Issure 1 August 2013
351
inside
351
4. Editors letter 6. Life in Portobello 7. The Upper Crust 8. Chromophobia Editorial 14. Fur 16. Street Style 19. Designer Profile 20. Alicija Aputyte
37
44
30. A Tale of Ordinary People 33. Ladies that lunch 34. A dog’s life 37. Hutch interiors 38. A
fine excess
44. The eccentric club 46. Edible Subjects
14 18
editors letter Portobello
road.
Where
London is a road as When we were set the task of finding a place in London to base our magazine on it wasn’t long before Portobello was miles ahead of our other ideas. else in
stunning in design as it is in style.
Why? Is there another major tourist road in London that has kept its class and pride and stayed true to itself as much as
In
Notting
hills infamous road?
our summer issue we are proud to bring you the
life of
Portobello
from the mouths of the people that
make up the business side of it.
From
small indepen-
dent boutiques to well known clothing chains, it is a
mixture of fashion, business and beautiful editorials.
We
had the privilege of working with some amazing
up and coming stylists, make up artists and photographers who are students and graduates from some of
London’s
Our
best fashion schools.
team have worked hard to bring you quali-
ty content with a contrast of light hearted humor
(ever wanted to hear the conversations of ladies that lunch?) and some serious topics that have been hot for discussion within the industry for years. We
hope you enjoy this issue as much as we enjoyed creating it!
Tommy Hibbitts
Photography: Paige Sexton
life in portobello
the upper crust By Tommy Hibbitts
Thanks to the smile of Julia Roberts, the charm
of Hugh Grant and the sickening love- hate-love story that had the fairytale ending everybody wanted, Notting Hill was thrust into the limelight and became more known than it ever was. Since the early 2000s, it has been a haven for tourist attractions, from Portobello market to the famous bookshop Anna Scott declared her love for William Thacker. The fame behind the W11 post-code has not only brought success to the market owners, but has kept the many clothing stores afloat during the recession, (not that anyone in the area knows that a recession has even been happening). One small chain store in Portobello in particular caters for the needs of understated men or women who look for quality in their clothes rather than cheap styles fed to the masses from larger high street shops. Showing off their latest ‘June collection’ in store, featuring some beautiful yet simplistic pieces - a brushstroke-printed cotton Tunic dress that is absolutely flawless - for both men and women, there is no question why Toast gets 70% of their sales from online too. Not only do they supply well designed and sustainable clothing to their customers, but they provide for the house and the home, even going as far as selling their very own Jam (keep up Topshop). When it comes to giving customers exactly what they are looking for, season after season Toast, as a brand, delivers. As a store, a positive relationship between the customer and the sales assistants is crucial. ‘When you walk into our shop we want you to feel like you have the best assistance you can. We don’t condone ignorance and none of our staff are rude,’ Store manager Chloe said when asked about what she expects from her staff when working in one of London’s more expensive areas. It doesn’t seem like she has much to worry about from the warm welcome I got from the sales assistant as I scuttled into the ex townhouse- turned-shop. In terms of interior design, an open plan is in place to give customers the space for ease to shop. Wooden floors and white painted brick walls give it a certain cozy edge, as if you are
walking into somebody’s home. The first section of the shop shows off the latest in their June collection, with flowing summer dresses in colours of teal and light blues and evening wear perfect to wear on a warm evening...maybe outside of England.
The second part of the shop brings light to the countless home ware they sell. From rustic lantern style lights and kitchen utensils to moisturizers that they call their very own Lotions and potions, everything is displayed to perfection. ‘Nobody wants to buy anything from a shop that looks visually displeasing.’ Chloe exclaims. ‘You won’t ever find our shop floor looking like H&M.’ Meow. ‘We don’t feel like there is a specific need to keep up with the trends that they have on the high street. Our clothes are special to us, and the people that buy them. To us, quality is more important than anything and as long as our customers are happy with what they buy everything is okay. We have regulars that love our clothes and we seem to get it right all the time.’ ‘Do we get many tourists? Not really. They prefer to buy their tat down portobello market. They don’t think spending £125 on a dress is feasable,’ shrugged Chloe. With monthly collections that change to suit the time of the year, (i.e floral dresses for spring and knitwear for winter), they have specific products that they have on sale all year round. Denims, jersey and accessories being amongst the list of popular items available. Will you be checking out what Julys collection has to offer?
