JOIN the AFICIONADOS
To receive our world of travel and style delivered straight to your inbox.
The Makers is a hot-list collection by The Aficionados for absolute style lovers and those that share our artisanal passion for handmade and crafted creativity. This is our little designers’ hub of independent excitement listing our friends discovered on our travels. From the hand-made to the luxury of bespoke, from rare creations to the everyday items made with intricacy, browse through this lifestyle community that is brimming with originality, thoughtful design and mama-cool creatives.
From a bluebell wood in Perthshire to a smoothly sculpted piece of furniture for a special spot, Angus Ross is a wood crafter and expressive designer of extraordinary proportions.
read moreThis secret emporium is the place to come to discover Mallorca, bottled. An experience in itself, it’s here that you can find the best kind of memento – one that takes you right back to the island.
read moreCreated and built since 1981 by those with a passion for riding, Åre Skidfabrik are Swedish manufacturers of skis and snowboards.
read moreWe all love the touch, feel and look of linen which can add drama to any interior. Over in Mühlviertel in upper Austria, is one of Europe's oldest textile producers, an area that has cultivated flax for centuries.
read moreFounded in 1878 – Blaudruck Wagner is one of the original crafted textile printers in Upper Austria's Mühlviertel, recognised for their iconic blue dyes onto linen and a UNESCO Cultural Heritage.
read moreProudly known as the oldest handcrafted hat maker in Italy, Giuseppe Borsalino created the brand in 1888, in the northern Italian town of Alessandria.
read moreDiscarded fishing nets, creative innovations and robotic 3D printing recycle marine waste off the coast of Greece into designer homewares taking plastic marine waste and turning it into statement furniture.
read moreA city of effortless cool & pioneering Scandi design Copenhagen has long been at the heart of the world’s ceramics stage, from practical to the performative.
read moreClaus Porto’s iconic products run the scented gauntlet from soap to candles, fragrances to hand cream, shampoo bars to shave oil -wrapped in its idiosyncratic printed paper.
read moreMade in their Athens atelier, Callista's bags are iconic, timeless, and one of a kind, each skilfully handmade using age-old crafts and techniques to incorporate Greek heritage
read moreOne of Ireland’s last handloom weavers, Eddie Doherty. At the age of 16, he learned to weave by hand, and he’s been doing so ever since for the next 40 years – with two long stints at large Irish fabric companies in between.
read moreCan you capture the flavours of life in a spirit? Empirical is a Copenhagen based experimental distillery by Lars Williams and Mark Emil Hermansen, creating unusual flavours that capture life through taste.
read moreSome design principles are so uncomplicated and understated that they can be found in different iterations, in different corners of the world. The value placed on craftsmanship is one of these; so is the use of natural materials that not only can last a lifetime, but also get more handsome with each passing year.
read moreFemme Maison is a Vienna based brand founded in 2009 by Franziska Fürpass (*1983, Austria) and George Bezhanishvili (*1984, Georgia). George eventually dropped out, but Franziska pushed through by expanding and reinventing her label whilst studying at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna.
read moreA British heritage olfactory of cultured family legacy, sustainable heart and crafted ethos, producing small-batch fragrances bound to the seasons. using purest ingredients from the little-known to the common, including ginger root, blue gum eucalyptus and black tang seaweed.
read morePatrizia Fabri is often the first port of call for film makers, fashion photographers, models, artists, pop stars and costume designers. From the practical to the outlandish, the brand has become synonymous with old-world charm set to a modern world.
read moreOne of the best boutiques in Vienna - Glein Clothing is an affordable luxury fashion label made in Vienna founded by Sebastian Leitinger - famed for cool organic T shirts and stylish shoes.
read moreWhile your summer beach vacation is probably still a few months away, there’s no harm in fantasizing about days spent sipping cocktails and dancing the night away…
read moreForth-generation hatmaker in Signa Florence since 1875, Grevi stands alongside iconic fashion brands, together celebrating the longevity of Italy’s renowned fashion heritage.
read moreFounded by three self-confessed coffee addicts, Gringo Nordic are serious about its sourcing, production and roasting. What could be better on a visit to Gothenburg to indulge in the nation’s pastime of fika, which involves carving time everyday for ‘coffee and cake’.
