Karen Mabon and Emily Hayes set up pop-up shop in Micklegate, York

Artist Emily Hayes looks at fellow artist Karen Mabon’s silk scarves at the pop-up shop in Micklegate Artist Emily Hayes looks at fellow artist Karen Mabon’s silk scarves at the pop-up shop in Micklegate

TWO young designers have set up a pop-up shop in York to display their works.

Karen Mabon and Emily Hayes, who met as students at the Royal College of Art, have taken temporary exhibition space next door to Bar Lane Studios at 150 Micklegate, which was previously used as exhibition space for York St John University students.

Scottish-born Karen, of Redbrick Design Company, is launching her latest autumn/winter collection of scarves, which use ladybirds, wasps and canaries as striking motifs on her silk and wool blend materials.

Also for sale will be Redbrick’s handcrafted unique jewellery pieces and accessories.

Emily Hayes returns to York from Berlin where she was illustrating online music magazine i Crates. She will display her new collection of drawings, prints, objects and videos.

She said the agreement with Bar Lane Studios enabled them to test the viability of their business, while Bar Lane got to trial opening up the space to temporary exhibitions.

She said: “The Bar Lane shop means we can showcase our work and be a part of York’s art and design community.

“We are testing the viability to see how it all goes and then perhaps continue it here or elsewhere.

“We will see how it goes after a month and take it from there.”

Karen has been selling her goods at trade shows and through various international suppliers, but when Emily returned from Berlin just over a month ago, they decided to go into business together.

Emily said: “We have worked together before when we studied together and came up with the idea to open a shop.

“Especially when you’re starting up in business, a pop-up shop is a really fantastic way to test the ground and make sure it’s the right thing to do before investing a lot of money.”

The shop will be open until October 14, when the designers will reassess the terms with Bar Lane Studios.

Comments(1)

capt spaulding says...
9:57am Wed 19 Sep 12

Keep on with pop up shops, dont take on a lease or you will be signing up to the devil in the form of exorbitant business rates from which you will never escape. (Bankruptsy being the exception.)
If a charity shop on Micklegate paying no rent cant make a go of it, then unless you invent a better mousetrap your on a hiding to nothing.

click2find

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