Black Friday? Make it a Green day in Cork instead!

As the festive season approaches, multinational retail chains flood our screens with promotions related to Black Friday tomorrow.

A quieter, more meaningful movement started here in Cork eight years ago and has been growing across Ireland ever since: Green Friday.

This initiative champions the support of local, sustainable businesses over the dominant global sales giants.

Green Friday is designed to be more than just a shopping alternative. It is an opportunity to actively invest in our communities, nurture our local economy, and reduce the environmental footprint associated with the gifts we give. Every euro spent with a local maker or business circulates within the community, directly supporting the suppliers, workshops, and shops that are essential to keeping Cork’s creative heart beating.

For Cork, this ethos finds a natural home in Cork Craft & Design. Established 20 years ago, it brings together the best of Cork’s unique craft and design tradition. It is dedicated to promoting quality Irish craft and design to global and Irish audiences.

A social enterprise and membership organisation, Cork Craft & Design supports and promotes 110 craft and design makers living in Cork city and county through our two shops, our website, and our annual event Cork Craft Month.

Visitors browsing in a Cork Craft & Design shop do not just see products - they encounter the stories, passion, and skill behind each item. You meet a maker at each shop counter, and they are always happy to chat about their own work and the various talents of the group.

I often hear a customer ask, ‘And what do you make?’ before the maker and customer happily meander on a chat of how a cup is glazed or how a silk scarf is painted. The story of the maker’s life, how they learned their skill, is intertwined with the work that they make.

As manager of Cork Craft & Design and a maker for 10 years, I know the people behind the businesses you see in our shops and craft and design shops across the country. Local shops and makers can create personal connections that global giants simply cannot replicate.

Ask any customer who’s purchased from one of the Cork Craft & Design shops: the experience often leaves a lasting impression. Meeting the craftsperson, learning about their process, and understanding the care behind each creation deepens appreciation for the gift, turning an ordinary transaction into a shared story.

The ripple effect is real. Money spent locally returns to the community in wages, rent, and reinvestment in materials. It funds workshops, apprenticeships, and events that nurture the next generation of Irish makers. By choosing Green Friday, Cork shoppers actively support a resilient, sustainable, and culturally rich economy.

Green Friday also aligns with broader environmental goals. Transporting goods globally contributes significantly to carbon emissions. Packaging, often excessive in mass-market shopping, adds to landfill waste. Locally made products tend to be more environmentally thoughtful: materials are responsibly sourced, packaging is minimal, and production methods prioritise durability. Makers hate waste; they dedicate time to ensuring every piece of material is used or passed on to someone who can put it to use. The choice is simple: buy local, reduce environmental impact, and celebrate craft that respects the planet.

Cork is home to an extraordinary variety of makers: ceramicists, woodworkers, jewellers, textile artists, and more. Each has a unique story of inspiration and resilience, reflecting both personal vision and the cultural heritage of the city. By shopping locally, we participate in these stories, helping makers continue their work while enriching our own lives with meaningful, handmade gifts.

For shoppers in Cork, this can start small. A single handcrafted mug, a locally made pair of earrings, or a bespoke ornament purchased at a local business makes a difference. Multiply that by hundreds of shoppers, and the impact grows exponentially, sustaining livelihoods, fostering local talent, and promoting a culture of conscious consumption.

Cork Craft & Design is just one of many places where the work of local makers can be experienced. There are numerous small craft and gift shops across Cork and Ireland that stock and support our local talent.

The Green Friday initiative was founded by Bronwyn Connolly, owner of craft and design collective Wild Design, which sadly closed in 2023. The Champion Green campaign, spearheaded by Kilkenny Designs, and the Made Local campaign by the Design & Crafts Council Ireland continue this important work.

It is not about rejecting commerce - it is about making thoughtful choices. Consider the origins of the gifts we buy, the people behind them, and the wider consequences of ourspending habits. In Cork, we can lead by example, showing meaningful consumption can coexist with joy, celebration, and community.

This festive season, shoppers have a choice: participate in a global sales frenzy prioritising speed and profit - or embrace Green Friday, supporting Irish craft and contributing to a sustainable, vibrant local economy.

Visit Cork Craft & Design shops in the Woollen Mills or Douglas Court Shopping Centre, meet the makers, hear their stories, and take home gifts that truly matter. Or visit the Made Local directory of the Design & Crafts Council to find makers and small retailers in your area. This festive season, choose to invest in Cork’s local economy and culture. Choose craft instead.

For more, visit corkcraftanddesign.ie