Fabric of the North: Gift Directory

Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor

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Fabric of the North: Gift Directory

18 November 2020-31 March 2021

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Fabric of the North
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Fabric of the North is the project of blogger Kate Baxter. As someone who adopted the North as her home, she believes passionately in supporting independent creators and celebrating the artistic talent around us. The Gift Directory aims to make buying from independent artists easier. You can choose where you’re based and even what type of gift you are looking for, creating a seamless and easy way of connecting with makers.

As you scroll through the list of recommendations, you can tell that Fabric of the North is about aesthetically pleasing design, in any sort of the item. From the range of candle makers, fashion designers, jewellery builders and artists, there’s a clear pattern for choosing people who make simplistic and beautiful things. Each piece feels like it is designed to be treasured and adored.

There is also an emphasis put on designers who work ethically and sustainably, creating pieces with as little impact on the planet as possible. Some familiar Manchester based names you may recognise include Blendsmiths Drinkmakers, Nordic Muse and Victoria Ceramics. Find links to their online shops as well as contact details, should you wish to be in touch about something more bespoke.

Although online shopping may feel less enjoyable than a day spent exploring independent shops, Fabric of the North does manage to satisfy your curiosity with artists, makers and shops from across the entire North.

Where to go near Fabric of the North: Gift Directory

Blackburn
Hotel
Northcote Hotel

Northcote’s luxury hotel perfectly matches its Michelin-star restaurant, nestled in the Ribble Valley hills on the edge of the Forest of Bowland.

Medlock Square
Manchester
Event venue
Medlock Square

Medlock Square is a new £300m entertainment complex betwixt the Etihad Stadium and Co-op Live, with Zadie’s, Little Beast, a hotel, market hall and more.

Zadie's
Manchester
Restaurant
Zadie’s

Italo-Japanese plates and razzle-dazzle glamour at Medlock Square. Featuring live acts, a space-age bar and a bird’s-eye view onto the Manchester City pitch.

Grafton Arms
Manchester
Bar or Pub
Grafton Arms

Grafton Arms has undergone an impressive revamp. The Eagle Inn team have turned this traditional pub into a standout live venue and drinking destination.

Proloco
Manchester
Restaurant
Proloco

Honest Crust’s Richard Carver and Rainy Heart’s Dan Hope join forces at Proloco, a music-led Ancoats restaurant serving 18-inch pizzas and seasonal plates.

City Centre
Restaurant
GiGi Gusto Griglia

GiGi is a lavish Italian restaurant just off Deansgate, with 1950s décor and a menu that sticks to the classics.

Blackburn
Restaurant
Northcote

Northcote’s Michelin-starred restaurant is the jewel in the crown of the Ribble Valley. We get a first look at the new autumnal menu.

Cumbria
Restaurant
Pentonbridge Inn

Pentonbridge Inn is a Michelin-starred restaurant with rooms in north Cumbria. Eight courses of bunkum-free fine dining from head chef Chris Archer.

Manchester
Restaurant
Dahlia Stereo

Dahlia Stereo is a Latin American-inspired open-fire kitchen and bar off the Northern Quarter’s Stevenson Square, with a pitch perfect soundsystem.

Balance Taproom
Manchester
Restaurant
Balance Taproom

Manchester has a glut of taprooms, and Balance Brewing’s is far and away the best. Drinks, decor, service – all a cut above.

Richard Hards ‘Strangeways’
Manchester
Gallery
Moon Grove

A Georgian front room in Rusholme houses Moon Grove, an independent gallery with an unusually ambitious international programme.

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