The Top 20 Independent Retailers in Cardiff & The Vale

Style of the City shares the top 20 independent retailers in Cardiff and The Vale, who’s businesses are motivated to making sustainability stylish. The businesses uphold ethical values and unique designs that makes Cardiff more than just your average high street.

1. 1. Home by Kirsty

Found in Roath, ‘Home by Kirsty’ focuses on Scandinavian, modern products by lighting and home wear designer; Kirsty Patrick. The shop/ website upholds a clean and contemporary aesthetic that includes over 40 British and welsh designers. The concept is to ‘brighten your home and make you smile.’ Home by Kirsty’s organic children’s toys, unique cards, and glassworks (all ethically produced) make for the perfect gift, her shop also includes the likes of stationary, jewellery, items/ handcrafted toys for little ones and unique cards and magazines.

Check-out their Instagram @homebykirsty

1. 2. Bodlon

Founded 13 years ago, Bodlon has led the way in ‘changing the way consumers from all over the world view and source Welsh produce.’ All the products are sourced from wales and include the Welsh language. Founder of Bodlon stated that ‘Bodlon grew from a desire to showcase award-winning Welsh food produce in hampers that have been sold all over the world.’ The shop contains kitchenware or cushions, posters or pottery, and they withhold a large selection of reusable containers that include gift boxes, wooden trays, and trendy baskets.

Check-out their Instagram @bodlon_

3. 3. Nest – Cardiff Rhiwbina

Focal to gifts and homeware, ‘Nest’ upholds a handpicked selection of gifts and accessories along with one-off pieces, wall hangings and independent cards, ‘Nest’ pride themselves of bringing their customer beautiful and individual items that can’t be found on the high street, favouring small, often Welsh stockists. ‘Nest’ can be found in Rhiwbina, also known as a ‘garden village’ its village feel, despite being only a few miles from Cardiff city centre and just off the M4, fixating on the village feel, lots of the items available from ‘Nest’ been locally produced by the village, namely, rugby player turned baker Nick Macleod brings beautiful, seasonal bread. 

Check-out their Instagram @nest_cardiff

4. 4. Fair Do’s

Fair Do’s; a fair trade shop, is committed to sustainable relationships with producer groups, and are proud members of local fair trade organisations aiming to minimise their environmental impact as a business. Fair Do’s pride themselves on selling over 2000 fair trade products from Foods & Beverages, Toys & Games, Accessories, Cards & Paper, Throws & Bedding, Clothing & Picture Frames, Wall Hangings & Wind Chimes, Crafts & homeware. From local Welsh language cards to Uganda dresses, the crafts and gifts at Fair Do’s, from all over Africa, Asia and elsewhere in the world. The motive of the shop is really positive to the ethics of consumption and Fair dos pride themselves as ‘accredited by the British Association of Fair Trade Shops’ as are their suppliers. The company believes that fair trade can operate competitively and therefore aim to deliver high quality at affordable prices, ‘We operate along the lines of a social enterprise, and all profits are reinvested in the company.’ In terms of further focus on Eco/ sustainable products; according to their website ‘In 2018, we began offering refills of some household products such as washing up liquid, Laundry liquid, and Handwash’ Customers can bring in empty bottles and refill for the reward of a 10% discount.

Check-out their Facebook @fairdoscardiff

5. 5. Ripple zero waste living

Ripple is Cardiff’s first ‘not for profit Zero waste store’ and can be found on Albany Road. Ripple offers stations to fill up your own jars with whole foods or customers can borrow recycled cards/ bottles. The shops motivation is an ethical lifestyle and zero waste store that stocks around 150 different products including dry grains, spices, bath and cleaning products and clothing that majority of which are suitable for vegans and includes locally made products such as pottery and plush toys. Any products that cannot be sourced locally come from ethical companies who pay their workers better than the national average and source materials ethically.

Check-out their Instagram @ripple_living

6. 6. Viva Organic

Found in Pontcanna, ‘Viva organic’ sources local grocery’s, without excess packaging. As stated by the founder ‘Organic foods were important to us but equally having a more sustainable approach to shopping was crucial.  Too much single plastic is used for packaging and we wanted an alternative way to shop and so the journey of bringing Viva Organic to life began.’ Within their shop they also provide access to a wide range of vegan-friendly cosmetics and household products

Check-out their Facebook @VivaOrganic

7. 7. Big Moose Coffee company

Founded by Jeff Smith, 54, and Chloe Smith, 22, who’s plan was to recruit those living on the streets and provide them with catering training at Big Moose Coffee. Big moose is a non-profit company and all the profit goes towards helping people the homeless, as in March 2017, it was reported by Wales online that the amount of people sleeping rough in Cardiff increased by 81% in just two years. Big Moose stocks wonderful homemade gluten-free /vegan cakes, and even candles!

Check-out their Instagram @bigmoosecoffeeco

8. 8. Calon Rhiwbeina

Including 8 independent brand and designers, Calon is an independent woman’s wear boutique located in the heart of Rhiwbeina. Calon stock brands and labels that can’t be found on Cardiff’s high street. Calon has exclusive clothing, jewellery, and accessories. Designers include Mistral, Ochre, Saskia, Braintree Clothing, Treaty and Eliza Gracious.  Their affordable range comprises of ‘colorful silk pashminas, velvet and chiffon party wear, tunics, skirts and dresses for everyday’ and much more.

