Category: Places

  • Places: Dalston Garden

    Places: Dalston Garden

    Dalston Eastern Curve Garden was created in 2010 on the old Eastern Curve railway line which once linked Dalston Junction Station to the goods yard and the North London Line in London. The garden was born out of a regeneration project aimed at improving Dalston’s open spaces. Design for London and Hackney Council worked with architects, landscape architects and local cultural and community organisations to establish the Garden and it  is now managed by Marie Murray and Brian Cumming from one of those groups, GrowCookEat.

    The project won the Hackney Design Awards in 2010. It was described as “an excellent example of how an abandoned piece of land can be affordably transformed into an asset that enhances the locality and benefit the community. Every inch has a strong sense of community spirit”.

    Photographer Erola Arcalís kindly shared with us these photos she took of the garden and the people working in it.

    www.dalstongarden.org

  • Bookshelf: Garoa

    Bookshelf: Garoa

    Garoa is a bookstore founded in Zarautz, in the Basque Country, northern Spain. It doesn’t only focus on selling books but offers alternative activities like concerts and art exhibitions to bring more traffic through the door and get more people interested in ‘analog’ reading.

    Garoa is a really creative business and the team running the store is truly multidisciplinary – in the basement of the bookstore you’ll also find a web consultancy specialising in online strategy.

    Thanks to film photographer, Mikel Citores Rodriguez,  who sent us the shots of the space and its founders.

    www.egaroa.com

  • Studio & Shop Visit: Common People

    Studio & Shop Visit: Common People

    A couple of weeks ago, Barclaycard Freedom Rewards contacted us to invite us shopping at one of the local businesses in our city. We chose Common People, a Scottish menswear label which just opened its first flagship store in Edinburgh last August.

    Common People was founded 3 years ago by Kestin Hare, former Head of Design of English label Nigel Cabourn. After working in the industry for 10 years, Kestin decided to move back to his hometown, Edinburgh, to start his own brand.

    Common People focuses on quality, craftsmanship and local sourcing while creating affordable products as the same time. With a small team of three designers and a brand manager and designer, Common People has already made a name for itself in the Japanese and South Korean markets, and is now planning an expansion in the UK.

    The label’s customers are people with appreciation for premium quality and an interest in local sourcing and production, who show a support for British brands. These values are reflected in each of Common People’s designs – with pieces completely made in England and Scotland – and also with the label’s collaborations with other British brands.

    If you’re in Edinburgh, don’t miss Common People store on 46 St Stephen Street, Stockbridge. During our visit and after a few minutes checking all the amazing pieces on the racks, we decided to take home with us a pair of petrol blue brogues similar to the ones on the photos below!

    www.commonpeopleclothing.co.uk

  • Studio Visit: Emily Millichip

    Studio Visit: Emily Millichip

    For a while now, we’ve been wanting to visit Emily Millichip’s studio. We met this Edinburgh based designer at the Stitch Lounge and really liked her aesthetics and the bright fabrics she uses in her designs.

    Emily’s studio is based at the Art’s Complex, which used to be a colossal office space now converted into studios for local artists, designers and start ups.

    We spoke to Emily to find out what inspired her to become a fashion designer and know more about her favourite places in Edinburgh. Read the interview after the photos.

    When did you first start designing? Also, who or what inspired you to become a designer?

    I started designing in my early twenties, mainly through an extreme hatred for all of the clothes that were in the shops. Things have improved in the UK but for a while there seemed to be a misconception that the country was populated by 16 year old supermodels. I was really into the style of the 1950s and was ordering clothes from California. Eventually I thought that it would be cheaper and easier to learn to make the clothes myself. It was also probably the result of getting a ‘proper’ degree and doing a string of horrible jobs in admin. I decided I needed more colour in my life and waved goodbye to being able to pay my rent on time.

    What do you draw inspiration from?

    I am inspired by high trash, interesting people, crazy grannies, reading, adventure, music and cheap red wine. When I have time I look at personal style blogs as I find them much more relevant than fashion magazines which bore me to death. I also like to go on solo camping trips and get drunk on rum and concoct new plans around the campfire.

    When you’re designing, what woman do you have in mind?

    I am always designing for myself. I tend to imagine an amazing scenario I want to be in and then go about making the outfit I would need for such a scenario. This involves a lot of imaginary trailer parks and trips to Mars. Frequently it involves ridiculous Hawaiian prints, silver sequins and pink wigs. In reality though I have mostly made some great outfits to go and buy milk from the shop.

    Tell us about your favourite places in Edinburgh.

    My favourite places in Edinburgh are all of the beautiful old graveyards, Portobello Beach, little old man pubs and anywhere in Leith. Leith is amazing. Why would you want all of the dignified grandeur of the New Town when you could have the chaos of Leith?

    www.emilymillichip.com

  • Places: SHOPIQ

    Places: SHOPIQ

    On our last trip to Wroclaw we discovered SHOPIQ – a new addition to Wroclaw’s creative scene. The shop selling works of Polish photographers, books and vinyls is run by Natalia and Ernest Dec.

    They tell us a little bit more about the concept behind SHOPIQ, Wroclaw, and work of which Polish photographers they like and follow.

    Shopiq on Future Positive (2)

    Shopiq on Future Positive (1)

    Shopiq on Future Positive

    Tell us how the idea for SHOPIQ was born?

    Ernest: We’re both photographers and taking photos is what we do in life. Apart from photography we love travel, discovering new places, meeting new people and staying at home for a longer period of time just to slow down a little. We started to think about the concept of SHOPIQ many years ago.We dreamed about creating a place that we always look for when discovering new city space. Then, the name was created, which from its definition supposed to mean a place where works of art can be bought. Then, we found the space where we’re based; not too big and just perfect to start a new business. And that’s how SHOPIQ was born – a creative space which opens itself everyday to meet with photography, graphic design, painting and music.

    What do you like about Wroclaw? Is it a creative city?

    Ernest: Wroclaw is one of the most ‘westernised’ cities in Poland due to its location and influences.

    Everyday we meet open, friendly people who creatively approach their everyday life and business. It’s the people that create places, if they give away some positive energy, the city gives it back in return. Wroclaw is a very harmonious city when it comes to this and the city gives you the opportunity to spread your wings.

    Work of which Polish photographer do you follow and like?

    Ernest: We have quite a few interesting photographers here in Poland and you can now hear about Polish photography more often. Many interesting publications and create projects are developed. We always like the work of Sputnik Photos, Bartek Pogoda, Filip Ćwika and other artists featured at SHOPIQ.

    www.shopiq.com.pl

    Congratulations to Winston Struye for winning the Creative Portsmouth book giveaway!