Shack rather than a multinational corporation like Ikea has a number of advantages. It helps to stop the loss of habitat and the kind of environmental damage which even sustainable forest management cannot avoid; it saves well-made furniture from going to landfill; and it keeps money in the local economy. Another incredible local interior design company is Reckage At Home, who also happen to supply the furniture for the Doncopolitan studio on Copley Road. Not only do they employ local people to help craft their reclaimed designs, but they also run regular fairs designed to raise money for Sprotbrough Community Library and the local branch of The Royal British Legion. The beautifully designed, high-end product range offered by Reckage also ensures that there is money coming into the local economy from well outside the Doncaster area, something which this issue’s cover artist, Jade Clark, is also an expert at. Jade’s fashion ranges are admired the world over. Rather than relying on traditional means to reach her clients, she uses social media to deal directly with her customers. And they aren’t just passive consumers. They’re a rocksolid online community of Jade Clark fashionistas whose Instagram posts help to showcase Jade’s creations alive in the real world whilst providing valuable feedback to help her develop future ranges. Multinational corporations may have created a global economy to satisfy their own needs, but with pioneers like Jade we are beginning to see how the global marketplace can be of immense benefit to local economies. The next generation are very aware of both the wonders and the dangers that a global economy brings. Thankfully they know the scale of the problems they face, now and in the future, and are actively using the old mantra of ‘think global, act local’ to create new ways of doing things. The Green Bean Company was created by a group of sixth formers from Ridgewood School who used the Young Enterprise scheme to create an exciting new venture. In their own words:
“We’re trying to make a difference to the way we live our lives. We want to promote healthy eating, growing your own food and a more sustainable way of living. Therefore, we created our grow-your-own herb kits to help. The kits include a combination of peat-free compost and recycled coffee grounds donated by Costa coffee, a peat-free plant pot, a bag of organic seeds and an instruction leaflet. It couldn’t be any easier to start growing your own herbs! The entirety of our product is biodegradable and we source all of our items from the UK to reduce our ecofootprint.“ Sadly there isn’t room here to include all of the amazing makers we have in Doncaster, but hopefully these people have inspired you to ‘go forth and create.’ In the meantime, don’t forget to support your local doers. t he sh ab by s h a c k .co. uk re c kage a th om e .co. uk j ade - c la rk . s q ua re s p a ce .com g re e nbe a n co.co. uk End If you’re a doer yourself and are looking for space to develop your work we recommend you get in touch with the following spaces to see if they’re right for you and what you do: The Loft Based at the Church View Centre, the former art college opposite the Minster. Call Adam on 0 776 5 836 885 Queens Road Design Centre A range of units for designers, artists and other businesses. Call Nigel on 01 30 2 898730 Art Fuel Studio space for artists, designers and other creatives. Full details on page 10. Visit ar t f ue l .org . uk The Copley Road Project Co-working space and home of the Doncopolitan Studio. Visit co p ley roa d p roj e c t.co. uk
From Top to Bottom: Sugar Craft by Louise Draper, Furniture by Shabby Shack, Interiors by Reckage At Home and Thyme In A Box from the Green Bean Company.
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