Why you should be paying attention to the latest Instagram challenge

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If there's one Instagram challenge you need to pay attention to this month, it's this one. It has become one of the fastest growing hashtags in the UK in March, with more than 28k posts and creating an ever-growing community.

So what is it?

The #MarchMeetTheMaker2019 hashtag sees small business owners taking to the social media platform to show their followers exactly what goes on behind the scenes. Whether it's talking about how they set up their business, showing the hard work and love that goes into creating every product, talking about making their brand more eco-friendly or simply sharing the bits that we never see on Instagram, it's a breath of fresh air and an important place to be for anyone who wants to know the ins and outs of starting a creative business from the people who are doing it right now.

First created by Joann Hawker in 2016, it encourages small businesses to share daily posts about themselves and small company throughout the month - with a different focus point each day - so that customers can see through the gloss and get to know the minds behind it all.

Here are some of the creatives showing what #MarchMeetTheMaker means for them.

@sweetcecilys

This homemade, sustainable, cruelty-free family run business has been sharing how much work goes into creating their range of creams, face masks and lip balms.

@damsontreepottery

Marienne Cavaciuti makes handmade, nature-inspired ceramics and is showing customers that the ceramic making processes may be messy, but ends with a beautiful creation.

@girlbandbird

Owner Annah creates bespoke bags made out of vintage maps and has been keen to show how she reduces waste day to day.

@woolners_woolies

Hannah Woolner's makes handmade needle-felted animals - including replicas of people's pets, FYI - and has been explaining how she started her business, showing her followers inside her studio and the secrets behind her work.

@theprintbee

Printmaker and artist Lissie Beckett turns drawings of nature into enamel pins, plushies and wash bags.

@helensheredesign

Helen creates delicately detailed and beautiful pieces of jewellery and is using her platform to show how exactly how her business works behind the scenes.

@swalkcreative

This eco-friendly cards and gifts company, and owner Megan is using the hashtag to show how much thought, effort and love goes into creating each product.

@rlhprints

Rachael Hibbs Linocuts is a London based printmaker specialising in block print artwork which is printed onto anything from t-shirts to cards, and is using the challenge to showcase the maker behind the art.

@rose_agar_designs

Rose Agar is a print artist who has used this challenge to show the weird and wonderful range of products she can print designs on for her customers.

So whether you're interested in starting your own crafty creative business, or you just want to find and support some new, smaller brands, check out the hashtag and see what you find.

You've still got a couple more weeks until the month is out.

Go, go, go!