Chromophobia a fear of bright colours
Rosalie Whittingham
Photographer: Tayla Lourdes Stylist: Jessica Hatch MUA: Louise Hall
It
takes
40
dumb animals to
make a fur coat... but only one to wear it By Eloise Perry
There was a time not long ago when fur was dead and elegant young women went naked rather than wear it. It was cool to care, and the beautiful people did. Over are the days of worrying about wearing your fur out in the fear of an anti-fur crazed protestor throwing paint over your much loved coat. Today, Walk the streets of any city on a cold winters day and you can bet on seeing someone huddled under some fur. Fashion is notoriously fickle and the famous slogan "It takes 40 dumb animals to make a fur coat... but only one to wear it" is being disregarded by many designers and models. Britain's fur industry, almost driven out of existence in the 1990s, is back - and thriving, a trend that has hit the runway, as well as the high-street massively over the last few years.
A visit to Notting Hill is more than certain to involve a browse and a stroke of the piles of fur garments in the abundance of shops and stalls. Faux or that of a rabbit, fox or racoon you are bound to find what you are looking for. However, recent investigations have found that you may not be buying what you think you are, with many garments claiming to be faux in fact being real. Not only are independent shops such as those on Portobello, but also leading branch stores such as Topshop selling these under false pretences, more often than not the fur being from cats and dogs. Central Park Vintage, situated in the heart of Portobello specialises in fine quality, rare vintage furs from the 1940s-1970s. Their collection ranges from stoles and boleros to swing coats and full length car coats, and includes fox, astrakhan and all varieties of mink. Sandra, founder and owner of Central Park Vintage passionately believes that the origin and trading of fur is very important. “All of our coats are sourced from the United States with only distinctive designs selected for the collection to ensure you have a truly individual piece to add to your wardrobe. We only source the highest quality furs, meaning all pieces are free of defects and have been previously stored in cool and dry environments, to ensure the suppleness of the pelts and longevity of the fur. I would never dream of selling faux fur and the discovery of cat and dog fur being sold throughout the UK is horrifying. Personally, We try our best to find out a bit about the provenance of each fur we sell, because after all, isn't that the best part of buying vintage?” elty saying “I have always fur. I would never dream of selling faux fur and the discovery of cat and dog fur being sold throughout the UK is horrifying. Personally, We try our best to find out a bit about the provenance of each fur we sell, because after all, isn’t that the best part of buying vintage?”
However, A wander through the vintage stalls on a Sunday morning and it is evident that not all fur sellers or buyers are as passionate and conscienstious of the authenticity of their garments. “I’m here searching for my first fur coat and to be honest I don’t care what it’s made from, as long as it looks good and isn’t that expensive. One of my friends didn’t agree with it, she’s a bit anal about the whole real fur thing, but I just think that if I didn’t buy and wear it then whatever animal it is made from would have got killed for no reason” Says graduate Emma. This year, More than 50 million animals will be killed for their fur, most of which will have spent their short lives in miserable conditions on fur farms before they are killed, sometimes being skinned while still alive. Many consumers, are unaware of the conditions and treatment the animals undergo to enable us to look fabulous in fur. It is questionable whether or not this would affect people from purchasing and wearing these garments, An RSPCA spokesman recently publicly said, “There are concerns that people may be starting to buy fur in ignorance. Most consumers often don’t know what they are buying, and would be horrified if they realised the suffering involved.” The recent revival of real fur has shown the carefree attitude that people today have on fashion and where our garments come from. Just like individuals that continue purchasing products that identifiably have been made by the less fortunate in sweatshops, many will continue buying fur, in order to boost their image without any conscience. James, a sculpture from Notting Hill who gives 40% of his takings to charity, stands by his strong ethical beliefs on fair trade and been a strong believer in ethical human and animal rights. We are at a point in our lives where we have everything we could ever ask for, we are not deprived of any necessities so it seems ridiculous that we have to enforce terrible treatment to other people and animals for luxuries. It angers me that others are so naïve to what is going on around the world, people need to be educated to evoke change”.
