Small Stories began over 15 years ago, with us collecting objects on our travels and selling them at makers’ markets and small house sales. These were mainly everyday objects made to fulfil utilitarian needs but that we found beautiful — their aesthetic coming from modesty, honesty and hand craftsmanship.
Today, our shop in Hay-on-Wye follows the same ethos. Inside, you’ll find handwoven textiles from India and Pakistan, repurposed tinware from Morocco and everyday household tools from Sweden and Germany.
Everything is handpicked by us or made especially for us, with a focus on the handmade and the human. We source directly from makers whenever possible, and also work with Fair Trade organisations. As mass-produced goods come to dominate the market, it feels more important than ever to celebrate the beauty, ingenuity and non-uniformity of small-scale production.
We also have a regularly refreshed selection of small-press books, journals and zines that reflect ideas at the heart of Small Stories: culture & creativity, handcraft, materiality, community, handed-down knowledge and the connections forged across geographical divides.
The result is a kind of international homeware-cum-bookstore where we hope you will find objects that bring you joy—not just in their beauty but in their functionality.
Dominic and Phoebe