politics and art … Founder Thaís Muniz has been a pioneer on the research focused on the turbans and head wraps in Afro-Atlantic culture and its place in political activism. Thought-provokingly stylish headwear … turbante-se.com

 

50 Wild Cocoon

Drawing on an intriguing craft heritage, a qualification from NCAD and her love of ‘making’, Deirdre Duffy has developed a range of woven treasures – for the person or the home – that transport the user back to a more innocent time. Cocooned in a woollen blanket, feeling the weight and protection of it. wildcocoon.ie