Over the last few months my faith in the retail landscape of the capital has been restored and my enthusiasm ignited. From Trunk Clothiers' carefully curated selection of the finest menswear and accessories from across the globe based in a seventy square metre space in Marylebone to the recently opened, high impact concept store LN-CC in deepest, darkest Dalston. The future is looking far brighter with the opening of these intriguingly different properties scattered across the city. The launch of online and mortar-and-brick lifestyle boutique 3939 provides yet another reason to be excited.
3939 launched as a lifestyle and retail concept located in the basement of a well loved Japanese restaurant, Life just last Wednesday. Set up by three creative friend in Tatsuo, Pippa and Peter, tomorrow morning marks the unveiling of its online destination. Both the physical and digital spaces showcase the trios unique ideas, collaborations and exclusive products which have been developed in association with the craftsmen and talent that they all adore. This is a truly independent project driven forward by the determination to offer something different. 3939 incorporates a unique point of view and leaves me excited in the process...
Primarily a retail space, the basement location also functions as a showroom and gallery to promote artists and offer them to new markets, first up Yuko Kondo.
The space might not be as vast as LN-CC but architect/interior designer, Iwan Halstead has helped create something perfectly formed. Within it, menswear, womenswear and accessories all feature and are based around the concept of unisex styling. Highlights include favourite pieces from Sibling, Postalco, Armor Lux, Solmate Socks, La+h and trainers by Lewis Leathers. As you can tell from this list, items have been carefully collected from Japan, Singapore, USA, Argentina, Hong Kong, Europe and beyond. Exclusive products have been developed for 3939shop through a close-knit network - nurtured through their years of experience and knowledge in the fashion and media industries from East to West. Furthermore, the trio have developed a close working relationship with a selection of UK manufacturers to create new and exciting products. Collaborations with Cumbrian based Chapman bags and a south west located, fourth generation family run gloves manufactures have been particularly fruitful. In addition to fashion and accessories, the store also offers a range of stationary, books and magazines which are either currently unavailable or damn hard to get hold of in the UK. The moment it opened its doors I was a fan. Lucky for me, the store is only a few minutes walk from my office so whenever I need to indulge in a moment or two of retail therapy I now have a new destination. Now, I could wax lyrical about the store but I'd only bore you, the best way to get a feel of the place is to explore it. 3939 is bursting discovery because its creators passion for creating and promoting unknown gems...
A corner of treats. Sibling knitwear, Chapman bags and Lewis Leathers trainers join forces to produce a whole lot of temptation.
Much loved knitwear pieces from London design trio Sibling hang behind a new discovery. Manga porn t shirts designed by emerging styling talent, Matthew Josephs.
Retro with a twist, London based illustrator and graphic designer Haniboi presents a new way to store your money and cards. This playful yet sturdy piece is made of silicone rubber and firmly fastened by magnets, durable and splash proof.
Postalco is a stationery and leather goods company based in Tokyo and owned by Mike and Yuri Abelson. Together they combine their individual strengths to produce finely crafted products that have garnered them praise and devoted fans not just in Japan but around the world
Cosy colour. Solmate socks are knit from recycled cotton yarns, which are created by grinding down and re-spinning scraps from the production of other cotton products, mainly t-shirts.
Mucu notepads placed alongside a selection of soft leather gloves.
Each Mucu notepad is hand-finished in the firm’s compact Tokyo workshop and made using mainly untreated materials including canvas, tarpaulin and newspaper-grade stock. Mucu's aim is to restore to everyday life contact with unabashedly raw textures that age nicely over an extended period. I could not resist picking one up for myself.
Like us, 3939 love "made in the UK" products. Here, they have collaborated with a fourth generation family run glove company based in the south west of England. Just beautiful!
These leather accessories by Ki:ts are all handmade in London. These are Takaharu Osako's new belt, bracelet and trouser belt line, all are handmade in UK one by one. He started this label in 2009 and commercially started launching in 2009 by selling to International Gallery Beams in Tokyo and his collection is continuously stocked there. All the leathers are sourced from Italy. The label is pronounced as Keats.
I was able to flick through Penter Yip's Fashionary for the first time, before walking away with one for myself and Susie. The term comes from "Fashion + Dictionary + Diary". The sketchbook is combined with intensive fashion information and blended figure templates. It is the perfect tool for brainstorming, fast sketching and quick referencing.
Cute iphone cases.
These are not your average ties. It is all about the fabric and colours produced courtesy of the world's finest and blogger favourite fabric, Harris Tweed. Sson, an exciting label from Sweden collaboration with Harris Tweeds. The label offer clean looking bicycles in addition to stylish yet functional clothing. The labels aim is to get more people on bikes and make them look good.
Armor Lux hails out of the small french town of Quimper. A true fishermens classic, Armor Lux have been making their breton style knits, jerseys & reefer jackets since 1938. Their products are still made in France using virtually the same techniques and fabric.
Another British collaboration sees the store work with Chapman bags. John Chapman makes hand crafted bags in the heart of Cumbria.
Yuko Kondo was chosen for the first exhibition. Kondo is a London based Japanese illustrator. Amazing and slightly surreal colourful graphics hang throughout the store.
With its array of carefully curated products and mouth watering collaborations, the store has quickly become my favoured outlet for that most dreaded of consumer requirements, Christmas shopping. Who needs to brave the crowds of central when 3939 offers far more thoughtful and sought after gift ideas. Now, if you know me the likelihood of you receiving a gift bought from this store is very high indeed. Alternatively, if you would like to bring some festive cheer to me and are struggling to find a gift that encapsulates your love for me, then I point you in the direction of 3939. Thank you, thank you.
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