Portobello Street Style
Ella, 27
Katie, 23 Beyond Retro top American Apparel pants We’re House head bow Vintage glasses and bag
Vintage jumpsuit and jacket Ray Ban sunglasses
‘
ad
Designer Profile London college of Fashion graduate, Alicija Aputyte has recently showcased her new collection after finishing her degree in BA (Hons) Fashion Design Technology: Surface Textiles. The University of the Arts alumni met up with 351, to discuss her latest collection and how she took inspiration from the pastel streets of Notting Hill. In a small cafe just off Portobello road we arranged for Alicija to reveal her designs to us: “I wanted to create a garment that was so intricate and fine but at the same time colourful. The dainty colour palate was to represent that of the houses in Notting Hill”. Her background in surface textiles meant that Alicija focused on a variety of different materials, namely silks to create that luxurious avant garde feel. With the cut out squares representing the delicate brickwork, Alicija carved the small designs into her fabric and placed pastel coloured silk behind it, creating an almost stain glass window effect. Her symmetrical cuttings were to represent the equality and neatness of Portobello Road, combined with the woven lace to portray the conformity of Notting Hill. “I feel that the area is different to most in London, it’s unique in the way it’s ruled by independent stores and stalls, as opposed to other places which are dominated by the high street. Portobello offers that nostalgic, one-of-akind feel which is what I wanted to include in my collection.” Another inspiration which is evident in Alicija’s designs is Japanese culture which, on closer inspection, reveals that the garment has been manufactured in the same style as a kimono. This represents the ornaments and international treasures found on Portobello Road. Alicija announced: “I believe that I have encapsulated the heart of Notting Hill in my work, as it was my goal to create a garment that had a story and a meaning to it. I wanted to create a piece that was an original one off, much like Portobello Road.”
Written
by
Emma Walsh
alicija aputyte the thecollection collection
Photography
and
Styling: Paige Sexton
a tale of By Paige Childlike handwriting scraped out onto a school-like blackboard in dusty coloured chalk reads ‘A tale of ordinary people’ with an arrow facing a modern gallery space on the seedy end of Portobello. Beautiful on one side yet easily disturbing on the other, animator Jalal Zanjani creates puppet-like dolls, all a figment of his own imagination. With heads like pebbles and stones, disfigured body parts and lopsided faces, you would think that it would scare onlookers away from the gallery space in the heart of Notting Hill, but surprisingly enough - they provoke the opposite. Each section of the exhibition is set up like mood boards, some holding quaint glass bottles with what seems to be filled with glitter powder in an array of bright colours. Whilst others are surrounded by small cream pebbles, on bright retro bike ornaments and delicate wooden chairs. Each doll has it’s own life, it’s own home. The doll’s clothes appear to resemble each other, a mix of oranges, greens, reds and black are sewn carefully around each piece, hugging the shape of the creatures bodies, revealing their odd
body proportions and strangeness within. So much time and thought for each individual character has been injected into the dolls, it is hard not to pay extra attention when looking at them. Although looking intently when visiting the exhibition I couldn’t help but notice the similarity between all of the pieces, intrigued enough to ask the creator - without offending the uniqueness of all, what that similarity may be? ‘They are all one race, one community. I call them Behind the Mountain’. This explains everything - their stone-like features, their disfigurement. They look exactly how you would think a tribe of people would look that had been living behind a mountain for the entirety of their existence. As well as having this beautiful set of dolls showcased for the people of Portobello to gaze upon, the creator also displays hand painted work hanging from the walls of the gallery. ‘I don’t believe in paintbrushes, I paint with my fingers. I scratch at the paint to create different effects with my nails, it is more human for me to do this’. And the spontaneity throughout his paintings show his eccentricity,
