It's a well know fact that us North Londoners rarely venture south of the river and vice versa but last night I made the journey from (almost) one end of the Victoria line all the way to the other for the official opening of Turpentine, Brixton's newest lifestyle boutique.
Set up by friends Jude, Amber and Alice the store, on Coldharbour Lane, showcases the work of designer/makers from all over the UK, each handpicked for their craftsmanship and individuality. Having run the successful Turpentine pop-up markets at the nearby Effra Social for a few years the girls decided the time was right to create a more permanent space for design-led crafts and took the plunge by opening their very own bricks and mortar shop.
Inside, there is an air of east-end warehouse-meets-art gallery and the simple fittings allow the products to really stand out. Prints are displayed on wire hanging from a bare brick wall, tea towels and homewares are hung on a pegboard painted with blackboard paint and each of the chipboard boxes housing smaller items such as jewellery has been lovingly hand made by the girls themselves. It has truly been a labour of love for all three and it's now over to the products they have curated to ensure it's success.
It just goes to show that, with a little elbow grease, you can achieve pretty much anything you want.
 |
| Exterior |
 |
| Open for business! |
 |
| Colourful products from Piccadelhi and Jonna Saarinen |
 |
| Weekday hangers by Stumped Studio |
Turpentine
433 Coldharbour Lane
Brixton
London SW9 8LW