Shopping

Bags of history: Gardner's (No 11) has endured the East End's many changes

Brick Lane/Spitalfields
6 Junky
Something of a Brick Lane institution, Junky’s lovely seamstresses Annie and Kerry have been reworking old clothes for years now. What most people don’t know is that as well as the racks of de- and re-constructed ready-to-wear fashion, the Junky girls offer a bespoke service – take in your dad’s old suit and they’ll turn it into a party dress for you. Don’t forget to ask your pa first, though. They also offer a brilliant bespoke wedding-dress service.
Junky, 12 Dray Walk, The Old Brewery, E2 (020 7247 1883) Liverpool St tube/rail. Open Mon-Sun 11am-6.30pm. Feature continues

7 Blackman’s Shoes
Blackman’s Shoes was originally set up in 1935 as a purveyor of cheap, quality shoes to the Jewish community around Brick Lane. (It was also the first shop in the UK to stock Doc Martens boots.) Still a father and son business, it buys well-made shoes from factories at times when business is slow, thus ensuring low prices, then sells them on cheaply to a loyal fan base. Currently popular with local Shoreditch sorts are the ‘cool again’ plimsolls, which remain modestly priced at £5. Don’t expect slick presentation – the store is tiny and chaotic.
Blackman’s Shoes, 42-44 Cheshire St (07850 883505) Liverpool St tube/rail. Open Mon 12noon-5.30pm, Tue-Sat 11.30am-5.30pm, Sun 8am-2pm.

8 Outland Boutique
This tiny, seductive-looking boudoir will make up exquisite bespoke lingerie from a range of opulent silks and satins – perfect for a special occasion or anyone struggling with standard shop sizes.
Outland Boutique, 97-99 Cheshire St, E1 (07961 902145) Liverpool St tube/rail. Open Wed-Sun 12noon-6pm.

9 Arckiv
This often-missed sunglasses warehouse is tucked away behind Brick Lane. Seek it out, as its collection of vintage, bespoke, and collectable sunnies is unsurpassed in London and often used as a resource for film and TV costume designers.
Arckiv, Unit 2, 37 Heneage St, E1 (07790 102204) Liverpool St tube/rail. Open Mon-Sun 10am-7pm.

10 Burt & Mary Vintage
Often overlooked in favour of nearby gigantic secondhand supplier Beyond Retro, Burt and Mary serve up a much more concise collection of vintage goods from their small fashion store. More civilised than trawling the rails to blaring sounds up the road.
Burt & Mary Vintage, 5 Cheshire St, E1 (07725 810789) Liverpool St tube/rail. Open Mon-Fri 12noon-6pm, Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 9am-6pm.

11 Gardner’s
This strangely useful shop has been on Commercial St for many years and has preserved its attractive old-fashioned fascia. It has been supplying paper bags, plastic bags and other ‘sundries’ to local businesses and residents throughout the area’s reinvention. A good place for old-fashioned paper bags and scales of every description at great prices; brilliant if you are looking for goodie bags for an event or holding a car boot sale.
Gardner’s, 149 Commercial St, E1 (020 7247 5119) Liverpool St tube/rail. Open Mon 6.30am-2pm, Tue-Fri 6.30am-2.30pm.

12 Beedell Coram
If any shop sums up the dichotomous nature of this area, it is surely Beedell Coram; purveyor of beautiful antique/ retro furniture upstairs, and efficient repairers of Apple Mac computers downstairs. Pick up a rickety hat stand or an elegant dresser while waiting for your Powerbook to be fixed.
Beedell Coram, 86 Commercial St, E1 (07981 559601) Liverpool St tube/rail. Open Wed 12noon-5pm, Thur 9-5pm, Sun 9am-6pm. Mac1 Open Mon-Sat 10am-4pm.

The decor in Blondie (No 13) is as fascinating as the stock

13 Blondie
Any vintage hunter worth their mothballs will be familiar with Absolute Vintage on Hanbury Street, with its floor-to-ceiling racks of battered stilettos and dresses crammed in like viscose sardines. Around the corner is its more sedate sister store, Blondie, which is a bit pricier, but much, much, nicer. The boutique decor is lovely, with beautiful chaises longues and elegant mirrors, plus fantastic finds like immaculate Hermès bags.
Blondie, Unit 2, 114-118 Commercial St, E1 (020 7247 0050) Liverpool St tube/rail. Open Mon-Sun 10am-7pm.