EMPTY shops in the high street is a sad sign of a financially difficult time but for one fashion designer it has provided the inspiration for a unique idea.

During three days over the Christmas period, a pop-up shop will be trading at 1 New Bridge Street in Exeter's west quarter, selling all locally made products including handmade dresses, pottery, bags, cards, jewellery and beautiful stained glass decorations.

To muster up some Christmas cheer for shoppers, the regional craftspeople will also be joined by artists and musicians during its short trading from today, Thursday, December 15, until Saturday, December 17.

This pop-up shop is a first for the city and the two people responsible for making it happen are dressmaker Laurel Coxon and art graduate Isgard Bright-Roberts. Taking inspiration from a trend more commonly associated with New York than Exeter, the organisers see the event as a reaction against the glut of independent shop closures and growing dominance of generic high street chains.

Isgard, who works at Exeter College as a class enabler in the media department and is also busy with art commissions, short films and vintage china hire business Odd Crocks, said: "All the products are made locally and showcase the talent that we have in Devon – being the most creative county in the country with the most independent crafters and artists.

"It also highlights the decline of independent shops in the city and empty shops. The west quarter is slowly becoming a vibrant end of town and the Pop-up Christmas Shop is celebrating this."

The building where the pop-up shop will be based is owned by co-organiser Laurel's mum – Lesley Strath of Exeter bridal shop Feathers of Isca.

Laurel, 29, from St Leonards, Exeter, explained: "She has not been able to get anyone in before Christmas and I knew of so many people who would love the opportunity to sell their wares. In fact I've had to turn people away which has been really hard. There are about 40 of us involved and we represent a real mixture from contemporary designers to photographers."

Textile graduate Laurel is an art technician at Exeter College where she teaches screen printing.

In her spare time she runs Rocky Bobbin, a vintage clothing company with her mum, and is a theatrical costumier.

She also hopes to organise another pop-up shop in Exeter, and said: "More and more people are wanting vintage clothing, especially dresses, but a lot of them are quite small and petite in size.

"What we do is make them more bespoke and use old patterns. It's becoming a dying skill. By doing it that way each dress I make is completely unique.

"I make them out of vintage fabrics that I can find and use patterns which I know will work well."

The Pop-Up Christmas Shop will be open each day for late-night shopping from 10am to 9pm, and will feature live music, minced pies, hot chestnuts and mulled wine.