Latest News

New Souk!

Just in time for Spring, the Souk launches its new home on the 10 March at the In Shops Mall Church Lane, Belfast. Other dates for this year are: 14 April, 12 & 26 May, 9 & 30 June, 14 July & 26 August 2012.

March will also see the opening of the first ever Souk Shop. Launching March 1st, open every week, Thursday through Sunday and we're offering 20% in store as part of Belfast's Independent Retail (5 -11 of March).

Come and visit, put us in your diary!

ReThink Waste Workshop extravaganza!

Get ready to reduce, reuse and recycle at a two-day revamping extravaganza in Foyleside Shopping Centre on 18-19 February. Sponsored by the Department of the Environment's Rethink Waste Campaign and delivered by the award-winning Fashion Souk, fashion conscious shoppers will learn how to revamp and update furniture, shop smarter with customised high street investment pieces and even have the opportunity to get favourite old clothes mended for free.  

Experts will demonstrate how to create waste free herb gardens to reduce waste in your kitchen, while green stylists will give the know-how on prolonging the life of a make up bag and advising on green and waste free trans-seasonal wardrobes. These free workshops will be taking place from 10AM -4PM on Saturday and 1-5PM on Sunday.  

Bringing together our popular winter workshops, we are holding an exhibition featuring work completed over the winter. There will be 'Living Dolls' on podiums around Foyleside, showcasing collections from current Foyleside Boutiques inspiring you to get creative with your purchases with uniquely revamped designs. We'll be showing you how you can invest now in a transeasonal wardrobe to reduce costs in the future. There will also be the opportunity to learn how to Grow Your Own Herb Garden, and have a go at our very popular weaving and clothes customisation workshops, including what you never knew about plastic bottles and their uses.You can even book to have your clothes mended. We will also be introducing 'Revamp Your Make-Up Bag'. All you need to do is bring along all your old make-up, sit down for a consultation with our make-up artist and discover what items can be salvaged, cleaned up and restored, and what needs to be replaced.

To book a place on any of the workshops please email hello@rethinkrevamprestyle.com.
Hope to see you there!

Upcycle this Season’s Trends

Belfast FASHIONWEEK is fast approaching and we can't wait to see the new collections. The Fashion Souk will be at Fashion Week showcasing the first ever Boutique Souk collection alongside an exhibition of current season trends customised and upcycled to take you right through 2012.

Featured Photoshoot

This month we sent photographer Youcef Gold, and two lovely models down to the new Cabaret Supperclub on Upper Arthur Street for a vintage photoshoot. If you haven't been to the Supperclub, it's worth a visit! The decor is gorgeous and you will be treated to an old fashioned entertainment and dining experience, a very glamorous night!
This shoot focused on original clothing, and reproduction make-up and hair from the 1940's-1960's. However, just for fun, we popped in a twenties inspired shoot at the end.
A big thank you to our models Julija and Amber, and our photographer Youcef, as well as the Cabaret Supperclub for hosting us. Looking forward to our next shoot!
http://www.cabaretbelfast.com/

HOLA LOLA Sale

HOLA LOLA are firm favourites at the Fashion Souk's for a bit of colour and kitsch. Stocking fantastic fairly made bags, wallets and purses- all in quirky and retro styles. "Carefully designed and made with passion", founder Jenny Simon. HOLA LOLA uses only fair trade retailers, where child labour has been eliminated and workers are paid honestly.
Starting at the end of January HOLA LOLA are holding a fabulous sale, to warm up your winter with 50% off their ethically sourced oilcloth bags. Including free postage on all purchases, so at our next Souk- if you see two red-heads, a blonde and a brunette laden down with quirky bags, it will be the Souk team!

http://www.hola-lola.com/index.html

Letter from the Editor

This month has been focused on gearing up for our RethinkrevampRestyle event in Derry and the launch of our Spring Souk on 10 March. Of course the office is full of excitement about the opening of our first ever Boutique Souk and we hope you will come along and join us for the opening on 1 March. We value and appreciate all your support of the Souk and look forward to seeing you soon.

Rock ‘N’ Roll Bride

This month The Fashion Souk lovesRock 'N' Roll Bride, http://www.rocknrollbride.com/ This little blog has built right up from a small personal blog started in 2007 covering less-than traditional and unique weddings. Today, fans visit to view the stunning photography and beautiful styling, and to get inspiration for their own weddings/parties and rock 'n' roll plans. This is not just a blog for brides to be, but a go to place for fashion trends, quirky party themes and rebellious ideas.
Featuring in The British Journal of Photography, Tattoo Revolution and The Guardian newspaper, Rock 'N' Roll Bride is a trend setter, and The Fashion Souk have our eyes peeled for upcoming posts!