ordinary people Sexton his almost-weirdness which is clear that people visiting the gallery are intrigued by, just as much as I am. He speaks of the community’s values, explaining to me how it is okay for ‘Pushka’ women and men to consent to marry as many other members of the tribe as they want, but if the Pushka women find out about the men and their multiple partners, ‘they are allowed to kill them.’ His imaginative view on these creatures fascinates me, the depth in which he has delved to create personalities within the puppets is something that viewers will be able to appreciate highly. Originally from Iran, now working for BBC broadcast, he is humorous, kind and unintentionally very difficult to understand as I grasp onto every word he says when explaining his work, some sentences not even my handy voice recorder can string together. But this is in every sense a part of his charm and his talent. ‘You see, in Arab countries, they love their past, they keep talking about their past all of the time. They are in love with their dead people’. Traditional features in the exhibition are everywhere, from miniature bowls with miniature exotic fruit placed inside, to religious ornaments and musical instruments. It is no wonder that his work
relates entirely to his culture and his religion, it is so obviously shown throughout the exhibition and is a refreshing change to see from an animator. An integral skill like animation where techniques such as ‘stop motion animation’ originate from are becoming extinct more so now than ever before. Seeing this collection gives hope to the possible revival of stop motion animation, the possibility of creating a story from something raw and real opposed to what current technology is bestowing upon us. Traditional techniques from traditional creations, something for people to enjoy, consider and appreciate. ‘I have already produced a book that will be available to buy in a couple of months in the UK for the Tale of Ordinary People. Hopefully one day, when my work load is not as high at the BBC, an animation will be in the works, I would love to see all the pieces come to life’. Here’s hoping.
Ladies
that lunch
By Eloise Perry
Notting hill; a delect little pastel painted area often associated with days spent swooning over Hugh Grant, wishing of being Julia Roberts or Failing that, a discussion about how horrifically drunk you got last year at The Notting Hill Carnival which ended up in you rolling around the streets with a stranger and eating jerk chicken. A place that many visit briefly whilst taking a weekend break to the supposed big bad city, and others, who most probably live in Tooting, dream of living. Sat in one of the abundance of chic cafes, it’s hard not to overhear the conversation behind me. Two ladies, easily identifiable as ‘ladies who lunch’ appear to be on their weekly coffee trip. An excuse for any of us, who have the time and money mid-week to sit and carelessly chit chat for a couple of hours about the recent uproar at last week’s parent council meeting or what new car your husband has recently bought. Upon second glance, it seemed that almost everyone, bar me, were on some kind of lunch date. Usually not one to listen to others business, It would be nice to think this is due to being brought up and taught not to be nosy, but most probable is a lack of interest in other people, this felt like an opportune moment to do some ‘active listening’.
“Always
“Well I thought it was OTT, I mean Sandra’s child is always a state when she drops him off in the morning, poor thing.”
“I
love
Poundland, it’s
so
cheap and useful but god forbid being seen carrying one of their bags
-I
do run in now and again
“I
really want to like my
eldest, but
I
just don’t
like her, she’s scruffy,I mean
“Tracksuit bottoms…I wouldn’t let my dog
organic, always.”
I
love her, but we
don’t get on. however,
I
Sarah
adore her,
wear tracksuit bottoms!”
“I “I
swear by vitamins, look
at my skin, wonderful isn’t it?!”
