We all love celebrating the big days, the birthdays, and the special holidays, but there is one thing that remains challenging every year… buying the presents. The perfect gift for your friend isn’t available instore, you’ve bought everything for your family already, and your parents want nothing at all! What now?! Thankfully, there is an easy solution.
Bowerbird, Adelaide’s premiere design market, is home to a variety of ethically made, environmentally friendly, and independently designed gifts that you can’t find anywhere else. This one-stop-shop features more than 180 Australian designers, some of which can only be seen at Bowerbird.
From clothing, jewellery, accessories, and skincare, to art, homewares, kids’ toys, and pantry treats – there will be something for even the trickiest and pickiest of loved ones.
While there are many fantastic designers to discover, here are the top 10 makers we think you should get excited about this Bowerbird season.
Spunky Bruiser – Fashion (Women)
Spunky Bruiser is a multi-seasonal clothing brand from Sydney, which uses locally sourced, reclaimed, and recycled materials. Spunky has a range of off-the-rack pieces to chose from, or you can have something custom made. Does your loved one have a sentimental piece of fabric or clothing that is currently unwearable? Spunky can incorporate sentimental textiles into a custom-made contemporary garment.
Find out more about Spunky Bruiser online and on Instagram.
Bowerbird Director Peggy Byrne says these are exactly the kinds of brands Bowerbird loves to support.
“Spunky Bruiser makes fantastic contemporary clothing using our discarded fabrics. It’s a win-win. They will recycle up to a one square inch of fabric, minimising waste and creating one of a kind garments you’ll love for years,” says Peggy.
Sluggers – Fashion (Men)
On the quest for the perfect swimwear for men and boys, Sluggers sports a range of chlorine resistant bathers that are customisable and come in three cuts: Classics, Racerbacks and DEETEES. The brand sells some flamboyant patterns, such as cacti, parrots, dragon fruit, and even groomsman packs.
Find out more about Sluggers online and on Instagram.
Grosgrain – Accessories (Hats)
Grosgrain started with a simple desire by Director Mina Maeda to wear a well-made wide brimmed straw hat about a decade ago. The hunt led Mina to the hat factory operating for over five generations near Tokyo in Kasukabe, (where she’s from), where it has a long history of farming natural wheat straw and producing items from this area. Mina soon appreciated their craftsmanship and dedication over 140 years.
In collaboration, she started designing straw hats, selling them online and named her small business after the classic ribbon for the hats, Grosgrain. It has been her passion to create something beautiful and thoroughly hand-crafted, which brings joy to the wearer. Mina moved to Adelaide four years ago and is excited to introduce genuinely crafted straw hats for every day, and everyone.
Find out more about Grosgrain online and on Instagram.
Play Pouch – Children’s Products
Play Pouch is an incredible play mat and toy storage bag in one, which now comes in various patterns and sizes, including the Aqua Pouch, Colour & Go Mini Pouch. New to the range is the Glam Pouch for make-up so you can have all your stuff laid out and accessible but avoid the massive clean-up at the end. Genius!
Find out more about Play Pouch online and on Instagram.
Bowerbird Director Peggy Byrne says the Glam Pouch is “perfect” for those of us who need the essentials on hand in seconds! No digging through makeup cases to find your favourite eyeliner… Just open and there it is!
Brave & Able – Children’s Products
Another great children’s label at Bowerbird is Brave & Able – Brave and Able Breathing Buddies are here to help kids learn how to take charge of their big feelings with calm breathing skills. Thoughtfully designed by a South Australian mother-of-three in consultation with children’s psychologists and educators, Brave & Able Breathing Buddies offer slow, deep breathing guidance without the need for an app or a smartphone.
Brave and Able have a built-in light that slowly grows bigger and brighter, then shrinks slowly down to disappear. This guided light teaches kids how to calmly take control of their breathing and regain focus. With practice, children are able to follow the light with their breath, helping them focus on their body and how it’s feeling in the moment. Brave and Able Breathing Buddies are made of beautifully soft fabrics in a variety of textures, to add an extra sensory element to help kids regain focus.
Find out more about Brave & Able online and on Instagram.
YellowBird – Accessories (Handmade Clutches)
If your passion is to support small, local businesses when shopping for presents, you can’t get more local than this. Director, Designer and Maker Lynley Slater owns YellowBird, a brand that produces handmade clutch purses and bags in “true slow fashion style”.Based in McLaren Vale, YellowBird sells one-of-a-kind products made with bright, colourful linens and other natural materials.
Find out more about YellowBird online and on Instagram.
The Triffid Tonic Company – Pantry (Beverages)
If you have a friend who has a comprehensive drinks trolley, let The Triffid Tonic Company (TTC) be the latest addition! The hand-crafted, small batch tonic water is made with natural quinine and less sugar than commercial brands. TTC also features a Bitter Orange tonic syrup – the original recipe for tonic water, dating to the early 19th century.
As society begins to move towards more non-alcoholic drink options, it’s also worth noting that TTC tonic water is also perfect to drink on its own – a great alternative when you don’t feel like drinking.
Find out more about The Triffid Tonic Company online and on Instagram.
If you’re interested in other non-alcoholic drink alternatives, Bowerbird Director Peggy Byrne says The Triffid Tonic Company make delicious tonics to create the fanciest Mocktails.
“Try their Pepperberry and Lemon Myrtle tonic with some of Maggie Beers non-alcoholic sparkling chardonnay!” Peggy added. Yum!
Christina Darras – Jewellery
Christina Darras is bringing her colourful and kitsch jewellery designs to Bowerbird this year, presenting her collection, My Secret Garden. The series of earrings, brooches, rings, and necklaces are made from Perspex, inspired by the book The Secret Garden of Burnett. Each flower is digitally designed and laser cut by Christina in her garage studio.
The well-respected jewellery brand began in 1999 in Athens, Greece, with works previously sold at Harvey Nichols London, Paul Smith, Barney’s New York, Colette in Paris, and more.
Find out more about Christina Darras Jewellery online and on Instagram.
Isabel Lopes – Visual Art
For the art lovers, a Fleurieu Peninsula-based artist, Isabel Lopes, will be making an appearance at Bowerbird this year. Originally from Portugal, Isabel moved to Sydney, Australia in the mid 1990’s, latter she relocated to Darwin NT where she spent 12 years surrounded by pristine landscapes and wildlife that constantly inspired her work.
In 2020, Isabel relocated to South Australia, where flora and fauna continue to be her muse. Exploring colour, pattern and texture her range includes mixed media original paintings and illustrations, fine art prints, cards, magnets, wearable art, decorative and functional hand painted ceramics all fuelled by her deep love for nature.
Find out more about Isabel Lopes online.
Garden Keepers – House & Garden
Finally, for the green thumbs out there, Garden Keepers sells premium garden gloves, which have adorable bees on them! Featuring adult and children-sized gloves, this gift could be perfect for the whole family, including the littlest garden enthusiast.
Garden Keepers also has Australia’s only Net Zero Emission gardening glove, taking care of our hands and the environment.
Find out more about Garden Keepers online and on Instagram.
To discover the full Bowerbird November line-up, click here.
Event Summary
Where: Wayville Pavilion, Adelaide Showground
When: 25 – 27 November 2022; Fri 4 – 9pm, Sat & Sun 10am – 5pm
Cost: Adults $5.50, Children 12 and under free
For updates, follow Bowerbird online, or on Facebook and Instagram.
#bowerbirddesignmarket
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