read morePiled high to the rafters, you’re unlikely to leave Giorgio’s without chic new headwear, such is the range and high quality of the offerings from this family-run shop in Athens.
read moreHow Zurich's ultra luxe-cool stationers Hieronymus epitomise the very Swiss sense of detail + precision
read moreThe story starts in 1921 with a boy from Belfast who saw an advert for a tailoring apprentice position. Cycling over 100 miles to Donegal, with a dream in his pocket.
read moreFounder Sam Whitten is on a mission to displace plastic frames with a high design, vegan and 100% natural, sustainable alternative - all hand made in Edinburgh, Scotland.
read moreWith a timeless design that transcends trends, Horgenglarus chairs, made in Switzerland, have achieved cult status with their unique craftsmanship in bending large pieces of wood.
read moreA brand this quirky yet with such cohesion, it makes sense that it was created by two brothers, Jan and Patrick Olyslager, who hail from Antwerp.
read moreSwedish womenswear brand House of Dagmar Stockholm is the brainchild of three sisters founded in 2005. Famed for its pristine tailoring with a healthy dose of trend awareness it is testament to the perfect personality alignment of Kristina Tjäder, Sofia Wallenstam and Karin Söderlind.
read moreInis Meáin Knitting Company is an international beacon of knitted design & simple luxe - perched on the ruggedly beautiful Aran Islands as a warm fashion must.
read moreMade with precision, intelligence and a thoughtful consciousness, Simon Jacomet is on a mission to refine every detail of the ski-making process, with as little waste as possible.
read moreHarnessing the power of nature into high-quality skincare through strict sustainable practices, Susanne Kaufmann products use ingredients sourced from the mountains of Austria.
read moreRailing against bland made-for-all-noses perfumes, guerrilla fragrance-makers Le Labo started a revolution with unique, hand-formulated scents and plenty of soul.
read moreKnown as the 'Queen of print' - Vogue, Mary Katrantzou continually pushes the boundaries of textiles, visual drama and innovation, a pioneer of digital art crossed into fashion.
read moreCoats and jackets to last a lifetime, Marfa Stance are bespokely created to every taste including collars, hoods and reversible liners for the ultimate in function meets individuality.
read moreStriving for perfection in the field of tobogganing and skiing, Mach ski are wood, aircraft aluminium, fibreglass and a graphite racing base to create a smooth, fast speed.
read moreRibboned with artistry and created to last, Made In Situ’s design collections tap into centuries-old craft, designed for the future.
read moreFashion designer Magda Butrym, an alumnus of Warsaw’s International School of Costumography and Clothing Design, her label launched in Poland back in 2014 is causing a fashion wave.
read moreMeet Maria Svensson and Esmeralda Vidfar, two wool-loving ladies from Gothenburg on the Swedish west coast. Based in an art-collective studio space with ten other designers and artists, they create the knitwear that they had always dreamed of wearing as spotted by the owners of the creative fashionista den of Gothenburg, Hotel Flora.
read moreMoessmer's luxury wool & cashmere fashion legacy extends far beyond the design boundaries of South Tyrol's Brunico, but it is still a good place to start.
read moreHat maker to the stars, family milliner business Mühlbauer’s designs began over a hundred years ago and now fly from Vienna to top some of the most famous heads in the world.
read moreFor the aficionados of easy, slow wear, Muchache is an ethical brand of soul and purpose, designed for those unfussed with gender rules, 'wear what pleases you'.
read moreMuck’n’Muffins: a sisterly venture of handmade goods in Dunfanaghy Ireland which champion the crafts from ceramics, furniture, toys, vintage finds and serve great coffee.
read moreMariamélia implores us to only fill our homes with objects that have heart and soul, a feel-good minimalism that is stylish and sustainable.
read moreExceptional pieces of precision engineering – Berlin based Mykita sunglasses fuse the handcrafted with high technology to produce eyewear that redefines the aesthetic of luxury.
read moreLet your best friend have the good stuff with Maxbone’s chic coats, Scandi-hued dog beds and gold-plated collars, whose designs fit right into your lifestyle.
read moreLife partners Dax Roll and Joyce Urbanus are at the helm of the interior design studio Nicemakers based in Amsterdam, creators of design hotels and beautifully conceived homes.