feel so sorry for all
the little kids sieving our coffee in
Africa”
It’s
a dogs life By Emma Walsh
With the opening of London’s first dog cafe in Notting Hill, pet owners are showering their bundles of joy with designer goods and expensive treats, but is it acceptable to spend £2000 on your dog? While the Recession might have left the majority of us counting pennies, there are those lucky enough to enjoy the finer things in life-with their dogs! The Verve in Notting Hill is London’s first dog cafe, open to all canine lovers who are interested in making their posh pooch stand out from the crowd. Come sit down amongst the 7 foot giraffe statue that awaits customers at the front door, or perhaps sit back and let the owners dogs: Louis and Bella ravish you while you order a some soup de jour. Oh how the other half live, eh. Andre Carless first opened the business in Camden and has plans to launch another in notoriously affluent area, Chelsea. The small shop on Portobello Road features a boutique, where dog collars with Swarovski crystals and teeny tiny leather biker jackets reign. They may be “a man’s best friend”, but are our beloved dogs worth spending £100 on a faux diamond encrusted collar? Is it right to pamper your pooch more than you would yourself? And how is it that during these hard times there are still customers dining inside? Dogs first became the go-to accessory back in 2002 when socialite, Paris Hilton adopted Tinkerbelle, her pet Chihuahua. As Paris’ career rose, so did her dog, with Tinkerbelle even appearing in the simple life. With all the success, Tinkerbelle couldn’t very well be seen in rags now, could she? She was draped in the finest materials and carried around in designer handbags, following Paris where ever she went. The trend soon escalated onto the high street, with shops such as accessorise and American Apparel creating pint sized outfits. Even at the lower end of the dog market there are still
controversies surrounding pets in fashion, with many people questioning why anyone would foolishly spend unnecessary money on a pet? The 2013 dog-to-be is definitely the pug, small in stature and portable friendly; pugs have been featured in many media platforms. However, this sudden fame comes at a price, with the average pug now selling for around £700-£1000. This trend hasn’t just reached the homes of the rich and famous, it has been widespread with average families purchasing the pups. Andre Carless stated that: “There is a practical side to it, but mostly it’s customers who love their pets and want to show that their dog is an extension of themselves”.
The famous Knightsbridge shop, Harrods has also dedicated a whole floor to the dogs, selling paraphernalia and clothing for pets. With even a designer take on the garments, you can be sure to stroll around and find the likes of mungo&maud selling cable cashmere pullovers for £129 and perfume labelled “Petite Amanda” retailing for £44. “You wear designer clothes. Why shouldn’t your dog? After all they are part of the
family” reads the headline on famous posh pooch website www.lovemydog.co.uk. Is this really the case now? Are pets the adopted members of our family? Should we spoil them with designer outfits and expensive shampoos? Interestingly, this attitude has only developed recently, prior to the late 20th century, dogs were only considered as labourers, designed to catch vermin or work on the farm. Although, there have always been eccentric characters such as Queen Victoria who fashioned a grave yard to hold her beloved Collie in 1887. The position of the dog has significantly risen over these recent years, with dogs almost becoming humanised. These so called animal lovers seem to be spending their dosh in the name of love, but is this really the case? Or are the owners just so materialistic that even their dog must be dressed in the latest designs? Many would agree with the latter, however Andre Carless argues: “ A dog is more than just an accessory, I think the reason people spoil their pets is because they receive unconditional love and the dog can also be a replacement for a child.” But one may ask, should a dog be an considered option for the childless to nurture and care for, spending all their hard earned money on animal that would prefer to be without the tiara or tutu. Animal rights activists believe that some clothing on dogs is ridiculous and in many cases, can irritate the animal. Jo Barr, RSPCA spokeswoman told the Daily Telegraph: “We’re concerned that any pet should be viewed as a fashion accessory.” It’s seems as though this superficial world has begun to shadow our pets, no longer is a dog looked upon for being an animal, but an novelty item. This cruel reality means that we are always searching for the newest, most adorable animal,
leaving the unfortunate ones behind in illegal dog breeding farms, or dumped in rescue homes. There have been many complaints from angry customers about the mistreatment of the animals for sale in the Harrods building. Some believe that the conditions in which the dogs live in are cruel and unjust; with the pets cadged in, they are trapped there until someone can hand over £2000 and bail them out. The superficial nature of humans has even escalated so that dogs are dumped after growing too big; with everyone searching for the pocket sized pooch that will fit into their designer handbag. Rumour has it that even Paris Hilton ditched Tinkerbelle because she became too heavy. Strolling down Notting Hill you can almost hear the echoing of the tune from Bed knobs and broomsticks, “Portobello Road, Portobello Road; Street where the riches of ages are stowed. Artefacts to glorify our regal abode, you’ll find what you want in the Portobello Road”. You really can find everything and anything in this gem of London, and somehow, a dog cafe doesn’t seem out of place.
