Many club nights claim to be influential, but iconic after-hours party Trade really was, as its final party – at north London club Egg – will demonstrate. Just ask Grace Jones, Björk, Madonna, Alex James or Jean Paul Gaultier, who all attended Trade over the years at its original location, Turnmills in Islington.
Started over two decades ago by Laurence Malice as London's first legal after-hours event, Trade's punters partied hard - really hard - at this wild night, as did its DJs. Popular with gay crowds but very much open to all, Trade was a unique, event that stamped its mark on London's nightlife map.
As it draws to a close with one final party, its legacy is being celebrated with a new exhibition at Islington Museum. 'Trade: Often Copied, Never Equalled' (on display now until January 16 2016) features all kinds of fascinating photography and memorabilia from Trade's huge run at (now sadly demolished) Turnmills, showcasing it as a night that truly captured the spirit of its time. Here are seven reasons that made Trade crucial alongside seven eye-catching exhibits from the exhibition.
