HEADER IMAGE Rhi Dancey
Ah, Black Friday. It’s frequently framed as the “ultimate shopping holiday”, but behind the flash sales and countdown timers is a cycle of overproduction, overconsumption, and overwhelming waste. Each year, millions of items are manufactured purely to be discounted, shipped out at speed and – far too often – returned, discarded or destined for landfill. The environmental cost is staggering: carbon emissions spike, plastic packaging piles up, and the fast-fashion machine accelerates just as brands promise “better deals” rather than better practices.
But the problem isn’t just ecological. Black Friday reinforces a culture of impulse buying that undervalues the creativity and labour behind the things we wear. When the expectation is that everything must be cheap, fast, and endlessly available, small designers, independent makers and local shops are the first to suffer. These are the people who produce in small batches, mend instead of replace, and build their businesses around fairness, not frenzy.
So this year, instead of the stress of mega-sales and midnight refreshes, we’re spotlighting an alternative, rooted in community support and conscious consumption. Across London, independent labels are hosting intimate pop-ups, sample sales and craft markets that prioritise transparency, creative ingenuity and genuine value. Shopping from these spaces not only supports small brands, but helps redistribute revenue away from mass retailers and back into local economies.
Whether you’re looking for thoughtful gifts, one-of-a-kind pieces, or simply a calmer way to approach the season, BRICKS has curated a list of the best independent pop-ups and sustainable sales happening this Black Friday. Because spending power is meaningful, and choosing small can make a big difference.
Fruity Bootique pop-up
20th – 30th November
Female-led underwear brand Fruity Booty is hosting a 10-day pop-up on Greek Street. The brand boasts an impressive array of underwear, swimwear, and has also curated clothing and accessories in the pop-up space. Taking an experimental approach to design, and working with like-minded artists, the brand utilises sustainably sourced and deadstock materials to produce its limited-edition collections.
Charles Jeffrey archive sale
Saturday 22nd & Sunday 23rd November
The prominent Scottish fashion designer, illustrator, and musician – best known for his punk-inspired, gender-fluid designs – is opening the doors to his Charles Jeffrey LOVERBOY archive at Somerset House this weekend. Highlights to look out for include winter-warmer beanie hats (complete with piercings, contrast stitching and devil horns) and Jeffrey’s signature tartan attire at a fraction of RRP. To attend, book a free spot on Eventbrite – and anticipate the fashion fanatics will be out in droves!
Spicy Sisters pop-up
Thursday 27th – Sunday 30th November
Founded by fashion designer and CSM graduate Samanta Virginio, Spicy Sisters is a community-focused independent designer pop up. Alongside Virgino’s own womenswear and accessories label, the pop-up will feature: Pickles Knitwear, Jessica Jarvis, O.K.MASON, La Toile, Ynoi Studio, Grand Pear, Manuela Cabrales, Tree of Saba, Edge o’ Beyond, La Granni and UNUI. Highlights include Pickles Knitwear “Guiness Is Good For You” sweater vest, O.K.MASON’s hilarious ashtrays, and Ynoi Studio’s drippy candle jewellery.
APOC “100 One of Ones” curated collection
Online & In store from Thursday 27th November
The much beloved independent designer store has curated a special selection for the holiday season of “100 One of Ones” – that’s 100 one-of-a-kind designs created by the store’s global roster of boundary-pushing artisans exclusively for this drop. For this release, each maker was invited to reinterpret a classic in their own language, twisting their signature silhouettes into delightfully off-kilter designs. The result? A collection for true originals – the ones who can spot an artisanal hem from across the room and love nothing more than saying, “Oh, this? It’s a one-off.”
Glisten Cosmetics x Not A Phase Community Market
Friday 28th November
Makeup brand Glisten Cosmetics is joining forces with Not A Phase later this month in London for their Community Pop-Up Market, creating a joyful, safe space for LGBTQIA+ people and allies to connect while supporting the UK’s Trans+ community. Expect Pride Flag Liners with profits donated to Not A Phase, plus a line-up of creatives including tattoos by Harry, makeup advice from Glow Up star Jack Oliver, and handmade accessories and art prints from a range of independent makers. For those who can’t attend, Glisten’s Pride Liners will still be available online with the same donations applied. Consider this your invitation to shop, support, and celebrate community all at once.
Kinship Archive Sale
Friday 28th – Sunday 30th November
Brand development agency and boutique Awaykin is hosting the next edition of its Kinship Archive Sale, bringing together past-season gems and rare pieces from the independent labels it champions across its London store, and its New York and Paris showrooms. Hosted on Bethnal Green Road in East London, this three-day event is one for slow-fashion devotees and collectors hunting for beautifully made pieces with real provenance.
Shop from a range of rising indie labels, including: &Daughter, ARCS, ACMH by Magic Castle, Berner Kühl, Café Mountain, Dudley Coppice, Gander, Geordie Campbell, Heresy, HH-118389225, ioannes, KSENIASCHNAIDER, La Fetiche, Monokel Eyewear, Nicholas Daley, Octi, Paracia, RUS and Satta. Reserve a spot on Eventbrite here.
Rhi Dancey pop-up & exhibition
Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th November
Welsh designer Rhi Dancey has announced her next weekend pop-up will be held in Dalston, East London to launch her latest artist collaboration: a 3-piece collection with zany fine artist Elena Fiorenza Gatti. There will be an exhibition and installation of Fiorenza’s work, alongside a curated edit of designer pieces ideal for holiday gifting. As if that wasn’t enough, you’ll also be treated to free matcha, seasonal treats and endless goodie to browse from a range of small makers – a perfect weekend plan, if you ask us.
Hairy Mary studio sale
30th November
If you do care to keep up with a quicker trend cycle, then the glossy mags will all tell you one thing: plaid is back on top for AW25. To wet your appetites, Tartanic designer Hairy Mary is hosting a studio sale packed with her classic yet chaotic handmade patchwork kilts, from micro-minis to multi-layer maxis, and the kind of playful silhouettes beloved by London’s alt-cool crowd – including Saoirse-Monica Jackson, Rachel Chinouriri, Aimee Lou Wood, The Last Dinner Party, Confidence Man’s Janet Planet and Baby Queen. Prices will be studio-sale silly, and knowing designer Rosie Barton, you can expect at least one delightfully unhinged surprise among her archive.
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