Guernsey Basket Weaving Pop Up - with maker Claire Gaudion

We're excited to announce that we'll be hosting a basket-weaving pop‑up and in‑store demonstration with British designer Claire Gaudion, the maker of our ever popular 'Guernsey' basket.

The event will bring a curated selection of Claire’s handwoven baskets into the Covent Garden store for a limited period, accompanied by live weaving demonstrations allowing visitors to observe the traditional craft in action. Customers will have the opportunity to meet the maker, learn about the materials and processes behind the work, and purchase baskets directly within the shop. This collaboration celebrates natural materials, traditional making techniques, and enduring household objects, values closely aligned with Labour and Wait.

Guernsey fishing baskets have been crafted for generations by local fisherfolk. Made predominantly from willow, these include the ponier à cou, courge, and Guernsey crab and lobster pots. The ponier à cou, recognisable from our Labour and Wait inventory, is traditionally used for fishing or foraging for ‘ormers’ on the shoreline - a Guernsey shellfish delicacy which may only be gathered in the spring tides of January to April, at the full or new moon, and the two days that follow.

These unique baskets are being kept alive and passed on by widening their relevance and through continued making, demonstration, and documentation of the craft.

Claire lives and works from her home in West Hampshire, but her family home was in Guernsey, where her basket-making story began. Claire learnt all of her specialist skills from her dad, Max Gaudion. Max is a retired Guernsey fisherman and craftsman who made all of his own willow crab pots, ponier à cou and courges (local fishing baskets). He, in turn, learned by watching his uncle, Wilfred Gaudion, weave willow.

Claire continues to add to her collection and now makes Guernsey tomato baskets, as used in the early 1900s for exporting the crop off island (also seen at Chelsea Flower Show this year). She also produces seaweed (vraic) gathering baskets and small table baskets, as commissioned by Michelin star restaurant Vraic, Guernsey, for serving their bread.

Pop Up Shop

12 Dryden Street,
Covent Garden,
London, WC2E 9NA

11.00am to 7.00pm
Thursday 6th – Sunday 9th August, 2026