When it got here to discovering a reputation for his or her new store in Norwich’s Bridewell Alley, Bonnie Doonan and Sarah Brown found the proper reply very near dwelling.
The shop is a fantastically curated market of style, beauty and way of life manufacturers, a lot of that are based mostly in Norfolk, they usually needed the identify to have its roots within the county.
Among the merchandise out there at Atwin, a brand new retailer open on Bridewell Alley in Norwich.
– Credit score: Daneille Booden
By coincidence the pair, who’ve been associates since first college, got here throughout the identical phrase on a Norfolk dialect web site, and immediately agreed that it fitted the invoice completely.
“We needed one thing which means one thing and ‘atwin’ is an previous Norfolk phrase which suggests between,” says Bonnie.
In addition to reflecting that it’s a collaboration between the 2 long-time associates, it’s also a nod to their ethos, and that they need Atwin Retailer to grow to be a group.
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“We thought that it had a pleasant which means behind it,” says Sarah.
Atwin’s dried flowers are grown on the Norfolk-Lincolnshire border
– Credit score: Danielle Booden
Bonnie is a jewelry maker – she runs the minimalist model Studio Adorn – and Sarah is founding father of the clothes model Harwood, which focuses on creating thought of capsule wardrobe items, designed and made to be worn for years.
At the start of the 12 months, the pair talked about how it could be good to have a store collectively at some point.
An idle look on RightMove later (“my interest,” laughs Bonnie), they noticed the premises in Bridewell Alley, proper within the coronary heart of the town’s artistic quarter, and the undertaking was serendipitously coming collectively.
Atwin in Bridewell Alley, Norwich, sells a rigorously curated vary of clothes, equipment and homeware made by unbiased makers
– Credit score: Danielle Booden
“We weren’t actively on the lookout for someplace,” says Sarah.
“There wasn’t a lot planning. However we felt like this was the best house,” says Bonnie.
And round six months from their first dialog they opened their doorways to prospects on July 2.
The bottom flooring is a showcase for unbiased manufacturers from throughout Norfolk and a few of their favourites from across the UK, with lots of the merchandise made by hand.
“We needed to be a platform for plenty of smaller makers,” says Bonnie.
“With plenty of issues solely on-line, we needed to convey again the bodily aspect of buying.”
“To convey again how buying was, in a approach that works for 2021,” says Sarah.
“Individuals appear to be extra on this approach of buying, of constructing extra thought of purchases.”
Among the equipment, cosmetics and ceramics out there at Atwin, a brand new retailer on Bridewell Alley in Norwich
– Credit score: Danielle Booden
And in time the primary flooring will grow to be dwelling to Sarah’s studio and, working in direction of creating Atwin Retailer’s personal group, they hope to host occasions akin to makers’ markets, artistic workshops and yoga classes.
The Norfolk manufacturers that Atwin Retailer is stocking embody Sop Life cosmetics, The Chemist’s Daughter, whose merchandise embody natural reusable make-up wipes, recycled cotton wire and reclaimed leather-based assertion jewelry by Type Norfolk, plastic-free, vegan and 95 per cent natural lipsticks by Juni Cosmetics and jewelry by Kano Kano.
Atwin is a market for unbiased style and way of life manufacturers
– Credit score: Danielle Booden
In addition they promote ceramics by Sarah Horlock, Eleanor Torbati and by.noo, handcrafted helpful objects akin to brushes by Gradual Made Items and artificial dye-free dried flowers by Pulvertoft flowers, that are grown on the Norfolk/Lincolnshire border.
And there are prints by Verity Burton, Lydia Ellen and Norfolk illustrations by Studio Eilidh.
Among the merchandise out there at Atwin, a brand new retailer open on Bridewell Alley in Norwich
– Credit score: Danielle Booden
Lots of the manufacturers stocked have sustainability at their core.
Norwich activewear model Gaurdi’s clothes are made out of recycled plastic, Pico Items make natural and fairtrade cotton underwear and Holt-based Norfolk Pure Residing specialises in small-batch, plant-based cleansing merchandise.
And lighting by Norwich-based Collectiviste offers again by supporting households in Bali the place their merchandise are made.
Plus they’re stockists of AK Threads, which makes clothes to order, textiles by Ding Ding, natural yoga mats by Yoga Issues, blankets by Luks Linen, leather-based equipment by Kles and soy wax candles and botanical skincare by Our Pretty Items.
And the fixtures and fittings for the store had been additionally made domestically, by JJ Woodworking, Canine Home Design and Quanstrom Studio.
Lots of the makers drop their items off in particular person, which is already creating the sensation of group that Bonnie and Sarah had hoped for.
“And now we have had a beautiful welcome from our neighbours,” says Bonnie.
Atwin Retailer is in Bridewell Alley. Observe them on Instagram @atwinstore
