LONDON’S MAKERS MARKETS: MEDIEVAL OR MAINSTREAM?

Houghton & Mackay’s Emily-Rose explores the curious world of the makers market. She begins her journey in London – where markets began as a cultural necessity to maintain the economic status quo, to the modern market with a global audience. We now not only engage in impulse purchases after seeing and touching tempting objects, we oftentimes ogle over Etsy or other online stores for days dreaming of an artisan item decorating our home. The mentality is similar as decades gone by, yet the process and structure of markets has changed significantly.

The question is: does the makers market still hold a place in our fast-paced, techno world? London’s markets date back to the 11^th century with Borough Market as an important trading centre for crafts, food and textiles. Markets continued to thrive being major hubs for trading and commerce.

Other early markets include Leadenhall in the 14^th century and Spitalfields in the 17^th century, now thriving cultural hubs for artisan cheeses, wines, coffee and hand-made furniture. Camden Town began as a Saturday market in the 70’s and is now a bustling centre offering diverse products from all over the world. 

Markets are an ingrained part of our culture. They are widely referenced in music and films, such as the infamous song ‘Portobello Road’ in the Disney movie Bedknobs and Broomsticks highlighting the ‘street where the riches of ages are stowed… artifacts to glorify our regal abode.’ London’s Leadenhall Market has also featured in Harry Potter, Bridget Jones’s Diary and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy; these films wouldn’t be the same without the artistic backdrop of these colourful spaces.

Conversely, fast-forward to 2025 and we see a rise of online markets and e-commerce dominating many shopper’s habits. The rise of online markets has somewhat changed our approach: why spend an entire day perusing market stalls when you have access to many online makers markets from across the globe at your finger-tips?

Etsy is a popular option for many online makers market enthusiasts, with its scintillating selection of authentic goods including pure silver and gold jewellery, hand-crafted leather bags and a vast array of quirky items for the home.

However, despite the ease of online searching and purchases, there is still a demand for in-person shopping. Markets have evolved significantly since the early days and are now home to many artisan makers and crafts-people. Markets have become events in themselves – from weekends out splurging on unique artifacts with a local story to enjoying delicious street food from other cultures.

There is a ‘new-wave of designer-maker markets’ entering the scene, for example Urban Makers founded by Ilka Dickens and Julia Redgrove have been hosting market pop-ups since 2015. They also place an emphasis on sustainable and ethical items, something that we can’t always be sure of when we buy from standard high-street stores or multi-national corporations.

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Markets bring us closer to the source of the products we enjoy. They also provide us with the vital human engagement lacking in the online world – face-to-face interactions. A hub for communities to be built and for people to meet, markets provide us with a sense of belonging and of acquiring knowledge of the origins of items.

Have you ever received a beautiful gift and wondered who made it or what their intentions were? Markets give us a spectacular opportunity to engage with the people behind the product. There’s always a special feeling when you know the money you are paying will go directly to the makers of the product.

Ultimately, it is important to come back to the function of markets - the aim is not only to sell produce, it is to bring people and communities together.When the floats of artists and musicians journey through the streets at Notting Hill Carnival elegantly spiraling towards Portobello Road Market, one witnesses many people sitting on their balconies with a drink enjoying the music and the crowds. Although markets may be an antiquated almost ‘retro’ experience, this doesn’t stop the millions of people frequenting them day in day out.

Makers markets allow us to connect with what makes us human: our primitive nature to create, to produce and to learn about the world around us.