Check-out their Instagram @calonrhiwbeina

9. 9. The Castle Emporium

What was previously known as the ‘Cardiff Fashion Quarter’ has since been refurbished by management changeover team SHO (Dan & Emily). They have taken on the huge challenge to give this lovely building the love and maintenance it truly deserves! The Castle Emporium, is housed in an old converted cinema a stones throw from Clwb Ifor Bach. The space is divided into different units of mini boutiques, perfect for retro clothing lovers and skaters.

Check-out their Instagram @castleemporium

10. 10. Miss Patisserie – Vegan Bath Bombs

Miss Patisserie is a haven to Bath, shower and Gifts. The shop is Vegan, with high-quality ingredients. The use of natural ingredients is focal to the multitude of benefits that these have on the body and mind by focusing on health care and this aligns with the ethics of the business that are 100% vegan-friendly and cruelty-free. Each product is Artisan made packaged in striking holographic boxes and make for the perfect gift, selling in boots now.

Check-out their Instagram @misspatisserieuk

11. 11. Spillers Records

Established in 1894, Spillers Records is recognised as the oldest record shop in the world. Spillers Records was founded by Henry Spiller and dates back to the sale of phonographs, wax cylinders, and ceramic phonograph discs. Today, Spillers now upholds a plethora of music on CD and vinyl, merchandise and even gig tickets.

Check-out their Instagram @spillersrecords

12. 12. The Bone Yard

The Bone Yard is a shipping container, turned independent shop village based in Canton. The area contains 10 up-cycled shipping container studio’s providing both flexible and affordable studio space to allow people to move independent business’ forward. The Bone Yard markets itself as ‘a thriving hub of creativity, with a shared communal space and host markets and public events seasonally.’

Check-out their Instagram @boneyard_bridgestudios

13. 13. Barney and Beau

Barney and Beau is a modern nursery & kid’s lifestyle store stocking design-led, quality products for a modern home in Pontcanna, Cardiff. The artisan independent shop was started by Mum of four Mia, and named after two youngest children Barnaby and Beaumont, the ethics of the store is to give a base to established and independent lifestyle brands. The business has both a physical store in Pontcanna in Cardiff and also has an online website. With lovely Scandinavian designs, the shop is perfect to plan a gift or if you are designing/redesigning a nursery.

Check-out their Instagram @barney_and_beau

14. 14. Diba

One of the quirky clothing stores in the Cardiff arcade, Diba sells ‘unique designs handmade in Wales, using only natural fabric like silk, cotton, merino wool and even banana leaf all of which are friendly to the skin.’ Diba specialises in beautiful dresses and jackets, but you can also find an unusual selection of accessories such as bags, purses and costume jewelry. Diba also offers the ability to request an item if there is a specific fabric you like from their store! Diba can be found in the Cardiff arcades; the hub of independents and can also be found online on Etsy.

Check-out their Facebook @dibahandmade

15. 15. Illustrate Cardiff

Illustrate is a cherished independent store that transforms art into fashion clothing and accessories all handmade or designed by independent illustrators. Other products include longboards, hand-poured candles, prints and homeware, all sporting unique designers using high-quality materials.

Check-out their Facebook @illustratecardiff

16. 16. Flamingos Cardiff

Flamingos is a contemporary vintage clothing shop priced by the kilo, with the inclusion of successful Depop sellers. Flamingos is high on sustainability, low on price! The shop can be found with branded concessions. The goal of flamingos is ‘to offer, sustainable and stylish clothing and accessories that we have carefully selected from all over the world and brought back here to Cardiff.’ by recycling, reusing and re-loving vintage pieces that still have life left in them. 

Check-out their Instagram @flamingosvintageuk

17. 17. The Bottle Shop

Found on Pen-Y-Lan Road, the Bottle shop is a small independent wine merchant stocking over 800 lines of different beers, wines and spirits from all over the world as well as local Welsh producers. The shop has fairly priced drinks and ‘super friendly knowledgeable staff’ who have been said to be happy to give recommendations within their lovely and romantic atmosphere.

Check-out their Facebook @PenarthBottleShop

18. 18. Studio Muse

‘An emporium dedicated to all things Self Care across genres of Beauty, Wellbeing, Flowers, and Lifestyle … curated with a Conscious Eye and a touch of Lux’ This beautiful store located in the heart of Pontcanna is dedicated to self-care within the genres of ‘beauty, skin, bath, fragrance and fresh flowers.’ The shop is housed by a professional within the beauty industry who upholds a love for this ‘with an eco aware eye’ and Vegan face and beauty products, and the shop itself is beautifully decorated with flowers.

Check-out their Instagram @studiomusepontcanna

19. 19. Treat Pontcanna

Treat Pontcanna is the home of specialist Chocolate & Gift Boutique with luxury chocolates, gifts and cards all of which are locally sourced and crafted into incredible creations. The perfect place for gifts and stocking fillers, with the inclusion of homeware and candles.

Check-out their Instagram @treatpontcanna

20. 20. Blossom and Nectar

‘Gift and feel better products inspired by our bees and nature – sustainable and thoughtful.’

Blossom and nectar only use welsh local superfood bee produce, that keep the quality of their products to the highest standard (tested and certified). Blossom and Nectar state that ‘90% of our labels are made from seed paper which is made from sustainable plants and the seeds for flowers that bees love to pollinate and have high levels of nectar to make great honey.’ They also produce naturally sourced fabric wax wraps which are a great new sustainable alternative to cling film, their fabric wax wraps are made from British organic hemp that is antibacterial, breathable, strong and & durable.

Check-out their Instagram @blossomandnectar