The Best Alternative Shopping Experiences In Dublin This Christmas

By Colette Fitzpatrick

While we’ve been working on considering our consumption of things more carefully lately and don’t encourage the mindless accumulation of possessions or waste, ’tis the season…or ’tis almost the season…and all that. We’ve all got precious loved ones we want to thank and show our appreciation to. So, in order to make sure that all the people on your nice list get something lovely and we support smaller, local makers and companies and keep our consumption habits in mind, we thought it might be a good idea to put together a list of some alternative shopping experiences happening in Dublin in the run up to Christmas. Shop small, shop smart, shop mindfully, all without missing out on beautiful things in life.

1. Space Out Sister‘s Babycham Saturdays

Our favourite vintage gem, Space Out Sister, will be playing host to a special shopping event each Saturday in December during which you can enjoy a Babycham, some Christmas cheer, and browse Kiki’s stunning curation of vintage nightwear and lingerie. Plus, purchases of giftcards of €50 will have €10 added on top for free! Sounds magical to us.

Starting tomorrow at 11am until 4pm in the store above Two Pups Coffee at 74 Francis Street.

2. Zero Waste Christmas Festival

Taking place in The Green Door Market (A1 Bluebell Business Centre, Old Naas Rd, Dublin 12), this special event will take place on Sunday the 2nd of December and involves talks, workshops, info-stands, swap-shops and a market, all dedicated to helping you reduce your waste this Christmas. With tips to cut down on food waste, packaging, wrapping and more, the event aims to help you make better choices this holiday season, upcycle and reuse. Come shop in the market and learn a thing or two about being kinder to the planet all year round while you’re at it too!

3. Dublin Flea Christmas Market 2018

The Dublin Flea is an institution and the Christmas Market is its even more festive iteration. Taking place on the 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 13th, 14th, 15th and the 16th of December in Point Square (East Wall Road, Dublin 1), it will host 140 different stalls each long weekend, all entirely manned by creative Irish start-ups and small businesses selling works of art, examples of contemporary design, hand-made crafts, retro, vintage and antique collectibles and pieces and delicious and healthy artisan food products.

4. Gifted

Taking place at the RDS from the 5th to the 9th of December, Gifted sees work by makers of all kinds from all over Ireland. From silk scarfs to hand-bound notebooks, artworks to cosmetics, there are all sorts of examples of incredible craft and design practices. In addition, there is a large food emporium, where delicious Irish-made treats will be available to sample and purchase. A large, slick presentation, this is one you have to pay into but is a large-scale one-stop shop for those seriously interested in Irish design.

5. Spirit of Dublin Craft Fair

This craft fair is in its third year and takes place in the Teeling Whiskey Distillery (get the name of the fair now? “Spirit”? Geddit?) Happening on the 8th of December from 10am into the evening, it will see the local artisan community present some delicious festive treats and products, including some of Teeling’s own food collaborations, as well as a careful curation of fashion, interior and artistic gems.

With plenty of great options in Dublin alone (and many more both inside and outside our capital), it’s never been easier to shop small, shop local and shop smart. Let’s make our Christmases greener this year!