My journey started when I moved to Leeds to study Printed Textiles and Surface Pattern Design, graduating in 2018. After university, I spent several years working in corporate retail, gaining valuable experience in brand marketing and execution. From 2019 to 2024, I learned how big retailers operate and connect with customers—but I always knew my heart was elsewhere.

Growing up, I loved shopping second-hand with my Nana—whether rummaging through charity shops or discovering vintage gems. I’ve always been drawn to shopping more mindfully, long before I even realised it had a name. By 2020, that passion became something deeper. I began to see mindful shopping not just as a personal choice, but as a political act. We all have the power to “vote with our pockets” and support small businesses that genuinely care about the environment and the people they impact. Unlike big retailers, these small, mindful businesses make it their mission to do good.

That belief stuck with me. I wanted to put my retail and marketing experience to better use—so I launched Mindful Market UK. Now, I get to host and curate markets that bring together small, ethical businesses and mindful shoppers. These markets are about more than just buying things—they’re about building a community of people who care about where their products come from and the impact their purchases have.

I have curated and hosted pop-up markets and different shopping experiences in gorgeous venues from Leeds Kirkgate Market, Belgrave Music Hall & Canteen, Coopers Yard in Holmfirth, North’s Springwell Brewery and most recently in June 2025, I hosted the Mindful Lock-In Night Market at Leeds Corn Exchange—an after-hours celebration of sustainability, inclusivity, and wellbeing, set in one of the city’s most iconic indie-loving spaces. As its curator and host, I design the whole experience from the trader line-up to the atmosphere, creating a space where shopping feels purposeful, social, and inspiring.

Alongside running events, I work closely with the small businesses that participate—offering them support, guidance, and encouragement drawn from everything I’ve learned throughout my career. It’s incredibly rewarding to help them grow and thrive, knowing they’re part of a bigger movement to shop more thoughtfully and sustainably.

Mindful Market UK is my way of helping people make a positive impact through everyday active choices. I believe that together, we can use the power in our pockets to create real change—for people, communities, and our planet.