Handmade Ceramics Nicola Gillis Form Lifestyle Store

We're a small independent lifestyle store and we love working with other small like-minded businesses; celebrating the makers and craftsmanship behind everything that we buy and sell.

The pieces that we stock have been made slowly and with care, with a focus on natural materials, longevity, and simplicity in design.

We hope that our customers will treasure the pieces they buy from us, consider the people behind the products, and appreciate the time that has gone into making each individual piece. We hope this will mean that people buy less, carefully consider each purchase, and enjoy the pieces they buy from us for many years to come.

You can read more about our values and our own story below.

Our Story

In 2015, my partner Harry and I (Elly) made the decision to move from London to Manchester. We were both fed up of our jobs and we hoped to be able to live a slower and more considered life here. I also had a dream of opening my own small shop that reflected our love of handmade pieces.

My original aim was to help out smaller makers who were making great products but struggling to get their work into physical stores. Both coming from creative backgrounds, Harry and I were aware of the difficulties and barriers that small makers face when trying to get their work seen. As consumers, we also struggled to find the beautifully handcrafted pieces that we wanted to buy and felt frustrated with the prevailing ‘throw-away’ culture, and seeing the same brands and mass-produced products over and over again.

I spent over two years planning, researching and looking for the perfect space for our shop. In June 2017, I had almost given up hope when I came across a beautiful building complete with spiral staircase. Although a little hidden away, and unusual for a shop setting, it felt just right. After a great deal of cleaning, lifting multiple layers of carpet, and building of interior displays, we opened our doors in September 2017.

Like our makers, we're very creative and love a hands-on approach. Since getting the keys to our space, we have taken on all of the interior work in the ourselves (with a little practical help from Harry's dad in the very beginning). Harry has also created all of our branding and or website.

6 years on, with an Italian Greyhound and two-year-old son in tow, we're still in our lovely space. We enjoy being a small business with a small team, meeting and connecting with small makers, and we hope to be here for many more years to come!

Our Values

Craftsmanship

We collaborate with artisans and makers that value traditional craftsmanship. Our makers have been selected for their compassion and dedication to their craft, their unique skill, and their attention to detail.

Working directly with makers is at the heart of our business. For many of the pieces we sell, every step of the making process is by hand, and every step from the initial designs, to the testing, to the finished product is entirely by one individual, fuelled by a passion for craft and process. Production is slow, and as a result it can take several weeks to complete a small batch of a product – but it is this slow pace and enjoyment of the process that results in such beautiful and unique pieces which we will be cherished, and cared for, for a lifetime.

Longevity & Timeless Design

We select products with timeless designs; they are made well, fit for purpose, and intended to stand the test of time. We are not led by trends, instead we focus on quality, simplicity in design, form, and functionality. We carefully consider each maker that we work with, and each product that we stock. By selecting products based on quality and considered design, we hope that the pieces that you buy from us will last and be enjoyed for many years, reducing the need to replace them. We have chosen products that we can continue to re-purchase over a long period of time, enabling us to maintain long standing relationships with our makers, supporting and investing in their businesses as much as our own.

Our World & Responsibilities

Knowing where the things we buy come from and how they are made are of the utmost importance. We aim to encourage a deeper understanding of how things have been made, alongside an appreciation of materials and process, resulting in a greater respect for the things we buy. We are acutely aware of the impact of overconsumption on the planet, and we are mindful as a shop not to add to this. We are always transparent about where and how all our products have been made, and strongly advocate the idea of ‘buying less, buying better’. We choose to support small socially responsible brands and individual producers who are mindful of the environment, favour natural and sustainably-sourced materials, and are transparent about their production.

We have opted not to work with bigger brands who produce on a much larger scale and with very little transparency. Our makers and the smaller brands that we work with produce in small quantities at a time, and are very open about their working practices. We are mindful of the quantities we order from each maker, in order to limit the amount of packaging and the number of separate deliveries that we receive, and are looking for ways to offset our own carbon footprint, including only shipping within the UK. Working in a (mostly) seasonless way and avoiding trends and sales, also allows us to cut down on smaller orders and multiple deliveries.

Packaging & Printed Materials

All of our own packaging is made from recyclable or biodegradable materials. Where possible, we reuse boxes and packaging that we receive from our makers to send out our own orders, and we encourage our customers to also reuse or repurpose the packaging that they receive from us. We try to use as little packaging as possible when sending out orders, many of our items are fragile and for these we reuse old packaging and/or biodegradable paper ‘bubble wrap’. Our notecards are printed locally on recycled paper using vegetable inks, and we are no longer including paper invoices in our orders (unless specifically requested).

We choose products which have as little additional packaging as possible. This is another area which influences what we buy, as we look for makers who are making a conscious effort to reduce or rethink the way in which they package their products. Where outer packaging is necessary, we look for those that use recycled and recyclable options from responsible sources. The cards and paper goods that we stock are all made from FSC certified paper stock, and come with biodegradble sleeves or 'naked' with no outer packaging. We are constantly assessing areas where we can further minimise any waste in our business, and welcome any suggestions or recommendations.

Community

We enjoy bringing people together through workshops, events and opportunities to meet makers and local creatives. We’re proud to have grown a small community around our store. We have made many great friends along the way and have connected like-minded businesses and makers who have gone on to collaborate. We're always happy to share our story and what we have learnt on our journey so far too.

Above all, we strongly believe in supporting other small businesses and shopping locally. The way that we choose to spend our money – what to buy, and what not to buy – can positively shape our communities and the future.

Form Lifestyle Store Workshops Manchester