A Cork boutique owner is asking her customers to avoid the ‘wanton consumerism’ of the Black Friday sales.

Clodagh Shorten, owner of Samui on Drawbridge Street, has planned an alternative event for the infamous shopping day on November 29th.

The Drawbridge Street shop, which stocks designer fashion from global brands such as Marni, Dries Van Noten, Rick Owens and Alexander Wang alongside high end gifts and accessories, will be hosting an ear-piercing pop-up instead of a cut-price Black Friday sale.

“Black Friday is like a death knell for small independent businesses like ours.” Clodagh told Yay Cork.

“First off, we’ve never been in love with the whole ethos of crazed consumerism. We like to think that our customers enjoy the experience of luxury shopping that Samui offers, and we’re just not ready to change that.

“We have in the past felt pressured into participating but it didn’t sit right with us – we felt that if we participate, we force the hand of another business, who feels they have to participate; that, in turn, affects another business, and so the cycle continues.

“The result, basically, is that we’re all – all the small local businesses – losing money hand over fist while shoppers are snapping up bargains and losing all perspective on value and worth. It’s destroying the traditional Christmas shopping season and killing local business stone dead.”

The antidote? This year, as November 29th approaches, Samui is inviting customers to celebrate the alternative Maria Black Friday.

In case you’re unfamiliar, Maria Black is an inclusive fine jewellery brand founded in Copenhagen, which specialises in unique piercings.

“We promise no gimmicks, no knockdown prices, just the opportunity to get some divine Maria Black Jewellery piercings, in store and courtesy of highly-respected professional piercer @ash_bodypiercing.” reads the Instagram invitation.

Feel like swapping fast fashion for a lasting style statement this year? Call Samui on 021 4278080 to book an appointment.