Wednesday 13th June: Peckham Levels Open Studios

2017 ended at Peckham Levels with the Worldwide Christmas Party at Ghost Notes and Vegan Meze from Nandine.  I haven't been able to stay away since.  I've ventured south of the river on numerous occasions for the different openings of each floor as the development has come together.  Another recent exceptional night was a one-off gig with the two-piece of Tony Allen and Amp Fiddler (and surprise guest appearance of Damon Albarn on the keys).

On Friday night all of the seven levels came together for one monumental open studios with the warrens of creative hubs propping their doors ajar for the general public to peek in.  Each business within the social enterprise dedicate allotted hours to open access by offering their services to the local community, so this was a chance to get know the residents.   I found music producers with mixing desks, photography dark rooms for developing film and exposing prints, jewellers, textile & fashion designers, ceramicists, embroiderers, 3D model makers and even a string instrument carpenter.  This was my personal favourite as he literally carves violins and cellos from blocks of wood!!!

Pictured here is also WAH! Nails hosting a pop-up salon within Cahoonas Hair Hub and the original architectural drawings for the award-winning spectrum stairwell by AO Architecture.  I've also included a photo of local artist Katrina Adams mural at nearby Copeland Park as her artwork is included in Flock boutique within Peckham Levels.  Head over to their online shop to see more! 

See archive posts here,  here  and here.

Friday 10th March: #MadebyGoogle presents Sharmadean Reid

I have heard Sharmadean Reid do talks about her career before but this was a specific technology themed presentation explaining how she has adapted tec to grow her business.  This included everything from how she has developed booking-systems thru to a new Virtual Reality App to design your artwork before an appointment.  She has embraced social media since its inception to expand her customer base and used it to cast models and teams for new marketing campaigns.  Every single detail has been driven by her curiosity into the future of technology.  For example she integrated the UV lamps for gels into the nail bar so there's no shuffling of equipment - genius!  Sharmadean wants the WAH! experience to be as efficient, intuitive and fun as possible and managed this by pushing boundaries forward by asking questions and inventing her own formula.  World watch out, she's got big plans!

Friday 25th November: WAH! Soho, opening night

Here is Sharmadean Reid at the opening of her newest nail salon in SOHO.  She is one of my favourite London characters and for that reason, a contributor to my book about this city.  I asked Sharmadean for her Top 5 Beauty Shop Tips, and here is the original text:

SHARMADEAN REID

TOP 5 BEAUTY TIPS

It wouldn’t be a London book without hailing the Queen Bee of beauty – Sharmadean Reid MBE (voted 1 of 15 people who will define the future of arts in Britain when she was 24).  With a background in trend consultancy she had the insight to see a gap in the market for an emerging nail art phenomenon about to go mainstream.  Using the branding of her fanzine WAH! she opened her own nail bar in Dalston and used the space for exhibitions and launches. The E8 premises has returned after a concession within the labyrinth of Oxford Circus Top Shop meanwhile the empire has metamorphosed into a nail care line on high-street chemist shelves.  The designs that Sharma invents for shows at fashion week or for her musician friends (M.I.A, FKA TWIGS) can now be reinterpreted by teenagers at home across the nation.  Hailing from Wolverhampton, I bet the teenage Sharma would have been pleased as punch to know she’d become one of her generations leading entrepreneurs.   She’s a fountain of knowledge, a force of inspiration and a fun tornado of energy to have whirlwind around.

1)    John Bell andCroydon

I love the old world meets new world feel of tHis space. It truly is a global apothecary yet its completely modern and energised. All pharmacies and beauty stores should check their approach. 

50-54 Wigmore St, London W1U 2AU

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1)    Planet Organic

The best selection of natural products and because I also believe health is inside out, I love that I can buy food which will nourish me as well as Dr Haushka, REN, Wild Nutrition and all my other fave products...

Westbourne Grove, Devonshire Square, Muswell Hill, Islington, Wandsworth, Torrington Place, Tottenham Court Walk

2)    Panacea Beauty

This little gem has all sorts of weird health products like slippery elm porridge… but I also love that instead of taking a whole brand range, they will just feature cult products like my absolute fave Nubain Heritage African Black Soap body wash.

99 Muswell Hill Broadway, London N10 3RS

3)    Baywood Chemist

I just moved to West London and there are loads of great chemists there, but I really love this one, a mix of higgledy piddgledy deadstock products as well as luxury beauty brands…….. and its on the most beaut part of the Grove. 

239 Westbourne Grove, London W11 2SE

4)    Liberty Beauty Hall

For my luxury beauty, I always shop here. Its been my fave since I first moved to London. I love wooden spaces and I love the traditional feel. Although it can get quite crowded I still go there at least once a week to buy and browse.

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Regent Street,  W1B 5AH