Cork Craft & Design launches campaign encouraging more conscious Christmas gifting ahead of Black Friday

One of the largest collectives of multi-disciplinary craft makers in the country, Cork Craft & Design, is urging shoppers to step back from the pre-Christmas sales frenzy and choose locally made, handcrafted gifts instead.

The organisation, which represents over 110 Cork-based makers, has launched a #ChooseCraftInstead campaign to inspire more mindful gifting this festive season, spotlighting sustainable, locally made alternatives to mass-produced retail. The initiative highlights how every handmade purchase helps sustain traditional skills, supports local jobs, and keeps Cork’s creative culture alive.

Michael Whyte, Chair of Cork Craft & Design and owner of Ro Óg Wooden Toys, said: “Black Friday can make shopping feel fast, frantic, and disposable. However, craft is the complete opposite of that. Every piece created by our makers carries with it time, care, and creativity. When you buy something handmade, you’re investing in a story, a skill, and a community. #ChooseCraftInstead is about slowing down and reconnecting with what gift-giving should be about: thoughtfulness, meaning, and longevity.”

From hand-thrown ceramics and illustrated prints to sustainable wooden toys, textiles, jewellery and furniture, Cork Craft & Design’s network of makers offers over 4,000 handcrafted gifts. They are available online at corkcraftanddesign.ie and in-store at Douglas Court Shopping Centre and St. Patrick’s Woollen Mills, Douglas.

Jade Hogan, Cork Craft & Design Operations Manager, added: “There’s something incredibly special about gifting something that was made by hand, knowing that someone has shaped, stitched, painted, or carved it with intention. Every piece has its own personality and its own story to tell. 

“For us as makers, every purchase is a validation of what we do, a way to continue our craft, and a reminder that there’s still huge value in things made with time and care. We see that more and more shoppers want to give gifts that have meaning… and that’s exactly what local craft provides.”

The #ChooseCraftInstead campaign follows a record-breaking Cork Craft Month in August, which featured 99 events, including 80 hands-on workshops, and attracted over 22,000 attendees.

For more on Cork Craft & Design, visit corkcraftanddesign.ie.