Style & Design
Originally published on Tuesday, 9th August 2011
Redchurch Jr.
Shoreditch's Calvert Avenue steps up its game
Shoreditch’s Calvert Avenue might seem like your usual, quiet East London cross-street. But with a handful of well-selected stores, is this set to be our new retail destination?
We might all be hardened fans of nearby Redchurch Street – but it seems that even with its Hostem, A.P.C., Albion, Caravan and Maison Trois Garcons, the destination strip is beginning to garner some stiff local competition.
Running from Shoreditch High Street to the recently spruced-up Arnold Circus, Calvert Ave has for many years held a warm spot in discerning local hearts – mainly for the Ally Cappellino store (a firm UJ favourite for her leather luggage) and Leila’s (possibly one of the area’s quaintest cafés).
Then, at the start of the summer, the quirky design shop Luna & Curious moved from nearby Brick Lane to opposite Leila’s, and hosted the Rock Lobsta pop-up shortly after. And now the same space will play home to svelte new menswear brand, Cabinet, stockists of some of the finest shirts in town (from hard-to-find Italian brand Mastai Feretti) as well as some lovely Makr totes and their own line of trousers.
In case that wasn’t reason enough to pay the street a visit, Simon Spiteri (he who launched the lauded Liberty's menswear collection) is also arriving with a new project: Anthem, a personally curated destination for intriguing one-offs, rare books, and hand-selected menswear brands like Raleigh Denim, Folk, Oliver Spencer and Comme de Garcons Homme Plus.
So that’s elegant homeware, handcrafted luggage, fabulous food and drink, and now men’s fashion, all in one easy-to-reach, distinctly relaxed Shoreditch destination that already has a ton of local love. Sound familiar? Redchurch: thine nemesis is born.
INFO
Cabinet is open from today for three weeks, 24 - 26 Calvert Avenue, E2 7JP.
Anthem launches August 15, 10-12 Calvert Avenue, E2 7JN.