I live just between Victoria Park and London Fields, which I love. Having the ability to be in a park within a few minutes is very good for relaxing my brain and there are plenty of good pubs too.
My apartment has quite a minimal, modern warehouse style with concrete floors and ceilings and big windows. My life in the studio is pretty hectic and there is always a lot of stuff around such as samples, fabrics and machines, so I like my home to be the opposite. There are a lot of natural colours and fabrics with clean surfaces.
It was the studio that came first. I found a great space here about six years ago which I shared with my friend Elliss — who founded sustainable printed jersey brand ELLISS — and eventually moved into the area after slogging it all the way from south London every day for a year. There were a few times around shows when I just slept on the sofa in the studio so I could carry on working.
There are a lot of designers and artists in the area so there’s a strong sense of creative community, which I like. I shared a flat with a few other people for three years and then moved 20 seconds around the corner when I found a place just for myself after lockdown.
Best eating and drinking
The best spot has to be Elliot’s on the corner of Mare Street. The cheese puffs are to die for. My very chic neighbour Naomi Pike and I can be found there at least once a week. This is often followed by a drink at the Spurstowe Arms on Greenwood Road.
Where I work out
I once had a personal trainer who made me lift myself up and down on a tree in Victoria Park. It was horrific, to be honest. He chose a tree right next to the entrance and I do not think he understood that I just wanted to lose weight and did not want to be a bodybuilder, so it did not really work out for us.
The London Fields Lido is a good spot if you are not into the tree thing.
For a culture fix
I could browse for hours in Donlon Books on Broadway Market. There are endless sources of inspiration in there with their art, photography and cultural theory books as well as some excellent independent publications and magazines.
To commune with nature
I love a walk through Victoria Park and getting to the middle for a coffee and cardamom bun from Pavilion. It serves English and Sri Lankan brunch too.
Grocery shopping
The Deli Downstairs in Victoria Park Village is excellent and they have a great cheese selection. Obviously you will need wine to go with that so head to Bottle Apostle over the road, which has a great offering. And a loaf from the Bread Station on Helmsley Place will make everything better.
Getting around
Hackney and London Fields are pretty easy to walk around but if I am not walking I try to cycle a lot. I have a Van Moof e-bike which has been revolutionary for me. I can get to Soho in 25 minutes if I am in the Fiorucci office, which is much faster than the Tube. If I am not riding to the office the Olympic Park and Epping Forest are not far away and help blow the cobwebs off.
Dream street
I would love to live in one of the townhouses overlooking Victoria Park. The streets are surprisingly quiet and the idea of looking out at the green fields and trees while still being so close to the city feels like a dream.
Something you only see in London Fields
A hedge cut into the shape of a dog on Middleton Road.
What’s the catch?
The whole area has become very expensive in the last few years and there is a clear disparity between the longer-term residents and those who moved in later which is pushing some of them out. I think there needs to be more affordable housing and more regulations put in place to stop this displacement of lower-income residents who have made the area what it is today.
In three words
Really. Good. Pubs.
Schools
London Fields has several primary schools nearby rated outstanding by Ofsted including London Fields Primary School and Queensbridge Primary School. For secondary education, Waterside Academy and City of London Academy, Shoreditch Park are deemed good.
