The Laden Showroom (London, UK)

I'm no longer in London, but I have so much more London stuff to post, I'll most likely be featuring places from this fine British city the rest of the week. So please bear with me!

Those who spend too much time on ASOS.com might be familiar with some of the Laden Showroom stock. And those who haven't, have possibly heard of the name anyway, because TLS has become something of an institution in the London fashion scene. This retail space, founded in 1999 by the brother and sister team Barry and Adele Laden, first opened as a store and showroom to promote young and independent fashion designers. Situated on the ever-so-popular Brick Lane, it quickly became a hit among trendsetters, magazine editors and celebrities. In the last ten years everyone from Victoria Beckham to Sienna Miller has worn clothes by the designers featured in TLS, it's been promoted in various publications, whether it's Vogue or Time Out London, and it started winning various business, marketing and fashion awards. Safe to say - it's pretty darn popular.

The danger in brands or stores becoming too hip and trendy for their own good usually lies in the decrease of product quality, increase in price or a watering down of the initial store concept. Thankfully this hasn't happened to TLS, which still remains an independent retailer, selling clothing from over 50 brands at a fairly reasonable price. The way it works is that upcoming designers can rent a cubicle or just a rack in the TLS space which becomes their own, but they aren't tied to a binding contract. The result is a store that resembles a marketplace more than it does a multi-brand shop. And even though the area isn't huge, I had to make at least 6 loops of the store. There were so many items hidden away, I just kept missing them.

The layout basically consists of corridors, with cubicles on the left and right. Some of the brands stocked are more well-known, such as Orion or Miss Mine. Others might be off your radar, such as Trout and Pout, who do some fabulous deconstructed tartan dresses or Eliza Jade who designs beautiful one-shouldered pieces with ruffle detailing. There's something for everyone here, from goth to punk, cute to glam, and you could probably spend hours just trying things on. Well, I did anyway.

I found some adorable trench coats, which featured pink flower-patterned buttons and a lining in the same design. There were loads of equally beautiful dresses that were so unique in design, I'm sure I'll never see anything like them again. The only thing you need be careful with is the sizing, as this will differ completely depending on the fashion label.

Unfortunately the two things I had my eye on didn't fit perfectly and I'm sure if I had spent another hour there, I would have found a great alternative. The bag and accessories section is also well worth looking at. You'll find everything from hats and scarves, to embellished ties and smaller wallets.

Ahhh, British humor...

The pricing is fairly decent as well. Some complain that TLS items are pricier than those from other shops on Brick Lane, but don't forget you're not purchasing vintage here. These are clothes designed by people who are still trying to make a living. I would say pricing is comparable to high street, if not cheaper. Prices on ASOS.com are marginally higher and if you're not in London anytime soon, I urge you to check out their selection here. Everything is well-made and guaranteed to be a great souvenir of London.

Starting top row left: Jam Stripe, Meteor Shower, Miss Mine, Game of Graces
Second row: Trout & Pout, Jones & Jones, Eliza Jade, Marquito & Blowman

(images: ASOS)

Address: 103 Brick Lane, London E1 6SE
Opening Hrs: Mon-Fri: 11:00-18:30, Sat: 11:00-19:00

Sun: 10:30-18:00
The Laden Showroom Homepage

The Laden Showroom @ ASOS