Change the World for a Fiver Competition

We can't stop reading this fantastic book in The Fashion Souk office!
To be in with a chance of winning a copy for you and a friend, recommend a friend's email address for our mailing list! Please email to info@thefashionsouk.com.

Derry Workshops

Spring clean your life and style & be gorgeously green with Rethink Waste this season.
Sponsored by the Department of the Environment's Rethink Waste Campaign, Foyleside Shopping centre will host the two-day revamping extravaganza where you will be able to upcycle clothes, learn how to shop smarter with our collection of customised high street investment pieces, revamp and update your furniture and why not book in to get your favourite clothes mended for free. With workshops running all day you won't miss out. See our website for details rethinkrevamprestyle.com .

Saturday 18 February 10.00-4.00pm, Sunday 19 February 1.00-5.00pm.



WORKSHOPS:

Rethink Your Lifestyle: waste-free herb gardens. Throughout the day.

Make-Up Revamp: prolong the life of your make-up bag. Throughout the day.

Complimentary clothes mending service: Throughout the day.

Furniture-finishing Revamping workshops: 11.00am - 1.00pm and 2.00 - 4.00pm.

Hand-sewing patchwork techniques with a contemporary twist: 11.00am - 1.00pm and 2.00 - 4.00pm.

Knitting with plastic bags: 11.00am - 1.00pm and 2.00 - 4.00pm.


Email hello@rethinkrevamprestyle.com to book a place at one of these FREE workshops.



DEMONSTRATIONS:

You can also come along to our Green Styling talks at 1.00 and 3.00pm.

And our Derry based Seamstress will be demonstrating upcycling garments.

Featured Photoshoot

The Fashion Souk are very excited to bring you our first feature photoshoot, using beautiful souk ambassadors and featuring the furniture of Little Vintage Home.
Styled by the lovely Emma Shannon from CMPR the shots used pieces from Oxfam, Ton's of Sparkles, The Cats PJs, Vintage by Jane Wells and Nor-Lisa Fashion. Make up artist Nichola Graham from UrMakeup transformed the girls into fashion queens with gothic plum lips and knotted buns, as seen on the catwalk at Gucci.

One of our favourite looks was an Oxfam outfit: a long John Rocha ruffle coat and Topshop embellished grey vest top with a very on trend Marks & Spencer leather pencil skirt.

Winter Workshops

This winter's DoE sponsored workshop campaign has been hugely successful. Already more than 2 tonnes of unwanted furniture have been diverted from landfill in November alone and we're not even finished yet.
Our workshops have visited Derry, Limavady, Magherafelt, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine, Newtownabbey, Strabane and of course, Belfast. We have worked with students, business people and young families and have seen some fantastic creative results.
www.rethinkrevamprestyle.com

Christmas Souk

Spires Mall, Belfast was transformed into a mecca of glittering stalls for our Seasonal Souk, with a pre-loved fashion show, furniture and textile revamping workshops, revamping installation and Rethink exhibition showcase.

The Fashion Souk hosted more than 40 stalls featuring vintage clothing, pre-loved accessories, handcrafted jewellery and revamped homewares, with incredible bargains to be found from our Soukers who came along to have a good old wardrobe clear out just in time for the party season.
The Fashion Souk Team really enjoyed sifting through the rails, and between us we found a gorgeous leopard print jacket, a pale pink silk blouse, a lovely little baby-grow with a ruffled bum, fabulous wedges, stunning stilettos and a beautiful leather bag from Zara.

The Rethink Catwalk showcased clothes and accessories from Oxfam, Ton's of Sparkles, The Cats PJs, Vintage by Jane Wells and Nor-Lisa Fashion. Models confidently stepped around the beautiful Christmas Tree, and were helped down from the platform by two very handsome young gentlemen.
A three piece jazz band fronted by the very talented Fiona Trotter who dashed down from Derry to be a part of our Souk, created some festive cheer with gorgeous seasonal tunes.

While shoppers shopped, Ugly Ducking, Hola LoLa and our own Rethink Team got busy in the Rethink workshop area.

Souk get's Green for Christmas

The team and our dedicated textile revampers have been making gorgeously green Christmas wreaths from our favourite unwanted jumpers. For a 'how-to' log onto www.rethinkrevamprestyle.com and click on the tips section.

