Thanet is full to the brim with creatives, makers, independent retailers and wonderful small brands. We think this makes it the perfect place for a spot of ethical and sustainable shopping. To help you along your way, we wanted to highlight some of our favourite local businesses that sell the best gifts, homewares, clothing and more! All of which is consciously produced, meaning you can shop guilt-free knowing every purchase is doing good...
MARGATE
Positive Retail
1 Broad Street, Margate, CT9 1EW
A wonderfully curated collection of premium second-hand clothing, right in the heart of Margate Old Town. Positive Retail is the perfect place to shop for the fashion-conscious people in your life (or yourself!) in a way that is kinder to the environment. Keep beautiful clothing out of landfill and find yourself a bargain.
Keep up with them on Instagram here.
Les Animaux
1 Lombard Street, Margate, CT9 1EJ
Producing beautiful, timeless clothing with a sustainable and eco-conscious approach. With the majority of pieces being produced and hand-dyed in house, everything is made in the UK from sustainable fabrics. Their collections are small and considered, reducing wastage and limiting environmental damage. As their pieces are made in-house, they are able to offer custom sizing, making them entirely size inclusive. They also offer free repairs and a re-dying service to help keep their garments in people's wardrobes for as long as possible.
Haeckels
18 Cliff Terrace, Margate, CT9 1RU
No trip to Thanet is complete without a visit to Haeckels. With an exciting, seasonal range of luxurious skincare, fragrances, candles and oils. With a strong emphasis on natural ingredients, including foraged coastal plants, Haeckels is on a mission to improve ocean conservation. Haeckels have constantly proven their position as a sustainable business as well as a community asset.
Can't visit in person? Shop online now.
AARVEN
34 King Street, Margate, CT9 1DA
Meaning 'friend of the people', AARVEN is an ethical homeware and jewellery brand founded by two adventurers, inspired by their artisans around the globe. From wood block printed textiles, recycled brass jewellery, to hand woven baskets, they design their joyful collections in collaboration with the worlds best artisans. Every treasure found in this store is ethically and sustainably produced, so you can shop guilt-free. Don't forget to take a look at their range of Hiro + Wolf pet accessories, all ethically handmade here in the UK from sustainable materials.
Keep up with them on Instagram here.
Handsome Freaks
10 Broad Street, Margate, CT9 1BN
Looking for a shop that's got a little more edge? Look no further than our neighbours, Handsome Freaks! Stocking the best hand-picked, trendy vintage streetwear sourced directly from the USA. With a real focus on modern skate, street, sports and designer wear, you're sure to find the perfect gift for the trendsetter in your life.
Browse their Depop selection here.
The Grain Grocer
216 Northdown Road, Margate, CT9 2QU
The perfect one-stop-shop for wholefoods, as well as refill stations for grains, pulses and cleaning products. With a focus on natural ingredients, local produce and organic food, The Grain Grocer really is a haven for sustainable shopping in Margate. Their in-store cafe is a great spot to stop for some wholesome, nourishing food, with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options.
Follow them on Instagram here.
Rove Knitwear
220 Northdown Road, Margate, CT9 2AJ
Rove Knitwear is a small label, manufacturing long lasting, quality knitwear in the UK. With a focus on sustainable, low impact clothing utilising organic, natural, recycled or biodegradable materials as well as a traceable production process. They are incredibly transparent when it come to sustainability, with their entire sustainability policy available to read on their website. Some of their practices that we think are particularly impressive are their commitment to low-waste, use of 100% sustainable materials and their small batch production.
Book ahead to visit their Margate studio here.
RAMSGATE
Ramsgate Thrift Store
76 High Street, Ramsgate, CT11 9RS
We love secondhand shopping. It's a great way to shop unique, one-of-a-kind pieces in an eco-conscious way. Ramsgate Thrift Store has a wide range of secondhand and vintage treasures, with a real focus on streetwear. From colourful bomber jackets to retro t-shirts including brands such as Stüssy, Harley Davidson and more. Don't forget to check out their £5 rail!
Follow them on Instagram here.
Tales on Moon Lane
43-45 Addington Street, Ramsgate, CT11 9JJ
This beautiful children's book shop is full to the brim with the best books for children of all ages. They are dedicated to raising equality in children's books: equality of access, representation and roles in the publishing industry. They also stock a small but fabulous range of gifts for kids and parents including Maileg toys and ethically made natural toiletries.
Shop books online here.
The Scrapstore @EKM
Foresters Hall, Ramsgate, CT11 9RT
The ScrapStore at East Kent Mencap is an incredible eco-friendly initiative that saves craft supplies from landfill and sells them at very affordable prices in their store. The ScrapStore is run by members of East Kent Mencap, providing work experience and volunteer opportunities for people with learning disabilities, enabling them to build a portfolio of employability skills and find paid work. Craft supplies available include fabric, yarn, card-making supplies, children's craft supplies, buttons, sewing patterns, haberdashery, books, magazines and much, much more.
Follow them on Instagram here.
Bubbawears
28 Addington Street, Ramsgate CT11 9JJ
Bubbawears is a beautiful store full of carefully curated goods for kids. They stock a mixture of sustainable and ethical brands as well as pre-loved pieces, all sourced with love. This community, family store is a wonderful space to pop in for a chat or a browse and discover a whole host of wonderful gifts, toys, homewares, clothing and more to treat yourself and your little ones.
Can't visit in person? Shop online now.
BROADSTAIRS
Little Kit
Unit 3, Eldon Place, Broadstairs, CT10 1NA
Little KIT is a lifestyle store that sells seasonal clothing for children, as well as a carefully curated selection of accessories, homeware & gifts. They also serve some seriously good coffee! With a real focus on quality & sustainability, we think they're one of the best places to shop for the little ones.
Can't make it in person? Shop online here.
Nāmaka
Stone Bay Kiosk, Broadstairs, CT10 1DU
This all-vegetarian, beach-side cafe is the perfect spot for a scenic brunch or healthy lunch on-the-go. Açai bowls are their breakfast speciality and they also have vegan baked goods, cakes and toasties plus coffee with plant milks and delicious juices & smoothies.
Follow them on Instagram here.
The Workshop
10 Dundonald Road, Broadstairs, CT10 1PE
Established by professional seamstress and designer Nova Clarke Khalifa, The Workshop is world-renowned for dress making, tailoring, repairs and alterations. A sub-brand to The Workshop, NOJO is a premium fashion brand, designed and manufactured by The Workshop in Broadstairs, Kent. Designed and hand made in The Workshop and released as capsule collections each season. Keen to keep a Made In England approach to everything, NOJO is meticulous in minimising waste by reusing and upcycling off cut materials as well as having their own fabrics designed and sourced locally.
Can't make it in person? Shop online here.
Ginger Fox
51 Westover Road, Broadstairs CT10 3EX
Ginger Fox is a natural health and beauty store with a focus on sustainability. All of their luxurious products are organic (where possible), vegan, cruelty-free and packaged in recyclable packaging. They also offer massage services as well as facials using their own incredible products.
Can't make it in person? Shop online here.
Salt of the Earth
127 High Street, Broadstairs, CT10 1NG
Salt of the Earth makes sustainable shopping easy! Their low-waste store is packed full of vegan, planet-friendly products that are ideal for gifting to the eco-conscious people in your life, or just treating yourself. From foodie gifts to luxurious natural cosmetics, there's sure to be something for everyone. Plus they are the go-to for eco-friendly refillable toiletries, dried goods and beyond.
Follow them on Instagram here.
Thank you for choosing to shop small and support sustainable businesses! If you want to learn more about why you should choose to support local independent businesses, click here.
