The Flash Mob

Founded in 2007 by indie entrepreneurs Jo Gurney (of label Stella My Star) and Tracey Burns (of T-Boo), Glasgow Craft Mafia is part of the larger, original Craft Mafia which was initially fashioned in Austin, Texas in 2003. With the aim to promote alternative independent crafters in Glasgow and beyond, the GCM, run by chairperson Clare Nicholson, is now the largest Craft Mafia branch in the UK.

The GCM spread their creative word in a variety of ways, the most popular being the Winter Indie Market season. The first upcoming market, Va Va Vintage at Qudos, Queen Margaret Union, sees the GCM members promoting the art of craft by selling their eclectic range of products such as jewellery, clothing and fashion accessories. The mafia then moves on to stints at Mono and Hillhead Library, but before indie market season gets rolling, here's a heads up on some of our favourites - four stalls well worth seeking out.

T-BOO
www.t-boo.com
Co-founder, Tracey Burns, will be there selling her handmade T-Boo jewellery. As an "unashamed hoarder of broken jewellery, rogue buttons, fabric scraps and things that sparkle", Tracey's passion lies in making vintage and reclaimed objects into beautiful new pieces. Our favourite? Her kitschy 'Scrabble Love' bracelet.

THE CURIOUS SWIFT
www.curiousswift.com
Look out for the Curious Swift, whose new jewellery range “Kowai-Kawaii”, literally translated as "scary-cute” in Japanese, combines designer Gini's love for odd creatures, weird monsters and graphics with classic silver and kimono fabric. Each item in the range retails at £35 and they are hand-crafted from sterling silver. It’s not all for women though; every item is also available as a lapel pin for men.

ELECTRA FRENCH
www.electrafrench.com
Electra French offers quirky printed bags and t shirts for men and women which epitomise electro indie cool. An independent clothing company, Electra French's main influence is modern Japanese culture, bringing bold and exciting prints to a European market. Cutting every stencil design for the t shirts by hand not only creates less pollutant waste by not having to reclaim screens with harmful chemicals; it also means that each design is unique.

And introducing...LUCE KNITS
GCM also nurtures new talent, with recent Glasgow School of Art graduates, CU CU (jewellery), Weird Wild Dog (printed accessories) and Luce Knits all attending the Va Va Vintage event at Glasgow QMU. Seen here, Luce Knits’ intricate hand knitted gloves, cuffs and scarves incorporate geometric forms and bold colours.