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One-off canvas figures created by Godiva , on sale at Go-Reborn
Popping to the shops Who needs permanent premises? Shopping Editor Kirstin Innes profiles the newest trends in pop-up boutiques
B ecause we have very low boredom thresholds at the best of times, The List’s shopping team is always on the look out for ways to make the festive consumer trudge more interesting. And right now, our fickle attention spans have been caught by pop-up shops. They’re new, they’re unpredictable, they don’t last long and they’re absolutely
they’re shiny,
nothing like the high street.
through ‘Pop-up shops generate huge excitement their spontaneous nature. They’re immediate, high-energy. Now you see it, now you don’t,’ says Fleur Macintosh of List vintage favourite Godiva, in Edinburgh’s West Port. During this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, Godiva oversaw the rather brilliant Go- Reborn, a week-long pop-up
boutique/hangout/artist space upstairs from the Ingleby Gallery. It was such a success that they’re running it all over again in an empty space in Princes Mall in the run up to Christmas. The last Go-Reborn featured rails of one-off designs by recent fashion graduates, and a hand-picked selection of graffiti artists, illustrators and painters experimenting on canvas walls, which Godiva designers then abstracted into accessories. They’re still for designers and artists to ‘rent a rail’ at Go-Reborn 2: see www.go-reborn.co.uk for precise details. looking
On a slightly smaller scale, brand new local headphone company Audio Chi (as featured in our Christmas shopping guide a few weeks ago, www.audiochi.com) will be hosting their own pop-up Sound Lab in Glasgow’s Princes Square throughout December and January. Bring along your iPod (or any other mp3 player, of course) and try hearing it through their Structural Acoustics(tm) Technology.
Very much in the same spirit as Go-Reborn, Bicycle Thieves: A Garment Depository is our latest discovery. In the teensy basement of Easter Road vintage furniture trove Retrospective, there’s a just-opened, teensy second-hand clothing outlet. It’s chock full of very wearable stuff at excellent prices, they’ve got a seriously lovely dressing room space and crazy plans to pack live bands and thoroughly bonkers weekend- only opening hours. Okay, it’s not technically a pop-up boutique, as they’ve got plans to make it permanent, but we recognise the same sort of crazy, hands-on energetic, attitude, salute. (Retrospective, 155 Easter Road, Edinburgh. Facebook: tinyurl.com/yf74y4s) and we
in there,
PRODUCT OF THE FORTNIGHT 14 THE LIST 3–17 Dec 2009
50p Badges’ ‘Mild Patriotism’ ■ We’ve long been fans of the sly wit and retro designs on show at the website of Glasgow-based company 50p Badges but their new quadriptych, entitled ‘Mild Patriotism’ is right on the nationalism button (baddaboom). Ideal stocking fillers or mini Christmas presents for your mates. Badges, 50p each or £2 for the set, from www.50pbadges.com
BUY THE WAY News from the shop front
■ THE LIST’S favourite knicker shop (what? We’re all grown-ups here, right?) Betsy LaBelle has come up with a cheeky little idea to help lingerie lovers get it right this Christmas. If you’ve had to endure the embarrassment of opening giftwrapped crotchless panties in front of your grandparents (hate it when that happens), this one’s for you. Take an hour to try on Betsy LaBelle’s vintage-inspired collection and put together an instore Wish List. Then leave the special Wish List notification card somewhere around the house for your significant other to find (or just hand it right to them). Presto! Perfectly fitting pantyhose. (Betsy Labelle, 57 Byres Rd, Glasgow, 0845 8388 457, www.betsylabelle.co.uk)
■ WHILE WE’RE ON the topic of underthings, lovely Glasgow design agency O Street have started selling their very amusing ‘Desperate Gent’ and ‘Desperate Lady’ toilet signs (pictured), previously seen on toilet doors in The Lighthouse, over their website. One tile will set you back £8. (www.ostreet.co.uk) ■ ACE EDINBURGH gifty store Present will be opening until 9pm on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 December to help you get your shopping done. with free mince pies and shots of Baileys. (Present, 26 St Mary’s St, Edinburgh, 0131 556 5050, www.buygiftsatpresent.co.uk)
■ FINALLY, West End vintage favourite Watermelon are expanding into much larger premises, just down the road. The new shop, over two floors, will stock men’s, women’s and children’s clothes, and its owners are hoping it’ll be a one- stop-shop for all your vintage needs. (Watermelon, 453 Great Western Road, Glasgow, 0141 334 3900)