As customers return to physical stores and the culture calendar comes alive, London feels energised once more with new shopping experiences, conscious business ideas and inspiring exhibitions.
Providing a fresh perspective and unique experiences, many retailers are stepping into showroom-like curated spaces. Danish fashion house Stine Goya highlights its graphic identity, while streetwear brand Aimé Leon Dore combines its new luxurious Soho store with a cafe that’s proving to be highly popular. With its standout retail development, Coal Drops Yard at King’s Cross area is a must-visit for upper-end, conscious fashion and interiors brands such as Earl of East as well as independent lifestyle stores like the Outsiders Store, which embodies the The Great Outdoors trend.
Feeding into the enthusiasm for alternative business models, the city saw a rise in sustainable and local concepts, such as the new maker-based concept store Atelier100 established by IKEA and H&M. Ever-evolving department store Selfridges showcases the future of the planet in an immersive exhibition and establishes new retail ideas focused on resale, rental and repair. The store has also become home to a permanent Jacquemus shop-in-shop following its much-talked-about popup in spring 2022. Staying true to Jacquemus's heritage, the boutique boasts a minimalist design in neutral colours reminiscent of the coastal province of Provence, where the brand was born.
Portuguese restaurant Lisboeta, which is a love letter to Lisbon, serves traditional and contemporary plates. Max Rocha’s Cafe Cecilia in Hackney that overlooks the canal is also a food spot worth visiting.
Pamper your skin at Aesop’s new store on Regent Street, featuring relaxing facial treatment rooms mirroring the comforts of a living room. Spa facials, massages and body treatments are also offered at the revamped space of eco-conscious skincare brand Haeckels, which introduced an experiential retail concept with an immersive fragrance area. The recently opened One Hundred Shoreditch hotel takes inspiration from the neighbourhood’s vibrancy with simple, modernist rooms and a stylish rooftop bar.
New culture spaces such as Queer Britain and Europe’s first NFT gallery are driving diversity and digitalisation. Don’t miss the V&A’s newest show Hallyu! The Korean Wave, which celebrates the colourful and dynamic pop culture of South Korea.
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