The store selling hyper-local homewares
- Jun 7, 2023
- 2 min read
Karen Sims has an eye for design and has forged the perfect business – selling the creations of her most-loved local makers.
The interiors stylist studied at St Martins School of Art and worked in New York and Toronto before founding Stoke Newington store Know & Love. It offers a beautiful collection of gifts and homewares – many crafted by designers in North and East London.
They include these plates by Stokey-based Maria Willi – hand-pressed with flowers and leaves and glazed in natural colours as well as a beautiful collection of bowls, mugs and vases by ceramicist Claire Wan, who works from a studio in Haggerston.
The store also stocks candles by Dalston-based House of Buckley – it’s founder Caroline Buckley set up the business after her husband died by suicide and her employer made her redundant. Creating candles became a kind of mindfulness therapy. They’re hand-made in small batches, paraben & phthalate-free, with cotton wicks for a clean burn. And they smell wonderful!
Artist Janne Cornish’s love of pottery stems from a childhood spent with family in Karatsu, Western Japan. The Hackney primary school teacher describes her stoneware pots as “small containers of quiet.” Her work was recently exhibited at the Barbican.
Making small-batch botanical soaps from home-infusions, Skunk Superstore is Juhi Pande’s pride and joy – she works from a home studio in Hackney. Her products also include items made from unique pop-coloured concrete.
When former BBC radio producer Phil Landers visited Guatemala it sparked a dream to make good, sustainably sourced chocolate. He quit his job and trained as a chocolatier, working with chocolate guru Paul A Young and later The Mast Brothers before going it alone. His company Land Chocolate is based in Bethnal Green and every process takes place in-house (roasting, winnowing, grinding and wrapping. It’s stocked in Know & Love and you need to try it!
Also stocked in Know & Love are these stylish mugs by their neighbour Lesley McShea.
Know & Love has been running since 2016 on Stoke Newington Church Street and Local Buyers Club members save 10%.
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I really enjoyed this look at Know & Love and its focus on supporting independent local makers. What makes the store especially interesting is how each product has a story behind it, from handmade ceramics and candles to botanical soaps and sustainably sourced chocolate. Bringing together small-batch craftsmanship and local creativity gives the collection a much more personal feel than mass-produced homewares. It’s a great reminder that thoughtful products often have a story and character behind them, much like perfume brands in Pakistan that create distinctive fragrances around different styles, preferences, and traditions.
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I really enjoyed reading about the idea behind this hyper-local homewares store. Showcasing pieces made by independent local designers gives each item so much more character and helps support creative businesses in the community. The focus on craftsmanship and sustainability is especially appealing. I also came across Kolkata FF while browsing related topics. Thanks for highlighting such a thoughtful approach to shopping locally!
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