A NEW independent clothing and craft shop has opened in Northwich.

Moonweavers offers an assortment of goods from vintage clothes to personalised crafts such as dream catchers.

Holly Ditchfield, 23, founder and owner, spoke to the Guardian about her first business.

She said: “It opened on Saturday, March 10, there were loads of people in.

“It went really well, I had a lot of my friends there and then with the Artisan Market being on the same day it brought a lot of people down who wouldn’t normally have been in town.

“It was a really nerve-wrecking experience especially as it is my first ever business. I was trying to make everything as perfect as it could be.

“Everyone has been so lovely, I’ve had a lot of help and support from the Salty Dog opposite and other local businesses.

“It’s nice to see that everyone is happy to help.”

Opening her own shop has long been an aspiration for Holly.

She said: “It’s been a dream for ages.

“I’ve always been into my crafts, always been a hoarder of vintage clothes, I’ve always had a passion for it.

“I’ve always been in the clothing industry, I’ve worked at French Connection and Matalan, I just wanted to have more control though and that’s when I decided that I needed to find a little market job for myself.”

Holly and her partner have some ambitious plans for the building.

She said: “My partner has got the tattoo shop above me, his shop was previously Holdfast and he’s now going through a brand change to Inkadelica.

“There’s going to be another level fairly soon, we’re hoping to make a mini Affleck’s Palace in Northwich.

“It’s something a little different, I’ve not seen a vintage shop in Northwich, it’s a little niche and it gives the area a little bit of diversity.

“Northwich has been my local town since I was born so I really wanted to put something back into it and work with the local community.

“Once the weather starts getting a better and I’ve settled in more and I’m pushing my promoting a little bit more, it’s all just trying to ground yourself where you are, hopefully within the next two weeks things will really kick off.

“By summertime I’m hoping it will be booming in here and I’m planning on having a big festival section as well.”

“It used to be Gigolo Menswear shop, The previous owner had it for 30 years and he had it in his own way.

“I’ve come in painted a few different bits, I’ve put sparkly handles on things, I’ve changed it quite a bit and a lot of people who’ve come in have said they can’t believe it’s the same shop.”

Both Holly and her partner have been very busy with the renovations for their own businesses but Holly is happy with the progress they’ve made.

“I’ve made it a lot brighter to reflect my personality, like you walk in and you can tell it’s a young female that owns it because of how sparkly and light coloured it is.

“I’ve had to move some things around but it’s my boyfriend on the middle floor who has had a lot of the work and had to change it dramatically to make it into his tattoo shop.”