Big Up the Doric | Aberdeen creatives' Christmas collab

Aberdeen creative businesses Big Up the Deen and Doric Skateboards are working together to form ‘Big Up the Doric’ a new collaboration which will pay tribute to those who have inspired and supported them.

Ica Headlam and Gary Kemp first met in 2018. They had known each other online for some time, but met in person for the first time when Ica invited the Doric Skateboards founder to be the first guest on his now highly respected Creative Me Podcast.

Both were regular faces exhibiting at North East pop-up events. Gary as Doric Skateboards and Ica as his clothing range, Big Up the Deen. They soon became good friends. While both had collaborated with a number of local artists, it wasn’t until 2020 that they decided to work together on this new joint project.

In December of that year, arts organisation Look Again invited both to use the window of their exhibition space in St Andrews Street to display goods for sale over Christmas. While they set up, they started making plans as to what they would do if they had full use of the space. They used it as a springboard for a big collaboration event.

What is Big Up the Deen about?

Their hard work together will finally come to fruition on 9 December. They will open doors to the public in the St Andrews Street pop-up shop for a four day Big Up the Doric weekend extravaganza where they will launch their highly anticipated new skateboard.

So what is the collaboration about? Ica and Gary will celebrate everyone that has supported and inspired them over the past few years. The people who do things in Aberdeen that have made a big difference to them. People that brighten their streets, their minds and their social media feeds. They want to pay homage to those that challenge and stimulate them.

It’s also about their relationship with the press. It’s easy to criticise local media for being doom merchants. However, whenever they write something positive, we still manage to criticise them for that too. Nothing is ever perfect…but Gary and Ica see those that are making the effort to make this a better place for us all.

Big Up the Doric aims to throw a light on local institutions, from charities and organisations to retailers, crafters, printers, artists and writers. They’ll do this in the hope that visitors will find someone they weren’t previously aware of. It’s an acknowledgement by two people that they are proud of their home city, and they want you to jump on board too.

Details

Where: Look Again Project Space, 32 St Andrew Street, Aberdeen AB25 1JA

Thursday 9 Dec 6-8pm | Big Up the Doric Launch Night with reveal of collab board. Then the Pop Up Continues:
Friday 10 Dec 10am-6pm
Saturday 11 Dec 10am-6pm
Sunday 12 Dec 11am-5pm

Selling the full range including Skate Decks, Tees, Prints and Tote Bags. Both will have their full range of ‘Doric Skateboards’ and ‘Big Up the Deen’ merchandise on sale.

Find out more on the Big Up the Doric event page.