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London has more to offer than Harrods and Selfridges. Here are 10 stores to visit in London for homegrown streetwear, exclusive Japanese brands, made-in-USA apparel and everything in between.
By Vincent Teoh
Monocle Shop
Address: 2A George Street
Originally opened as a Christmas pop up shop in 2008, Monocle decided to keep its shop permanent due to its success. At just 9 square meters, this tiny space sells everything from Porter bags to back issues to a selection of carefully curated stationery – all recommended essentials for the Monocle reader. Located just a few blocks away from the Monocle café, the Monocle Shop is a mecca for its readers and a great discovery for others.
Size?
Address: 33-34 Carnaby Street; 37a Neal Street; 200 Portobello Road
With three stores in London alone and 22 stores all over the UK, Size? is the go-to place to cop fresh kicks. Each store offers a great selection of both limited edition and affordable sneakers for men and women. If you’re lucky, you may even find a Size? collaboration shoe available in store. An alternative would be Size? online, which offers free worldwide shipping for purchases over £30.
The Hideout
Address: 7 Upper James Street
First opened in 1998, The Hideout aimed to bring in a mix of the best of Japanese streetwear and Western brands. Today, the store stocks brands including Neighborhood, Visvim, Norse Projects, WTAPS and many others. London’s A Bathing Ape store is also two doors down the street; a must-visit if you’re near Soho.
Present London
Address: 140 Shoreditch High Street
No trip to Shoreditch is complete without stopping by Present London. Both a coffee shop and retail store, Present London stocks coveted and hard-to-find labels. Carrying brands such as Palace, Nigel Cabourn and Gant Rugger, the store has the perfect mix of menswear, workwear and streetwear pieces for a well-rounded wardrobe.
Foot Patrol London
Address: 80 Berwick Street
Recently reopened in 2010, Foot Patrol London carries a make-up of classic and new sneakers, alongside Foot Patrol collaborations and its own merchandise. Foot Patrol does more than sell shoes, it aims to provide the best service a shoe store can offer its customers; a place where customers can check out the season’s latest pieces and discuss trends with the friendly shop assistants.
Supreme
Address: 2/3 Peter Street
Supreme opened its first European store in London on September 2011. Located within Soho, the store’s minimalist black shop front gives way to a two-storey shop with photographs by Ari Marcopoulos and sculptures by Mark Gonzales adorning the space. The store carries the full range of Supreme products along with exclusive Vans sneakers and Palace London t-shirts. Just like other Supreme stores in USA and Japan, new products are released here every Thursday.
The Goodhood Store
Address: 41 Coronet Street
The Goodhood Store, another must-visit while in East London’s Shoreditch, started as a self-funded project to curate a collection of the finest clothing and objects from around the world. Stocking brands like Levi’s Vintage Clothing and YMC for men, and Antipodium and Surface to Air for women, the store offers the world’s most prestigious lines for customers who appreciate exclusivity and quality.
Dover Street Market
Address: 17-18 Dover Street
Dover Street Market (DSM) is a multi-level store by Japanese designer Rei Kawakubo which offers shoppers the most interesting retail and gallery experience. Each floor carries different themes to cater to the eclectic tastes of DSM customers. The store also houses the entire COMME des GARÇONS range alongside fellow cult brands like Visvim, Undercover and Thom Browne. If you’re on a budget, go straight to the sixth floor where the most affordable COMME des GARÇONS Play line is sold. Afterwards, you can have a cup of Parisian coffee and a slice of carrot cake at the café Rose Bakery just beside.
Couverture & the Garbstore
Address: 188 Kensington Park Road
Couverture & the Garbstore was opened in 2008 when husband and wife team Emily Dyson and Ian Paley decided to combine both their stores. The ground and galleried first floors are dedicated to Couverture’s collection – womenswear, children and baby-wear, home ware and furniture. In the basement, the shop offers husband Paley’s brand “Garbstore” alongside a selection of casual menswear clothing from cult brands such as Engineered Garments and Human Made. Catering to both sexes, this is definitely one store worth exploring out of central London.
Trunk Clothiers
Address: 8 Chiltern Street
Trunk Clothiers was opened by Swedish native, Mats Klingberg, when he couldn’t find clothing in London that suited him. As the name suggests, Trunk Clothiers is a carefully curated, easy to wear and intelligently designed mix of timeless clothing from different corners of the world. The store stocks well respected brands including Incotex, Our Legacy, Boglioli and Beams+, among others. If put-together is your look of choice then Trunk is for you. As Klingberg once told GQ Magazine: “Trunk is a shop for men who like to look sharp in all settings.”