Steam Heat
Annie Swann has always put her sense of style to good use. A teen goth turned dressmaker, she spent years creating vintage-style occasion wear for brides and mothers of the bride.
When Covid curtailed her dressmaking business, a trip to Whitby opened a new door. Drawn to the world of steampunk—a subgenre of science fiction blending Victorian and Edwardian aesthetics with fantastical tech—Annie found fresh inspiration.
A visit to Otley soon after sparked another idea. She took a chance on a pop-up shop in the Kirkgate Arcade for the 2022 Victorian Fayre—and hasn’t looked back since. Her boutique, Steam Heat, is now a staple of the vintage arcade and a destination in its own right.
Clients come from across Yorkshire and beyond for her handmade jewellery, hats, costumes, and all things steampunk.
She’s also the driving force behind the Arcadia Steampunk Festival, held every July, which has quickly become a standout event on the local calendar.
- Listing ID: 4831