exclusively on clothes and accessories, Hitherto stocks an eclectic range of pictures, records. clothes and upmarket bric-a-brac. Both shops share a commitment to promoting young local talent, however. ‘People just seem to have gravitated here through word of mouth,’ says Blake. ‘I didn’t actively approach people — I know a few artists, and I spoke to Mark Bains, a lecturer at the Glasgow School of Art. and told him to get his students in here. It’s that funny thing where people just kind of find out about us. Eilidh Weir, who is a student at GSA, just breezed in and asked if I wanted to buy her calendars — she‘d hand-drawn all these great 1940s pinups. the classic girly calendar, but she’d given them birds’ heads for breasts. They were fantastic and sold out
really quickly.‘
I mention that it feels a little like a gallery, and Blake responds enthusiastically. ‘Yeah. People just kind of come in and get lost here — one great thing about being at the back of a coffee shop is that we attract a lot of people who wouldn't necessarily come in to a gallery. It’s a really great platform for the artists.’
The huge white wall at the back of the shop is currently painted with an intricate leafy tree mural by Plat, otherwise known as GSA graduates Emily Robertson and Sophia Pankenier, whose work Blake saw at a friend’s house. She commissioned them not only to paint the back wall, but to design logos, business cards, branded bags and T-shirts for the shop. ‘I just let them explore the things they wanted to make.’ she says. It’s a process she intends to repeat with a different artist every four months. Illustrator Stuart White is next in
at,
Ll
An ecelectic range of pictures, records, clothes and upmarket bric-a-brac is on sale in Hitherto
line. ‘He’s really interested in music, and because we’ve got some Triptych events happening round about the same time. we’re going to be pressing badges in store, you know, like a little rock’n’roll workshop!‘
Hitherto does seem to be becoming one of those seepage points, increasingly typical of Glasgow. where the art and music
worlds interact. The records for
sale are supplied by Stephen Pastel's Monorail record shop, and Blake’s musician husband (Norman of Teenage Fanclub) has supplied packaging cases for fumiture.
In fact. both shops feel very much of their respective cities. steeped in specific cultural references and
Our pick of independent design-based businesses in Edinburgh and Glasgow
EDENBURGH
I Concrete Wardrobe, Cowgate, 0131 558 7130
An eclectic, Scottish-designed mix of alternative homeware, accessories and clothes.
I Joey D, Broughton Street, 0131 557 6672. www.joey-d.co.uk Recycled. reconstructed original designs with something of the punk about ‘em.
I Totty Rocks, Victoria Street, 0131 226 3232. www.tottyrocks.co.uk
Shop with in-house fashion design label, run by two ECA fashion lecturers.
exhibiting distinctive idiosyncratic identities impossible to replicate on the high street. Vive l’independence!
Godiva, 9 West Port, Edinburgh, and online at www.myspace. com/godivaboutique; Hitherto is in Tinderbox, Ingram Street, Glasgow, and online at l www.hithertoshop. co.uk l
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GLASGOW
I Brazen, Albion Street, Merchant City, 0141-552 4551 www.hrazenstudios.co.uk Unique jewellery, bags and assorted , objects of fabulousness by GSA graduates.
I Che Camille, Oxford Street, www.checamille.com Studio/showroom housing some of the most interesting young Scottish fashion, textile and jewellery designers.
I Raw Vintage, Abbot Street, Shawlands. www.re- cycleandwear.co.uk
Customised vintage. new local design talent and an alteration service.
29 Mar—12 Apr 2007 THE LIST 97