We took our wind-resistant, stylish umbrellas to Craft + Flea Markets in Sheffield, Leeds & Liverpool, here's how it went!
Brollies, Beer Gardens & Sell-Outs: SOAKED Hits the Road with Craft + Flea
Over the past few weeks, SOAKED has packed up our stylish, wind-resistant umbrellas and hit the road to join Craft + Flea — a celebration of indie makers, local creativity, and joyful, wallet-friendly gifting. From the grandeur of Sheffield Cathedral to the buzz of Leeds Left Bank, and the sunshine-soaked streets of Liverpool, we’ve been meeting new faces, sharing our designs IRL, and learning a lot along the way.
Whether you’re shopping for a thoughtful gift or just want a quality umbrella designed in the UK (Manchester, to be specific!), here’s a little peek behind the scenes of our very first market adventure.
☔ Sheffield – Our First Ever Market (21st June)
They say you never forget your first, and that’s definitely true for us.
Sheffield’s Craft + Flea took place in the jaw-dropping Sheffield Cathedral — a fitting setting for our market debut. It was our first chance to meet customers in person, showcase our affordable, durable umbrellas, and chat about everything from summer downpours to our UPF 50+ sun protection fabric (yep, our brollies double up as parasols!).
Sheffield also taught us a lot — from what display tricks work best, to how many umbrellas we can just about carry on one pair of shoulders.
💥 Leeds – The Sell-Out Show (6th July)
Leeds, you were something else.
This was our second ever market — and you cleaned us out. Literally. Every SOAKED umbrella sold out before the end of the day. We couldn’t believe it!
We had non-stop chats with visitors looking for unique gifts, birthday surprises, and something fun yet practical to keep in their bag all year round. Big thanks to those who placed online orders after the event — your support means the world.
It also helped that the day brought plenty of on-and-off rain showers, so a great way for us to demo our handy automatic open and close feature to customers up for a demo!
🔥 Liverpool – Hot Days & Friendly Faces (13th July)
We love a challenge, and Liverpool brought it — in the form of one of the hottest days of the year.
Still, we braved the heat and set up shop at Craft + Flea in the brilliant Camp and Furnace venue (aptly named for the day?!), armed with umbrellas that block 98% of UV rays (handy even indoors when you’re melting). The crowds may have been lured out to beer gardens, but we still had some lovely chats, and it was fab seeing a few friendly faces from the area. Every market teaches us something new — and this one taught us: pack more ice water.
Why Markets Matter (Even When It’s Roasting)
Markets like Craft + Flea are more than just stalls — they’re full of creativity, conversation, and brilliant people looking for well-designed, sustainable gifts with a story.
At SOAKED, we believe an umbrella can be both beautiful and built to last — which is why ours are made with flexible, wind-resistant frames and UPF 50+ canopies for both rainy and sunny days. If you’re after a quality umbrella that won’t flip at the first gust, you’re in the right place.
Whether you’re exploring independent markets in Leeds, looking for things to do in Sheffield, or planning a day out in Liverpool, keep Craft + Flea on your radar — and keep an eye out for SOAKED while you’re there.
Where to Next?
We’ve got more markets planned (and more umbrellas to pack), so follow along on Instagram or join our newsletter for updates. And if there’s a city you’d love to see us in next, drop us a message.
We’ll bring the brollies. You bring the vibes.
