Welcome to Shop Small Saturday, a weekly feature where we celebrate our community of independent boutiques, from Bath to Berlin.
Founded in 2016 by South African native Ben and his business partner Darren, The Botanical Boys started out as a hobby with terrarium design classes taught from their flat. In 2019 they moved their workshops to a retail space in London’s Coal Drops Yard to accommodate their ever-growing number of customers.
As well as hosting weekly terrarium masterclasses and inviting other creatives to teach jewellery workshops and candle making, The Botanical Boys boasts an eclectic collection of handmade products across homeware and lifestyle, all sourced from their travels.
Aiming to connect people to nature in everything they do, The Botanical Boys is a great visit if you are hoping to make your space an oasis, thanks to its curation of planters, palm leaf ceramics and terrariums.
Partnering with maker groups throughout the African continent, the Botanical Boys opt for products created by artisans and made with traditional processes using natural materials. “For example our Malawi chairs are made by artisans who do not use machinery, nails or glue like modern factories, and instead use special knots and weaving techniques to form their chairs. Our Iranga baskets from Tanzania which are made by a group of women working from home so they can look after their children and still get a fair income.” The boutique’s embroidered pieces are sourced from Mapula Embroideries, a community art project based in South Africa.
Read on to find out about a typical Saturday at The Botanical Boys store as we chat with Ben about how to get involved in their classes, their new-in pieces and their love of supporting independents.