What is an Indie Brand?
When I first heard the term 'indies' my mind went to Indie Pop which is a genre of music. I soon discovered that 'Indie" was just short for independent and rolls off the tongue a lot easier, that's for sure! Some people have shopped and been in the Indie polish world for many years and some are new to the scene wo I figured why not answer the question for anyone curious.
What Sets Indie Nail Polish Brands Apart From high Street or Mainstream Brands?
Indie nail polish brands differ from mainstream ones in several ways. First, we hand pour which means small-batch production. This means each polish is made in limited quantities, ensuring freshness and exclusivity. Unlike mass-produced polishes, indie brands can experiment with a variety of finishes and get them rolled out to the masses a lot quicker than mainstream brands.
Secondly, us Indie brands usually (try to) have a personal touch. Many are the brands are run by individuals or small teams who design and create every product themselves. Sometimes, that 'Indie Brand' you are supporting isn't just the person who makes them, but is the same person that packages, answer customer enquiries, markets etc (you get the idea).
Exploring Various Indie Nail Polish Brands in the UK and Overseas
The UK has a growing community of independent nail polish makers but we still remain vastly in the minority. From my own experience and knowledge the majorty of makers tend to be based in the USA with a smattering of other makers in places such as Canada, Brazil, Australia and the UK.
From my own experience there are only a small group of UK indies however some of us have been around a long time. We have lost a few UK makers along the way which makes me sad but as I mentioned there are a few of us that are still standing (thank goodness) with new brands popping up all the time. Some of the longer standing brands such as Danglefoot Nail Polish, Prism Polish and For Your Nails Only all have various social media platforms where you can get to see the latest swatches and releases.
When it comes to overseas brands there are hundreds to choose from. There are way too many to list and I wouldn't even attempt to do that but if you want some ideas and you are based in the UK then you can always try an online shop such as Rainbow Connection.
Shipping and why it's hard for Indie Brands in the UK
One of the few things that hinders UK Indie Brands is the shipping rules within the UK. If you are shipping UK to UK it's no problem as we have a variety of ways to ship. However, when it comes to shipping overseas a number of things come into play.
Dangerous Goods
Some people may not be aware of this but for us in the UK, shipping nail polish overseas is classed as a Dangerous Good. Therefore it's subject to a variety of rules and regulations which means being certified and having the correct shipping contracts in place. So for us in the UK shipping a small number of polishes to say the USA would cost more than the polish itself, and then some! This also doesn't take into account customs and tarrif fees all of which are payable by us the shipper.
The way that myself and a handful of other brands have get around this is in a number of ways. Firstly myself and Danglefoot Nail Polish have created a website for our US customers and we try to do 3-4 shop openings a year. The shop link can be found on our bio, so check there for the next opening dates but our Instrgam link can be found here. This means people in the US can shop all of our polishes and then these are shipped by bulk to our contact in the US who then distributes the polish orders. It's long winded but another way for our brand to reach people overseas.
Collaborations
The other way UK brands can reach overseas customers is by particpating in Collaboration boxes. There are plenty to choose from but the most popular three are Polish Pickup, Hella Handmade Creations and Little Box of Horrors. These collaborations are done monthly and work on the basis that their shop is open for a number of days, in which time you can shop multiple brands and that order is shipped a number of weeks after the close of their shops. Again it's not the most straightforward route but helps us UK brands get out to those in other countries.
Ethical and Sustainable Practices
Many independent nail polish brands in the UK focus on ethical and sustainable production. This includes using vegan formulas free from animal testing. They also avoid toxic ingredients like formaldehyde, toluene, and DBP. My own brand uses a 10-Free base which means your polish is FREE FROM: DPB (Dibutyl Phthalate), Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, Toulene, Camphor, Xylene, Ethyl Tosylamide, Triphenyl Phosphate, Parabens, Fragrance and Animal Products.
For my own brand I am part of the PETA's cruelty free programme and all of pur products are vegan and cruelty free. Sustainability can extend to packaging as well. Some brands use recyclable or biodegradable materials. Others encourage customers to recycle or reuse bottles. For my brand I use as much packaging as possible to ensure they can be recycled.
Supporting Local and Independent Businesses
Buying from UK indie nail polish brands helps support local artisans and small businesses. This keeps money within the community and encourages creativity. It also helps maintain diversity in the beauty market. By choosing indie brands, you contribute to a more sustainable and ethical industry. You get products made with care and passion, not just mass-produced items. Just remember that by shopping with a brand like mine of other UK indie makers you really are allowing us to continue to create the products you seem to love. I can only hope that it continues for many years to come.
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