Blue Patch are delighted to announce the opening of the Happy Planet Store at Manchester Art Gallery January 26th – April 18th 2022.
A collaborative partnership between Manchester Art Gallery and Blue Patch, a national social enterprise, is enabling sustainable, local brands to sell products through the Happy Planet Store, a curated pop-up of sustainable and beautifully crafted products.
Blue Patch, a pioneering social enterprise that launched in 2014 and uses 100% of its profit to fund community-owned green energy projects, showcases small businesses on its directory bluepatch.org.
“The pandemic has highlighted fragilities in our economy especially when it comes to supply chains, it has also given us time to pause, and reflect on the world we inhabit. Since COP26 there is a real appetite for businesses to reflect our values especially around kindness and the environment. At Blue Patch, these are our core values and, as such, the businesses that we promote have to demonstrate these credentials.”
Jane Langley, founder of the social enterprise Blue Patch
Blue Patch’s ‘walk in store and sustainability experience’ at the gallery has a double benefit, providing an outlet and access to customers for some of the UK’s most talented makers and designers whilst also supporting the gallery and local economy post Covid and Brexit. There are Blue Patch members’ products, to fit all pockets: artist’s smocks and pencil cases by The Stitch Society, Shipley; Ian Mankin’s recycled cotton throws, woven in Burnley. You can Grow-your-own mushrooms with GroCycle or make an eco-house with Play Press Toys. The pop-up features hand-crafted furniture from Bezueval and Manchester-based Tread Softly’s ‘furniture reinvented’. For personal luxury we will be showcasing plastic-free shampoo by Kind2, handmade perfumes from 4160 Tuesdays, eco-friendly toothbrushes by Tooth and wellbeing products from Bath House in Cumbria.
Blue Patch members will introduce new products over time, reflecting the creativity of the UK’s local businesses.
“Manchester Art Gallery is very happy to be hosting Blue Patch, as part of our drive to support a more sustainable and ethical economy and switch to an ecologically sound way of life. The gallery has always had a role as a kind of ‘regulator valve’ as Manchester has grown from a town to a super city, championing the role of both ethics and aesthetics in the development of a healthy society. Manchester has set a zero carbon target for 2038 and this project underlines our commitment to achieving this goal, and at the same time supports the growth of community owned green energy across the land.”
Alistair Hudson, Director Manchester Art Gallery and the Whitworth
Contact Blue Patch
+44 (0)207 738 7267
Founder & Curator
Jane Langley jane@bluepatch.org
Manchester Art Gallery
Cath Ryan – Campaigns Manager catherine.ryan@manchester.gov.uk