Stall Holder of the Month- Little Vintage Home

Little Vintage Home specialises in vintage and revamped furniture. Owner Fiona McCabe has grown the business through her love for all things vintage and now has a range of items available including homeware, handpainted furniture, handmade accessories and other unique treasures.
Many of the pieces at Little Vintage Home are one of a kind and make your home feel much more special. Fiona's motto is "we only sell what we would love to have in our own Little Vintage Home," and here at The Fashion Souk we would especially love to have one of her revamped chairs or the delicate glass display cabinet she brought with her to our Christmas Souk!
Fiona was our featured exhibition in our Christmas Souk Workshop, and her revamped furniture was also showcased in our photoshoot.

Make sure to check out the Little Vintage Home Facebook page,http://www.facebook.com/littlevintagehome where you can see many of the gorgeous items Fiona has for sale.

Letter from the Editor

Hey Soukers
It has been a really rewarding year for The Fashion Souk, and we have engaged with many projects culminating in a very successful Christmas Souk, based in Spires Mall.
2012 looks set to be our biggest and best year yet with lots of exciting events and plans in the pipeline. We are travelling to Derry to expand our horizons and work towards Derry City of Culture 2013. However we will still continue to have Belfast events and we are always looking for new faces to get involved whether its stallholders or event volunteers.
If you would like to get involved please do get in touch: info@thefashionsouk.com.

Wishing you all a very Happy (and green!) Christmas

Love Aly x

Photographer Profile

Belfast-based photographer Youcef Boubetnikh was the perfect photographer to capture the spirit of our most recent event. He has built up a wealth of experience from his time living all over the world in exotic locations including Algeria, Tunisia and France.
Having taken up photography as a full-time career just over a year ago his work is well-known, and he has already built up an impressive portfolio ranging from interior shots of restaurants and bars to high fashion, actors, DJs and bands.

The Fashion Souk loved his professional and friendly attitude and the gorgeous photos taken of every aspect of the Souk. We were especially impressed with the photoshoot of the models showcasing all the beautiful clothes in our fashion show!

Belfast Cookery School

Belfast Cookery School has recently taken on the challenge of bringing The Fashion Souk into the kitchen!

Mourne Seafood Bars in Belfast and Dundrum are known all over Ireland, with fresh fish caught daily from the local ports of Kilkeel and Annalong. Belfast Cookery School was born out of Mourne and focuses on introducing customers and students to lesser known species of fish, to educate fish lovers on local delicacies and to take the pressure off the declining cod population. With Italian and Dinner Party options also available, there are classes to suit all palates, ages and levels of experience. These can last from between a few hours to a day, and you can book as a group or an individual.

Having personally experienced some of the classes Belfast Cookery School has to offer, we can highly recommend them based on taste, atmosphere and ethical ethos.

For more information, please email info@belfastcookeryschool.com or have a look at their website www.belfastcookeryschool.com.

Stella and Dot

This month The Fashion Souk lovesStella and Dot!
A jewellery company with the promotion of women, and a greener lifestyle at the forefront of business. Recently launched in the UK from America, Stella and Dot jewellery has been worn by celebrities from Jennifer Aniston and Penelope Cruz, right through to Xfactor and Strictly contestants.
Founding Stylist Alison Brown is looking for new stylists and trunk sellers to join the company, email her at allybrownwork@gmail.com and have a look at the website www.stelladot.co.uk/alisonbrown for Stella and Dot's range of products!

Make-Up Artist Profile

With over 10 years' experience enchancing beauty, Nichola Graham was our first choice to makeover our models and promo staff at our Seasonal Souk. Her innovative approach to makeup is well known by models and clients alike. Her enviable portfolio includes big names like Diet Coke, as well as TV & print campaigns, fashion & beauty spreads in Confetti, Totally Dublin and U Magazine to name a few.
Nichola has been sharing her creative talents teaching makeup artistry for more than seven years and her enthusiasm for her work shows in every original look she creates.

The Fashion Souk models were transformed by Nichola and her team from 'Urmakeup' with icy lace effects for our fashion show to a more dramatic gothic look for the photoshoot, while the promo girls were sent off around Belfast with little snowballs dotted around their eyes!

Rethink Waste NI

Over the past few months The Fashion Souk have been working very closely with ReThink Waste to bring you revamping and restyling workshops. We have now combined with ReThink NI and you have been added to their mailing list, this will keep you updated with all the green goings on in Belfast.

Christmas Souk Fully Booked!

The Fashion Souk is very excited to announce that the Christmas Souk is now fully booked!

We have 50 fantastic stalls booked in for our Spires event on the 26th, making this a not-to-be-missed event this Christmas.
Stalls range from headscarves, vintage clothing, cupcake stands and china home ware right through to sweet treats and private sellers having a good old wardrobe clear out.

