Meet the East London Neighbourhood with Whistles

Jacket, Shirt, T-Shirt, Trousers by Whistles Men | Whistles x Buddy Sneakers | Form & Thread Socks

With the first dedicated Whistles Men's store recently opening in East London we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to explore the close-knit community which centres around Boundary Street, Redchurch Street and its surrounding area. Located just off Shoreditch High Street, the new store is just a stone's throw away from some of the city's coolest independent stores, cafes and hangouts.

Along with photographer Jonathan Daniel Pryce aka Garcon Jon, my buddy Oliver Hoosen and the Whistles Men team we headed out around the area to explore some of our favourite hot spots, and get to know Whistles' new neighbours:

Short Sleeve shirt by Whistles | Glasses by Glint London

Mast Brothers

It was a warm day, and chocolate probably shouldn't have been on high priority, but it's hard not to be drawn in by the perpetual sweet smell of Mast Bro's chocolately goodness. If you wander down Redchurch Street you'll be faced with their warehouse factory-style store, complete with ever-changing window display, coffee bar and daily workshop tours.

Le Labo

Another store in the area which plays loopy with your olfactory system is Le Labo. Their signature and experimental unisex fragrances are all neatly arranged within this dimply lit, Americana-inspired apothecary store. Kitted out with antique dark wooden furniture, heavy steel fixtures and timeless New York sensibilities. Take a peak at their fuctional lab in the back too!

Sonos Studio

This is a place that I've often walked past but never stopped to take a closer look. Sonas Studio is a regular hangout for the Whistles Men staff, serving as the perfect super-chill escape, from the often fast-paced environment of Shoreditch. Sonos Studios provides the perfect open-plan space for freelancers or anyone looking for a break from their stuffy office.

Store Visit | Rivet & Hide, Fitzrovia, London

 Rivet & Hide, Fitzrovia, London

Whilst myself and Nik were recently out on fieldwork for Huckberry (more on this soon, should be good!) in London we took the opportunity to visit a store we've been keen to profile for a while. Having only visited Rivet & Hide to escape the rain, briefly a few months ago, we headed back to give it the time it deserves. Found in Fitzrovia, a couple of minutes away from Tottenham Court Road, in Central London, is one of the capital's most well-stocked specialist denim stores.

Carrying mostly American, British and Japanese brands, the store owner and staff prides themselves on having personally met the people behind the brands, visited the factories where the garments are made, and building trust and honest friendship with their customers.

Within the store you'll find selvedge denim brands, such as 3sixteen, Dawson Denim, Hiut, Iron Heart, Mister Freedom, and other hard-to-find smaller labels, alongside accessories from CHUP socks, Viberg footwear, Born & Bred leather goods, and some amazing handmade blankets by Indigofera. 

Rivet & Hide - 5 Windmill St, Fitzrovia, London W1T 2JA. See more of our Store Visits here.

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City Guide | 4 Hours in Edinburgh

It seems we're starting to make a habit of spending half days in different cities - it was only earlier in August that we spent four hours in Manchester. This time we're back with a six hour guide to one of our most loved cities in the UK. Edinbugh.

With a spare few hours to keep ourselves busy on the day after our trip around Scotland with The Last Great Malts tour, we decided to lay off the whiskies for one afternoon and explore the affectionately dubbed, Old Smokey. You can listen to our Edinburgh podcast below:

Six hours wouldn't do the city justice, but you can cover some decent ground if you don't get too distracted by Edinbugh Castle - I'd suggest dedicating a whole extra day to the historical side of the city. But as we'd done that previous we decided to search for the best independent stores, coffee shops, and food and drink in the area.

Straight after recording another "award-winning" podcast and a browse in the best joke shop around, we started the day off at Cairngorm Coffee. A sweet little independent coffee shop that sits beneath a set of unassuming steps just off George Street. Dimly lit, with a traditional trader's decor, and beans supplied by Brighton's Small Batch Coffee. The iPads built into the tables was a neat touch too.

Straight after the caffeine hit we visited our friends at The Brotique; a men's lifestyle store stocking grooming products, stationery, leather goods, watches, and music + tech accessories, from brands such as Bellroy, Triumph & Disaster, Leuchtturm1917, Bang & Olfsen and Finlay & co. 100 bonus points for the amazing SNES set up in the back room!

