Founder of The Leith Collective invited to spend Burns' Night at 10 Downing Street

The founder of an Edinburgh-based sustainability project has been invited to celebrate Burns’ Night with the Prime Minister at Downing Street.

Sara Thomson, founder of The Leith Collective, has been invited to 10 Downing Street on Wednesday to an event in honour of the Scots Bard and a celebration of Scottish culture.

The event aims to shine a light on artistic talent across the country.

The Leith Collective showcases the work of more than 300 artists and makers from all over Scotland, brought together by a common aim to reuse, recycle, reclaim, and resell items that may otherwise have been destined for landfill.

The festivities will coincide with the launch of Sara’s new sustainable online marketplace, We Relove.

She said: “The Leith Collective has three Scottish stores, each one stocked with beautifully crafted items made by local artists that have reclaimed, recycled, reimagined, and repurposed everyday items. Every day I’m amazed by the sheer skill, inventiveness, and creativity of our local artists.

“But I want to do more to help artists who aren’t based in Edinburgh and Glasgow. I want to help raise the profile of eco artists from all over Scotland. And so, I’m launching We Relove – Scotland’s first sustainable online marketplace.”

We Relove hopes to give Scottish artists a new online platform to showcase their work and give a wider variety of choice for shopping sustainably.

It comes after Sara was specially selected to become the UK ‘One Step Greener’ ambassador ahead of COP26.

She was chosen by former Prime Minster Boris Johnson to become the UK’s 1772^nd Point of Light.

Sara attended Downing Street for this event and had a video chat with Queen Elizabeth II.

The Leith Collective has since gone on to expand with the opening of a store in Glasgow’s St Enoch Centre and Fort Kinnaird.

Sara also organised a winter coats exchange which saw 5,000 coats rehomed to those in need.

Artists, makers, and crafters from Scotland and beyond can register their interest in becoming a We Relove seller at www.we-relove.com. Registration opens on Wednesday, January 25.