You'll be sure to find the perfect Christmas gift, and to pick up a few lovely items for yourself as well!

Looking forward to the 26th.

Until then...

The Fashion Souk xx

Christmas Souk

26 November, Spires Mall, Belfast 9.30-3.30pmNew venue!!! Start the festive season in style at 2011's Christmas Souk. Linking up with Rethink Waste's Let's get Wasted campaign our seasonal souk will offer free drop-in textile revamping workshops, live music, waste minimisation makeovers and the latest recycling tips and hints as well as a green catwalk fashion show and our gorgeous market stalls with everything from pre-loved clothing, handmade jewellery and textiles to vintage clothes, accessories & retro homewares.

The Winter Souk will also launch the Souk Spy. Our photographers will be roaming the stalls to find Souk's best dressed, and to capture those bargain purchases. Souk Spy's Best Dressed in pre-loved, vintage or customised clothing will win £40 of Souk vouchers to be used at upcoming 2012 Souks.
To book your stall email: contact@thebelfastsouk.com

Future Souk: Selling Opportunities

We are always looking for new ways to update our current Souk structure. Starting this month at the Christmas Souk we will be offering old and new customers an innovative new selling resource. We will be offering a two services:
1 For everyone who just wants to offload their wardrobe we will purchase your second hand clothes and accessories
2 For all those reluctant sellers we will sell on your unwanted designer pieces and split the profit with you... a win-win situation
If you are an individual who only has a few items, a longstanding stall holder with more stock on your hands, or a charity, please get in touch via info@thefashionsouk.com
We value our clients and want to keep them at the heart of our business in 2012 we will be offering mentoring and support in conjunction with local enterprise agencies to individuals setting up as market traders.

Rethink your lifestyle this winter

This winter we are working alongside the Department of the Environment's Rethink Waste campaign to offer students across Belfast and the North West Free revamping workshops.

With our team of talented revampers 18-25 year old students will learn how to rework & revamp old furniture & textiles letting participants take the gorgeous as-good-as-new pieces away with them. All materials are provided and you can register online for a workshop near you at: www.rethinkrevamprestyle.com

Fashion Week A/W

The Fashion Souk hosted a mini-souk over the three evenings of Belfast Fashion Week in October and had a great time watching the shows and selling our wares. There were some gorgeous collections stomping down the catwalk and our stall holders did not disappoint, boasting an eclectic mix of pre-loved, retro and vintage fashion and accessories as well as gorgeous art collages from Off-one http://www.off-one.co.uk. A  big thank you to all who took part and gave a new set up a chance!

Christmas Souk Stall Plan

Dear Soukers,

We have put together a new price plan with several different stall options, to cater for the budget right through to the established, stall holder. Please see below for details.

Mini Rail- 1x 4' rail and chair. £20

Mini Table- 1x 4' table and chair. £20

Small Table and Rail- 1x 4' table, 1x 4' rail and chair. £30

Large Rail- 2x 4' rail and chair. £30

Large Table- 1x 6.5' table and chair. £30

Large Table and Rail- 1x 6.5' table, 1x 4' rail and chair. £40

Large Rail and Table- 2x 4' rail, 1x 4' table and chair. £40.

Please call 079 0431 2899 and ask for Lucy, if you are unsure what stall type would suit you best she will be able to advise you. Payment is to be made in cash or cheque, no later than the 18th November 2011.

Can't wait to see you there,

The Fashion Souk xx

Stall Holder of the Month

Picture House Vintage is a Fashion Souk staple, founder and vintage aficionado Tina is an expert at sourcing quirky one-off pieces for her customers. The collection is regularly updated and includes reasonably priced and high quality pieces dating from as early as the 1930s!
Tina studied Film and Photography at university and has a background in retail, her now thriving business grew out of her love of vintage jewellery. She has used The Souk as a platform to meet new customers and we are very pleased to have her support.
Make sure you check out Picture House Vintage's new online shop; perfect for last minute gifts and spoiling yourself rotten. http://www.picturehousevintage.com/

Letter from the Editor

Hey Soukers
A big hello from all of us here at our new offices on Ormeau Rd, we hope you are well and looking forward to your greenest christmas ever! 2011 has been a year of highs, lows, successes and of course some failures but the Souk is bouncing back reenergised later this month at the Christmas Souk in Spires.
In 2012 we will be building on previous success and are looking forward to working with all our faithful stallholders as well as new talent and unknown faces. If you would like to get involved please do get in touch: contact@thebelfastsouk.com.