An
interview with
Hutch Interiors
A vintage wooden shop on the outskirts of Portobello Road, Hutch Interiors was opened in Febuary 2013. A furniture store that sells a combination of antique and modern pieces, owner Georgia Miles choses every piece herself for her recently opened store. With a homely ambience and feel, I discuss with the owner herself on how the store has been perceived by the locals in Portobello and her ideas for the store’s future.
When did you first open the store? The store is very new, we only just opened in Feburary this year.
mid 20th century chairs, like the kind that are in front of the shop. I’m a big fan of industrial pieces as well.
Are you a residence of portobello? I have lived in the area now for about 12 years, I am extremely familiar with the area and everything that is in Portobello Road.
Do
From
reading on your
workshops for your store, how’s that coming along?
Yes i do, I run all sorts of workshops, such as screen printing classes where you can design your own fabrics, and also fabric lampshade courses so after having designed your fabric you can make a lamp out of them which I thought was a nice idea for my customers, having something in their home they can say they have created. How often do you have the classes? Two or three in the week, some times on saturday evenings. I also have a new class on crochet making which I think will be a lot of fun! you find a lot of people are interested in
joining the workshops?
The interest is definitely there especially having only just started it but of course it is still very early days. Do
you have a particular theme for your
store, in terms of the way you pick your furniture?
now?
My favourite piece is a nine draw chest in the corner from an old engineering factory in Darbyshire, i like it because its got all of the numbers from the original pieces painted on.
page and
working website, it says that you are starting
Do
you have any particular favourite pieces right
I source all of the furniture for the store, and all of the interiors for the shop. I suppose what I have always liked doing is mixing styles and mixing eras so i really like late 19th century french and english, painted furniture. I’m also really fond of
Do you find it difficult to source your furniture? Its the part i enjoy the most actually. i go to lots of different antique fairs around the country and i also go to france as well. Hutch interiors. Any sentimental value to the name? You know, thats weird, a lot of people keep asking me if there was any inspiration for it but there wasn’t, i lived in france for a long time and thats really where my passion to do this started. I was trying to think of a french name, but none of them sounded right. I was dictionary flicking and came across hutch, and i am a linguistic so i love the way it sounds when you say it and it just sort of fit. Would
you say there is an overall feel you want to
give off to your customers about your store?
So I like pieces that are both practical and nice to look at, so my target market would be for home owners that are searching for that perfect piece that is functional and also beautiful.
By Paige Sexton
A Fine Excess antique jewellery from the streets of portobello Photography: Paige Sexton Styling: Thomas Hibbitts and Eloise Perry
The Eccentric Club By Tommy Hibbitts
Definition of eccentric adjective • 1(of a person or their behaviour) unconventional and slightly strange:he noted her eccentric appearance Often subcultures in society fade into history, are forgotten about and sometimes cruelly mocked, (insert witty oneliner about goths here). One subculture has existed, died out, been reborn, died out and...wait for it...been reborn again. The eccentric club, founded in 1781 by a group of political and scientific men of the time, became known throughout London and gained respect from the aristocrats and royals of the time. Nearly 250 years later, the Eccentric club was reopened for the third time, but with every intention to follow the old mission of the club which was renowned for good fellowship, although being generally eccentric in their choice of clothes or ideas and beliefs was always their main goal. No stranger to being known to reside in London’s wealthier zip codes, the Portobello gold (nicknamed the heart of Portobello Road), is a regular hotspot for the cities eccentrics to host their social gatherings, hold meetings and do what us less extrovert people do; get drunk. As it grew closer to 6pm on a warm springs night, I sat biting my lip and going over the questions I was going to ask. Without knowing what to expect, sweating buckets and praying to god I didn’t say anything would offend anyone, I ordered myself a pint of bitter, (I’m not keen on bitter but it was on special offer). It grew later, and I was anxiously looking around in hope that they were going to pop out of somewhere and start doing some sort of song and dance.
