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CAMDEN PASSAGE | DECEMBER 09
REPORTER | NICOLA REID

You will find Camden Passage intriguing. Situated in the heart of Islington, North London, from the High Street, Camden Passage becomes a pedestrianised thoroughfare, dating back to the18th century.

A relaxed cobbled passage, with a selection of shops, arcades, and malls, and in and around the passage itself, you have Charlton Place, Angel Arcade, Pierrepont Arcade, and Islington Green, all of which add to the vibrancy of the passage and come alive on market days Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Many shops open weekdays or by arrangement and it is a favourite haunt of antiques dealers, interior designers, collectors or private buyers. Camden passage has grown from the opening of its first antiques shop in the1960's to its present total of 200 dealers. The grouping together of so many traders of all types and levels ensures greatly competitive prices.

Art and fine dining at store 'Imported'

At the north end, on the corner with Islington Green, 'Imported' is a miniature antique dealers, crammed full of bits and bobs from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. As a child Thomas Kleibrink was brought up surrounded by his grandmother's antique collections and was lucky enough to inherit a few, from which followed his passion for all things old and wonderful. Squeeze in and take a peep.

Collections of antiques at store 'Imported'

Surely every street must have one of these. 'The African Waistcoat Company' run by Calum Robertson (who used to work for ‘Waistcoat King’ in Saville Row), is a shop selling individually tailored waistcoats from a selection of traditional aso oke cloth. The designs range from a collection century-old patterns handed down over generations, which are woven alongside innovative new designs.

Aso oke fabric has a level of status in West Africa, which is a highly valued silk and cotton cloth that is woven by male weavers in Western Africa. Nigerians still dress in aso oke to mark the most important occasions in life, such as births, weddings, and chieftaincy ceremonies. The fabric is woven in one long strip of between 4 and 6 inches width, cut to the desired lengths, then sewn together edge to edge.

The African Waistcoat Company in Camden Passage

Wax Antiques, run by Ann & Lou Wax, is packed full of antique Sterling Silver, Old Sheffield Plates and decorative objects. Their English and European collections, include pieces from Queen Anne, Georgian, Edwardian, Victorian, and Art Deco periods, and also feature more contemporary items.

Silver may have been a little out of favour in the last decade with people opting for more minimalist contemporary optionns; however, there are some stunning pieces here to set off your white dinner service and add a little history and glamour to your table.

Items from Wax Antiques store, Camden Passage

'Equa', an ethical fashion boutique, where you can shop according to your ethical priority, stocks fair trade, organic, sustainable, made in the UK, vegan or reclaimed - take your pick. It also stocks brands such as Vega, Matt&Nat, Pants to Poverty, Beyond Skin, Monkee Genes, People Tree and Tara Scarlet.

Slippers with a biodegradable shoe box at Equa

Veja trainers at ethical store Equa

'Frost French', the collaboration of life-long friends Sadie Frost and Jemima French, is a sophisticated yet flirty label. Inside the boutique clothes hang beneath lampshades, benches and shelves are finished with bondage detailing, wood planks line the walls, and your man can have a sit down on an armchair under a traditional standard lamp, while you dress up. Meanwhile two little Christmas owls watch the passers by.

Lampshade rails at Frost French

Christmas owls at Frost French

Bondage-themed display at Frost French

The shop Kirt Holmes

As soon as you go off the beaten track away from ‘in your face’ high street consumerism, it seems vintage becomes a key part of the clothing boutiques in the areas I have covered. Here are three from the mix although there were plenty more on offer in this area.

Little red riding hood at 'Annie’s Vintage Costume and Textiles'

Starting with 'Annie’s Vintage Costume and Textiles', a well know establishment in the fashion world, where big name designers and celebrities often forage for one-off’s, accessories and trimmings.

It is packed with glamorous dresses, white lace petticoats, top hats, nightgowns, 20’s wedding dresses, vintage fur, shoes, capes, and tutu’s – that’s just a taster. Definitely worth a look.

An aladdin’s cave at Annie’s Vintage Costume and Textiles

Carrying on the vintage theme, just off the passage on Charlton Place, are 'Cloud Cuckoo Land' and 'Pennies', side by side, another pair of vintage emporiums to have you pottering for hours.

Both are packed full of vintage gems much like 'Annie' their neighbour, albeit in more modest quarters. I came across some beautiful 20’s silk embroidered dresses, more tutu’s, funky bags, accessories and also some hard-to-locate vintage dressmaking patterns, deliveries of which simply fly out the door.

Outside vintage stores 'Cloud Cuckoo Land' and 'Pennies'

Vintage tutus at 'Cloud Cuckoo Land'

Vintage accessories at 'Cloud Cuckoo Land'

Vintage patterns at 'Cloud Cuckoo Land'

Chris Reen is behind 'Origin', an antiques dealer specialising in twentieth century modernist furniture, art, objects and accessories; a fantastic place to source for interior designers and collectors. Previous pieces have featured designer such as Alvar Aalto, Mies van der Rohe, Charles Eames and Marcel Breuer. Fantastic.

Inside the store at 'Origin'

A chair designed by Donald Knorr in 1948 for Knoll, at Origin store

Left : a piece by UK sculptor Brian Wiltshire in the 1980's, and right : George Nelson designed chest of drawers for Herman Miller, with steel handles, 1950's

Coffee pots - left : 1930's Grey Russian avant garde tea pot, and right : 1960's surrealist pot by Roger Capron

'Smug', a mini version of store 'SCP', is set over two floors selling gorgeous homewares, accessories, toys and clothing from contemporary designers.