A NEW boutique concept launched in Downing Street, Farnham, last month – bringing local talent to the high street and giving independent makers the chance to sell in a physical shop.

Jen Goddard, 35, first brought her Wallababies business – selling organic children’s clothing, wooden toys and hand-made crafts – to Farnham as a small concession in the Okomoko vegan cafe and zero waste shop at 18 Downing Street.

But having taken over the shop in her own right, Jen has now opened up the quirky building’s rooms – and shelves – to fellow independent traders and crafters, perfectly embodying Farnham’s World Craft City status.

Wallababies now boasts a core of four ‘shopholders’ – as well as Jen, there is co-owner Sarah Arbury, 38, Abigail Shepherd, 44, of ‘Abi’s Bath Bombs’, and fashion designer Anna Londei.

But there are many other ‘shelf renters’ too, including a teenage schoolgirl who started making jewellery for charity, but quickly realised she could “get a little bit of pocket money from it as well” said Jen.

Another arrival this month is Little Felts, selling “felts, stationary and dolls’ house things”, and new traders are arriving all the time.

But Wallababies doesn’t just offer retail therapy, and having recently opened her own boutique upstairs, Anna Londei – who also runs party business Sequins and Sparkles – hopes to soon hold fashion and customised clothing workshops for kids.

Anna said: “We need to take the high street back. People are fed up of places like Primark, and to come to somewhere like this where everything is handcrafted with care, it means that much more.

“Life now is about being unique, and we offer something a little bit different that you can’t get anywhere else.”

Find out more by visiting the Wallababies Facebook and Instagram pages.