Finally, almost 27 minutes later the door to the Gold opened and in came two of the most exquisite looking characters I’d laid my eyes on. A man (I’m guessing to be Ray Frensham) dressed in a full black tailored suit, wearing a top hat and a walking stick (which became very clear that the stick was just their for decoration), covered in gold draping jewelry walked into the pub, laughing and joking, seemingly laughing at something that he hadn’t read in this weeks issue of heat magazine. He was accompanied by an extraordinary looking women, every bit as eccentric as her male counterpart. With black hair highlighted with a single white streak, big rounded glasses and multicolored garments, it’s obvious to see that she is rightfully part of the eccentric club. Her psychedelic dyed fur of pumpkin orange and her black Louboutins oozed fabulousness, ‘While the men get drunk us women are usually found gabbing outside over a gin and slim and smelling like an ashtray,’ Her portrait reminded me of Cruella Devill, which got me wondering if she was the inspiration behind the character or if she is inspired by the character. When most of us get ready for what we would call a standard Friday night drink down the pub with a few friends, (that most likely turns into getting the last tube to a club) we’d choose to sport a more toned down look than one we would perhaps wear to a day at work. For these men and women there is never a day where they would stick on a pair of Nike trainers and some leggings, ‘I’ve never owned a pair of trainers in my life’ chuckled Ray, instead they would wear original, smart or eccentric attire for one, or six, pints. To these, there is no such thing as overdressing-They even have their own club tie and scarf that they wear day to day.
‘To be part of the club, you have to be put forward by somebody and then two members of the club have to back it up.’ Ray said in his well spoken masculine voice. ‘Can you become part of the club? *laughs* Give it thirty years.’ Talk about destroying a guys hopes and dreams. So it is really as exclusive as its always been? ‘It isn’t like it was 250 years ago. We have women now. For many men, it was a home a way from home and somewhere they could come and get away from their spouses and smoke a cigar without getting moaned at. Of course, you’d hear of ludicrous things happening in the old clubs. Stuff like prostitutes and cocaine. Since we revived the club in 2007 we’re very straight edge. All us folk like to do is drink bitter, gamble and discuss conservative things.’ Oh, no prostitutes or cocaine? I guess they won’t be hearing from me in thirty years. Their distinct style, how they dress and how they look have been a key element and a milestone for all eccentric members. They use it as a tool to exclude themselves from other members of society, not in a rude or a ‘I’m better than you’ way, just a way they can all relate to. ‘Do we have any influences in the way we look? Our eccentric ancestors of course. My grandfather was part of the club in the 1800s and I wear some of the clothes that he passed down to my father. Other men in the club get their wives to make their suits, or we go to tailors and get them done. Why am I wearing so much gold? Maybe I’ve been subliminally influenced by a pirate?’
The prestigious members only club are looking to open their doors to more eccentrics throughout London. Becoming part of a social group that allows you to express and explore your ideas with like minded individuals, with some famous faces known to the circle, do you have what it takes to be eccentric?
Edible Subjects By Nikita Spice
As time goes on it seems as though food is becoming trendier than ever, despite the recession and tight wallets the scramble for seats at the latest ‘it’ restaurants has never been so fierce says Marina O’Loughlin - food expert and critic for The Guardian. It seems unreasonable for this to be occurring at a time when cash is so tight, so what induced this new ‘foodie’ generation? Since the birth of Organic food and ‘Super’ foods it has become easier and easier for big market brands to tap into the minds of many and induce excessive spending on what they think will make them a ‘better’ person. Now there is a solid market and respect for real home-made, home-grown food that is genuine. There are countless reasons for this to have happened and just like everything else in the world it relates to; the internet. 2012 saw the rise of food blogs and blogging as a whole becoming a legitimate career which had older journalists shaking their fists and 14 year old girls soaring to internet ‘fame’, now in 2013 in the depth of a recession the internet is becoming a sanctuary for the hungry to gaze endlessly at pictures of avocado in every form possible. Research by Allegra Studies has shown that 2012 saw more than 3,000 new restaurants launching in the UK and the phrase ‘#foodporn’ something of normal vocabulary, social media seems to be the hub of all the hype. With big chains like Nando’s giving out VIP Black cards to youthful popstars and celebrities there is a lot of hype around chicken especially since Ed Sheeran wrote a song about that wondrous place and had half a million YouTube hits whilst trending on Twitter worldwide, its no wonder why Nando’s is the most popular restaurant in the UK. Other social networking sites like Piterest and Tumblr are used for social blogging of food idea’s, recipes and infinite pictures of perfectly presented meals.