 

At this point we had no idea where we'd be grabbing lunch, but after we nipped into the newly opened Kestin Hare, we followed their recommendation to eat at El Cartel. This tiny Mexican restaurant was just what we needed; tacos, deep fried mac + cheese, spicy coleslaw and a healthy slosh of mezcal impressed the pants off us.

Stopping of for a beer was always on the cards, and when we found out via Twitter that Innis & Gunn had recently opened The Beer Kitchen we noted it down for when the time was right. The Edinburgh brewers have been around for yonk, producing interesting largers and ales inspired by old recipes. The kitchen was modern, light, full of wood and full of beer. Winner! They also do food but we didn't have time to squeeze any in.

With time against us we didn't take many more photos, but a few more places worth mentioning are; Brew Lab Coffee, The Whisky Shop, Walker Slater Clothing, the National Museum of Scotland and our hotel for the night, the wonderful G&V.

Have you visited Edinburgh recently? We just can't wait to go back.

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A Visit To...Seven Dials Part 1

A couple of weeks ago I was invited down to Seven Dials, Covent Garden by the lovely people at Threepipe PR, to sample some of the best stores and finest coffee in the capital. I was only down for the afternoon but we managed to cram in quite a few stores, some of favourites, some unexpected delights and some which were new to me. I'm no stranger to Covent Garden but I must say I haven't spent nearly as much time around the streets of the Seven Dials as I should have. I usually whizz through like a madman but the day was all about taking our time and enjoying what the iconic area has to offer.

So lets hit it, first stop Monmouth Coffee Company for a flat white and then swiftly on to Albam -

Albam is a store I've admired a long time from afar, all through my student days I longed to be able to afford something from their selves (we're all been there but my Jewish roots told me to spend money on things you actually need). For anyone that isn't too familiar Albam, they're an independently run company producing some of the finest menswear on our shores. For the price the quality and fabrics used are just brilliant. The Liberty print club collar shirts and red work jacket were a delight. The lads in the store were happy to talk me through some of the latest design processes and I was pleased to see this branch of Albam was carrying their furniture and homeware, which are located in the basement. Albam, 39 Monmouth St, WC2H 9DD. Next stop Wolsey -

Where to start with Wolsey? One of the oldest textile companies in the world, founded Leicester, 1755 and having somewhat of a resurgence over the past couple of years. They were responsible for kitting out soldiers in both World Wars and supplying garments to Captain Scott and his team who reached the South Pole in 1911. If you take a look in you grandfather's wardrobe you're bound to find some Wolsey in there; I have memories as a kid of my Grandad's red Wolsey socks bobbing away on the washing line. The store itself is a simple Pop-Up space and stocks their currently collection, which is packed with proper investment pieces and timeless designs, using the finest fabrics. Wolsey, 39 Monmouth St, WC2H 9DD. Moving on to Do -

The Do Shop was a new one to me, tucked away down a side street just off the Seven Dials at Short's Garden. The store itself quickly becomes unmissable with its bright exterior and even brighter garden lounge chairs on the porch. Being really into interiors and design I was sold pretty quickly on this store, it's packed in with clever, useful, modern and nostalgic products mostly created by independent designers and small workshops. Spread over two small floors, the store boast plenty of quirky household goods, toys, gadgets and gifts which would leave my wallet a lot lighter if I had half the chance. The Do Shop is an absolute gem and well worth a nosey if you're ever in the area. Do Shop, 34 Shorts Gardens, London WC2H 9PX.

I visited Seven Dials on a week day, all the store were doing steady trade but you could see that everyone that worked in the shops were upbeat and had the time to chat to their customers; there's a great community feel to the area, I can imagine it would be a pleasure to work there. I visited several more shops in the area and I intent to split my visit over two/three posts, otherwise it will be scrolling central. Hopefully you guys enjoy these posts and they can be of use if you're ever in the capital.

Thank you to Alishia at Threepipe PR for sorting the trip out for me. Part 2 of the Visit To...Seven Dials next week. Have you visited the area recently?