read moreMcNutt of Donegal weave tweed and Irish wool on handlooms and has evolved over the years to produce Irish linen, fabric and accessories including wool blankets, throws and scarfs as found at Breac.House.
read moreNissos Beer, brewed on the wild beautiful Cyclades Greek island of Tinos, also known as the holy island, is a crafted natural, chemical-free beer, made with passion by Maya Tsoclis and Alexandros Kouris.
read moreExceptional, natural goodness sourced in Greece is what Neolea is all about following the mantra: 'love more, live better and get more taste out of life'.
read moreUnable to find a hat to hide his growing-out hairdo, Nuriel decided to make his own felt creation. He christened the look as ‘vagabond’ and within six months Nomade Moderne was born.
read moreBurgenland's Gut Oggau winery is Austria's famed and finest biodynamic vineyard, famous also for its association with Austria foodie institution, Taubenkobel.
read more'Oh Yeah,' from cult band 'Yello' to producing ethical, fair-trade chocolate, Oro de Cacao is real chocolate using a manufacturing process that carefully extracts the actual flavour of the bean.
read morePerfumer H is proud to introduce its new flagship on Clifford Street, Mayfair. In keeping with the street’s 18th-century heritage, the store has been designed to evoke Georgian London.
read moreTopping the heads of stylish men and women since 1838, Basque country shop Casa Ponsol in San Sebastian is the oldest hat shop in Spain.
read moreHomeland culture is at the heart of this South Tyrolean fashion label, who creatively rethink statement pieces of traditional alpine garments - like the iconic 'Blue Apron'.
read moreFirst opened 90-years ago by Dominique Rondini as the first sandal cobbler in Saint-Tropez - back when the likes of the fashion world’s Coco Chanel were gracing France’s favoured Pampelonne beach.
read moreBilled as ‘clean’ skis, Rōnin take pride in their environmentally friendly production with a method honed over time. What we love is that Rōnin use bio-friendly resins, natural flax fibre grown in France and poplar, beech and bamboo wood that is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified.
read moreRiedel started as a family trading luxury glassware in northwest Bohemia, then a world center in the trade of crystal glass, Johann Christoph Riedel traveled around until 1723, when he was tragically murdered. His sons and grandsons took continued the business, married into wealthy glass families and ultimately settled in Austria.
read moreIn the hat industry since 1919, this Swiss business knocks out handmade, crafted, hats of every sort & kind from their hat making workshop 'Hutwerkstatt'.
read moreFamiliar done differently. Thus the slogan of Sagan Vienna goes, an emerging accessories brand based in the Austrian capital. The two founders; Tanja Bradaric and Taro Ohmae, of Croatian and Japanese heritage, respectively, attended the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, where they studied fashion under the Belgian designer talents Raf Simons and Veronique Branquinho.
read moreImagine if you could distil the language of Greek coastline living filled with eternal summer and put it into creative textile design. Well, that's just what the Greek siblings Grigoris and Constantinos Samaras did – the founders of cult brand: SEA YOU SOON.
read moreA small, homegrown family company with high ethical standards produces a range of candles and diffusers which paint a picture of the largest Hebridean island.
read moreWhat do you do if you inherit six acres of fig orchards? If you’re Antonio Longo you start Santomiele, a luxury confectionary business that uses the sun-dried figs in delicious handmade chocolates, stuffed figs, cakes and syrups.
read moreFor intuitive international fashion designer Sina Thomaseth, founder of Thomaseth Teamfashion, it is always at her roots where she finds the best inspo.
read moreProducing both slalom, race carvers and all-mountain skis, Timbaer skis come in a range of materials, but each benefit from a bamboo core - giving their skis unique flexibility yet sturdiness.
read moreA true chameleon stylist, Stephanie dips into a creative plethora of design heritage, whereby not one specific touchpoint defines her touch; refreshingly alive; it's edgy, clever, disruptive, and often, but not always, popped with sorbet colours.
read moreSmall batch distillery produces this artisanal Gin - infused by wild mountain herbs from Austria's Vorarlberg region, make this the hallmark of taste.
read moreCue Zeus+Dione, a Greek resortwear brand that celebrates Hellenic culture and lifestyle. The brand, named after the ancient Greek goddess of love’s parents, looks toward the age-old knowledge of artisans all over Greece, who custom-make, weave, dye, embroider and cut the Zeus+Dione textiles.
read more