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Around Town
Rags and riches Kirstin Innes visits Che Camille’s new city-centre home and finds out about a new project to benefit Scottish designers and shoppers
I n the beginning, there was The Chateau, a shambling old tenement warehouse on Glasgow’s Southside, rented out at rock bottom prices to a loose collection of artists, designers and performers, and Franz Ferdinand, who staged now-legendary guerrilla shows there. In 2006, well-dressed New York whirlwind Camille Lorigo found an empty floor and took up residence, creating Che Camille. Nominally a showroom for young Glasgow clothing designers, Che became a venue for gigs, fashion shows and clothes swap parties. It all ended when the Chateau burned down in an arson attack.
‘Of course we miss the Chateau. There’s still nothing like it,’ Lorigo says. ‘However, we’re hoping to recreate some of that spirit in the new space’. Part-funded by the Scotland With Style campaign, Che’s new shop, showroom (pictured) and workshop is a huge white space six floors above Buchanan Street and accessed from the diamond-studded Argyle Arcade. ‘You will faint when you walk in,’ the website promises, and I nearly did: the views – over the whole of the city centre – are amazing. They’re even better from the rooftop garden and the open workshop space which will house the resident designers, Che Camille’s Glasgow Ten.
‘The Glasgow Ten!’ says Lorigo, excited. ‘I came up
with the idea of having ten resident designers – I’ve currently named the first four.’ They are Rabii Denim; seamstress Rose Fleck who creates pieces and wedding dresses from old Vogue patterns; William Chambers (the upcoming milliner who has designed for Roisin Murphy) and innovative tailor Florence To. ‘Being a resident is about being ready to progress with your work at that stage where you’re totally committed to it,’ explains. ‘I wanted to be able to say to them, ‘give me a year, and I’ll help you be in a totally different place’. I want to help them progress technically, with customer base, with materials, with suppliers and with collaborations.’
The idea behind the new venture is to encourage Scottish design talent to stay in Scotland, but also to get shoppers involved with local design. Not only can you see the designers at work from the shop floor, you can get involved with the process and work with them to custom-design your own clothes. The ever-active Lorigo also has plans to hold catwalk shows from December, and she’s building a stage for performance and acoustic gigs in the new year. It’s worth the trip, – even with the risk of fainting.
Che Camille, Floor 6, Argyle Arcade, Glasgow. www.checamille.com
www.list.co.uk/aroundtown Hitlist CLIMATE, CHARITY, CONSUMERISM*
✽ Transition Transition Transition It’s the environment, stupid! On the eve of a major climate change day of action, Camcorder Guerillas, Towards Transition Glasgow and Scottish Climate Change Campaign present films and speakers from a range of international climate change campaigns and initiatives. Glasgow, CCA, Fri 5 Dec. ✽ The Golden Fleece Ever wanted to get your hands on (a) David Shrigley? Maybe Jim Lambie? Fundraising art auction and performance night featuring work by some of the most internationally-renowned Glasgow artists. See http://thegoldenfleece- auction.blogspot.com Glasgow School of Art, Sat 6 Dec. ✽ Made in The Shade Festive Shopping Weekender Swingin’ shoppin’ event showcasing the work of over 70 local designers, geared toward craft and vintage aficionados. Bump up your beehive at Nina’s Vintage Hair Parlour, and look out for live performance by the Parsonage. Glasgow, The Lighthouse, Sat 6 & Sun 7 Dec. ✽ The Edinburgh Christmas Charity Walk 40 years ago, the first Edinburgh Christmas Charity Walk set out from the appropriately-named Walker Street. To commemorate the 40th anniversary, walkers are encouraged to take to the original route. Edinburgh City Centre, Sun 7 Dec. 27 Nov–11 Dec 2008 THE LIST 29