On the flip side of social media there is an elite club of ‘foodies’ that find exclusive restaurants based in warehouses in the depths of East London that only a handful of people know about. Where one would eat from a tin box from the 70’s and drink from a vintage jam jar that has some pretty suspicious marks on it but hey ho if Cara Delevigne says its cool then it must be. Entertaining and hosting dinner parties are more popular than ever - no-one wants to go out to a sticky club and drink watered down vodka - it seems like staying in is the new going out and if there’s a good bottle of wine involved even more so. Food is most definitely becoming more fashionable and its only going to get bigger, we may not want to spend money on a pair of designer shoes but if you can afford a pair of jeans, you can afford an artisan hotdog. With all this hype circulating around the food industry this year I went to The Shed to find out what its all really about.. Born and bred in Notting Hill; The Shed is a testament to the new generation of foodies and british home-grown cooking. Formed by three brothers who farm in Surrey and bring their produce to the big smoke to feed the dozens The Shed is a place to explore your tastes and have as close to what a home environment would be only with the luxury of good service. Looking at the eatery’s website they have a consistent internet presence with constant updates of their farming life and new recipes which they so kindly post online with a detailed guide of how to achieve their scholar meals. I caught up with Richard; one of the infamous brothers from The Shed to talk about their blog and restaurant… On a rare sunny day the shed sits in the heart of Notting Hill and sun beaming in
with an unusual décor that oozes British charm I sit with an equally charming Richard Glawdwin to talk about what it’s like running a restaurant in Notting Hill in this day and age. First of all what would you say The Shed is about and what was your main inspiration? It’s about celebrating the great produce that Britain has to offer through many different ways and creating great atmosphere that’s genuine. Why did you choose to have your restaurant in Notting Hill? I felt that Notting hill is a place where people will appreciate produce that isn’t celebrated everywhere because we have the likes of McDonalds and big chains around, using things like horse meat in their burgers. I needed to find a catchment area or tribe who would take this on board and come and maybe spend that little bit extra for quality food. You’ve been noticed for your interesting interiors what was the inspiration behind that? The inspiration was recycling and everything in the shed we have is recycled, offcuts of oak trees that turned into oak planks to every table and chair that come from markets or second hand passed down. We also have oil drums and they’re rather a space saver. You’re pretty present on social media would you say that has a positive impact on the shed? Certainly having a big viral presence is great for the shed because it gets people talking, not only is it a good way to reach out to new people and gain more customers. But also for our customers who come they can come back and they can feedback and say what they like or didn’t like and we can tell our stories through that. Its three things that make the shed on social media help and compliment what we do. Do you think that it makes you more successful? I’d certainly say more noticed, it helps with bookings but I think the whole reason of social media is to remind people who have been and keep featuring and people get reminded by little things. At which point Jessica who put together all of the social media adds – The audience then have a better understanding about the farm, they can read about the stories and the people or the brother that they never see. Just all the things that might not necessarily be known but then can have an understanding of where the brothers have come from and what they are about and I think that’s important. It’s quite unusual for restaurants to post their recipes online, why did you choose to do that? Posting recipes online is quite interactive and it gets people talking and thinking about the food when they are at home and fingers crossed you can get into people’s homes and kitchens by posting a dish that was on last night being uploaded the following day.