Shop Small Special | Lifestory
What is it: A slow Scandi-oriented lifestyle store in Edinburgh.
What you need to know: Lifestory was founded in 2014 by Susan Doherty (who also started the city’s Hula Juice Bars) as Edinburgh’s first concept store — bringing together coffee and design — after being inspired by similar stores on her travels in places like Melbourne and Copenhagen. An airy, warm space, Lifestory offers a thoughtful edit of the Scandinavian-based (like House Doctor, ferm LIVING and Hay) and the Scandinavian-inspired (like Woolf & Moon and Kinshipped) with some Japanese simplicity added in there. During "normal times”, there’s coffee and cake for browsing the latest issue of Cereal.
Why we’ve included it here: Each independent store makes a circle of support: within the local community in which it’s located (with Lifestory located amongst the indies of Broughton Street) and the wider community of makers that it gives a platform to (in this case candle makers, jewelry designers, potters, graphic designers, furniture crafters). We often overlook the human in how we shop, the people behind stores, behind products and, behind our neighborhoods, so its good to be reminded of this by Susan: “Ultimately, the unique quality of Lifestory, as with all shops of this kind, lies with the owner’s relationship with the products, with the space itself and with their customers". A living wage employer, Lifestory also supports the people who work there.
In their own words: “Independently-owned and constantly evolving, Lifestory is a destination for lovers of Scandinavian design and lifestyle, considered products that share the traits of beauty and function.”
Our Christmas gift edit: We’re coveting many of the wall-based pieces such as Soo Burnell’s prints and the We Haven’t Located Us Yet print.
Something to do: Browse your neighborhood, even if virtually. Many independents have had to scramble to put their wares online in the last few months, extending their business ethos of bricks and mortar into digital platforms. That’s a huge transition and a very different way of working for many people who started shopfronts for the community aspect. This season if you’re not allowed, or able, to go out, take a virtual shopping journey through a local town, and shop like you would if you were able to meander with carols in the background and snow falling (yes, we’re romanticizing as we huddle inside). For inspiration, read this piece about how our neighborhood stores are coming together online.
To find out more: Website / Instagram / Twitter
