Kitsch Sisters: The Belfast Trio Reviving Retro

Written by Clara Potts

Photography by Clara Potts

In a world where Tik-Tok trends revive grandma’s crafts and Instagram reels romanticise cottagecore aesthetics, the Kitchen Sisters are living proof that creativity thrives at the intersection of nostalgia and modernity. 

Blending embroidery circles, community cookouts and playful activism into an irresistible blend of wholesome and badass. Think Victorian housewives with a punk edge, knitting St Brigid’s crosses while unapologetically redefining what it means to be a feminist creative collective. 

Forged during a weekend at Electric Picnic, where activism and art collided in a way that reawakened their shared desire to create—not for commercial gain, but for the sheer joy of it. Drawing on their wildly different skill sets—comedy, textiles, and cultural engagement—they’ve cultivated a space that radiates both vintage charm and contemporary grit. Together, they channel Belfast’s unique energy, where urban landscapes and lush nature meet, into events that are as vibrant as they are transformative. 

Clara Potts sits down with the Belfast-based collective to unpack their journey, the inspirations fueling their playful ethos,and how they’re turning everything from embroidery to creative writing into tools for connection, empowerment, and pure fun. 

How did the “Kitsch Sisters” concept come to life? Was there a pivotal moment or shared experience that ignited the formation of your collective? 

The three of us had been working in the creative sector and were all friends. We headed to Electric Picnic to install a Tatreez Exibition and spoke at a panel discussion on the activism of Mothers Against Genocide. We were wholly inspired by the activism and the art installations taking place throughout the festival and that was the tipping point. 

We discussed our various side quests and creative hustles which we were working on individually. Bronagh is a comedian, actress, writer and journalist and has been working in theatre , TV, and as a stand up comedian for years. Grainne specialises in digital and hand embroidery, has a residency in Blick Studios in Belfast and completed a residency in University of Ulster, and Aoife has worked in the community engagement in the arts and cultural sector for years with a love for arts as a tool for wellbeing. Aoife also has a passion for gardening and cooking. 

Spending the time together at the festival and having conversations about our personal journeys, our mental health and our own personal visions and goals for the future led to us realising there was a real gap in our lives, space, time and community to do creative projects without the pressure of doing it ‘for something’. So the idea started to take shape, and the name was inspired by our mutual love for cutesy, kitschy, vintage trinkets and aesthetics. 

Belfast is steeped in culture and history. How does the city’s vibrant urban scenes and natural beauty shape your approach to craft, cookery, and gardening? 

The amazing thing about Belfast is that it is a city that feels urban yet is surrounded by nature which is accessible  within a 10 minute walk of nearly any point in the city. We recognise that living in an urban setting is really unnatural for people, and the need to be outside is so important, but something most people feel is inaccessible. Inspired by the city’s diverse artistic expressions, we incorporate different tribal and cultural aspects into our projects to celebrate unity in a once divided city. We use locally sourced produce in our cooking, and even grow some ingredients in our community garden. The vibrant community spirit encourages collaboration with local artisans and gardeners, fostering workshops that highlight our traditions.

Your name radiates retro charm and togetherness. How does this playful edge influence the spirit of your events and their goals? 

We think the playful edge creates an inviting atmosphere where creativity and joy flourish, allowing our sisters to feel comfortable expressing themselves through crafts and outdoor activities. We promote a lighthearted approach, aiming to create memorable moments that not only uplift mental well-being but also foster relationships among grown-ups as it is often hard to make new mates as we get older and more awkward! 

Ultimately, the essence of Kitsch inspires us to build a vibrant space where individuals can come together, learn from one another, and celebrate the beauty of sorority and creativity.

If you had to define your creative style in three words, what would they be? How do these words manifest themselves in the various projects you offer? 

Wholesome, Badass, Unapologetic. 

We feel that there should be no shame in indulging in activities that are viewed often as “feminine archetype”. Sure, we can do anything we want, we are ardent feminists, but we are also unafraid to celebrate the beauty of femininity and traditional crafts. 

If we want to sit like Victorian housewives with an embroidery circle having a good old bitch, that’s cool, we also enjoy marking Celtic pagan celebrations by making St Brigid's crosses etc, not because we are religious…but because it’s fun…and they look good on a wall. 

Collaboration seems central to the Kitsch Sisters. How do your distinct personalities and talents combine to create such dynamic, inviting, and cohesive events? 

The fact that we come from such different creative backgrounds means that we have such a good network among us. Bronagh is a writer, comedian and columnist and draws in the creative writing and performative crowd whereas Grainne is a textile artist and knows a lot of people in that area. Aoife is the resident chaos coordinator who brings everything and everyone together, especially when she cooks for people. It is basically a free for all to indulge in doing what you love with other people. 

From quirky ceramics to innovative cookery, your repertoire is impressive. Is there a particular craft or skill you’re excited to showcase or explore in your upcoming events this year? 

We are really looking forward to opening up some creative writing workshops with Bronagh as facilitator because there's so much untapped talent out there and we think it’ll inspire and encourage people to finally give it a go. 

What’s in store at a Kitsch Sisters event? What advice would you give to first-time attendees to make the most of the experience?  

All we ask is that you bring yourself, we aim to make our events as hassle free and affordable as possible. Contact us via our email or instagram @kitschsistersbelfast and welcome to the sisterhood!