Our Story
Support The Makers was born from founder Carmen’s love of colour, textiles, and handmade accessories created by local makers in her native South Africa. After moving to Edinburgh, she wanted to fill her home with meaningful, beautiful pieces—and this sparked a journey into discovering and supporting local makers here in the UK.
In 2018, we hosted our very first market in Portobello. From there, the idea grew into something much bigger—a platform to give local makers the opportunity to share their work with a wider audience. We’ve always been passionate about sustainability, supporting makers who use deadstock fabrics and eco-conscious materials, with all products made right here in the UK.
How It Started
Since that first market, we’ve had the joy of working with a wide range of talented makers, designers, and creatives. Over the years, we’ve hosted community markets, collaborated on exciting projects, and managed retail spaces. Each space has been part of a vibrant community of artists and creatives, and focused on showcasing the incredible talent within our network.
What We Do
Our passion for supporting small, independent businesses runs deep. We love working alongside others who share that same spark—and we’re always on the lookout for new ways to showcase and celebrate handmade crafts and the people behind them.
We’d love to see you at our next market! You can check out the upcoming dates and times here.
Why We Do It
In 2025, we launched a brand new workshop series specifically designed to meet the needs of our maker community. These sessions are supportive, down-to-earth, and packed with practical value—covering everything from business essentials to marketing, brand building, and effective communication.
Workshops for Makers
Support the Makers has proudly participated in a variety of events large and small.
These events included Fringe By The Sea, as part of a collective with four other talented makers. We hosted the Makers Market at Connect Festival, curating a vibrant space that featured 20 makers across the weekend and offered an inspiring range of creative workshops.
In addition to these events, Support The Makers has collaborated on larger-scale projects and, most recently, launched the inaugural Porty Festival — a celebration of creativity, community, and local talent.
Past Events
Beyond markets and workshops, Support The Makers offers consultancy services for those looking to establish creative spaces that combine gallery, retail, studio, and event elements. With hands-on experience in developing and managing multifaceted venues, we provide guidance on everything from curating and managing stockists and inventory to planning and delivering workshops, exhibitions, and community-focused events.
Our expertise ensures that each space operates efficiently while fostering a vibrant, engaging environment for both makers and the wider public.