Love Aly x

Fairtrade Belfast Business Awards 2011

On the 18 October local business who promote the sale of fair trade products were celebrated in the Fairtrade Belfast Business Awards. At the ceremony two ministers and a former Lord Mayer were present, making this a high profile event on the green circuit. During the evening Minister Anderson commented that fair trade is. 'at the heart,' of our time. Five Belfast businesses were presented with awards, and an additional award for Outstanding Contribution to Fairtrade was presented to Dr Christopher Stange, Chair of Fairtrade Belfast and Hon. Consul for St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Other awards were presented to:

• Fairtrade Inspires- Best Fairtrade Independant Retailer.
• Northern Ireland Co-operative- Best Fairtrade Supermarket.
• Common Grounds- Best Fairtrade Caf.
• Oxfam Ireland- Best Fairtrade Employer.
• The John Hewitt- Best Fairtrade Bar or Restaurant.

Belfast FASHIONWEEK

The Fashion Souk will showcase a selection of it's favourite stalls throughout FASHIONWEEK.
Open from 7pm and running until after the shows, make sure you pop down for a fair-fashion fix.

Weekly Souk Postponed

Due to unforeseen circumstances, we are sad to announce the Home Souk will not be happening this weekend. We will post new venue details as soon as we can. Love The Souk Team x

Stall holder of the month

Rape Crisis
Rape Crisis have been regular soukers since we began in February 2010. Every month they come along to our Humble Jumble section to offer shoppers affordable clothing with all the proceeds going directly back to the charity.
The Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Centre has been providing free confidential counselling, advice and advocacy services to survivors of sexual violence and abuse and those who support them since 1982.

The Fashion Souk welcomes charitable organisations to take part in our markets and offers a 50% reduction in costs. If you represent a charity and would like to take a stall at please get in touch: contact@thebelfastsouk.com

Belfast Cycle Chic

Thanks to everyone who took part in Belfast's most fashionable bike set - showcasing collections from Jessica Edlin, White Bicycle, Bean Boutique, Bang, Best Vintage and the Bike Dock.

Interested in a stall?

If you would like to be involved the first step is to complete the online application form - found by following the link below, then the Fashion Souk Team will review and approve your application before passing on the booking details.
Stalls vary in price depending on requirements, a table top stall costs as little as £20 - please note new stallholders are required to try out one Souk before making multiple bookings.

Souk Application Form - CLICK HERE!

Weekly Souk!

Kicking off weekend beginning 13 August the weekly Souk will run every Saturday and Sunday 12 - 6pm @ The Red Barn Gallery, Belfast and is FREE for everyone. Whats more stalls are even better value costing almost 50% LESS than before.

Running on a four week rotation we will bring you the very best of our Souk traders. Put simply you can enjoy…

1st weekend of the month: Boutique Souk
2nd weekend of the month: Fashion Souk
3rd weekend of the month: Home Souk
4th weekend of the month: Fashion Souk

Green news & tips - make your own elderflower bubbly!

Make your own Elderflower bubbly this summer -

•    4 litres hot water •    Juice and zest of four lemons •    2 tablespoons white wine vinegar •    About 15 elderflower heads, in full  bloom •    700g sugar •    Dried Yeast (maybe)

 
Method
1. Put the hot water and sugar into a large container (a spotlessly clean bucket is good) and stir until the sugar dissolves, then top up with cold water so you have 6 litres of liquid in total.

2. Add the lemon juice and zest, the vinegar and the flower heads and stir gently.

3. Cover with clean muslin and leave to ferment in a cool, airy place for a couple of days. Take a look at the brew at this point, and if it's not becoming a little foamy and obviously beginning to ferment, add a pinch of yeast.

4. Leave the mixture to ferment, again covered with muslin, for a further four days. Strain the liquid through a sieve lined with muslin and decant into sterilised strong glass bottles with champagne stoppers (available from home-brewing suppliers) or Grolsch-style stoppers, or sterilized screw-top plastic bottles (a good deal of pressure can build up inside as the fermenting brew produces carbon dioxide, so strong bottles and seals are essential).

5. Seal and leave to ferment in the bottles for at least one week before serving, chilled. The champagne should keep in the bottles for several months. Store in a cool, dry place.

Chilli Fest

The Fashion Souk debuted at this years Chilli Fest in June, part of the very successful annual Open House Festival. With more than 6,000 visitors over the weekend Chilli Fest was a hive of activity and exposed the Souk to new audiences, great for market research and meeting new people.
The Souk will continue to take part in larger events throughout Northern Ireland in addition to the new weekly Souk and will do the utmost to ensure a captive audience.