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W E L C O M E

Welcome to The Wall,

In our first ever edition, we have delved into every corner of the creative world of Peckham and its changing landscape. The people and places of Peckham have been a constant

source of inspiration for our publication, and they continue to surprise and intrigue us in more ways than one.

As our name suggests, we were inspired by the Peckham Peace Wall — laying out the quirks, idiosyncrasies and voices

of Peckham. Through our content we hope to document Peckham’s diverse community by unearthing some of

Peckham’s most unique individuals and spots. Our aim is to bring you an eclectic mix of art, fashion, culture and general

happenings in an exciting way.

This issue is for Peckham, its creatives, its residents and those who’ve never stepped foot here before.

Bethany Powers Chloe McDonaldGabrielle Smith

Jesse UreKatie Woodward

Weiqi Yap

Find us on www.thewallse15.wordpress.com

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C O N T E N T S

news

platform press

house

student’s guide

film spots

artusi review

top night spots

richard kightley

leoni bullcock

street style

vintage threads

music festival

coal line

changing landscape

pre-loved peckham

in perspective

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what’s happening

places

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people

fashion

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W H A T ’ S H A P P E N I N G

The inaugural Peckham Festival is set to happen this September.

In collaboration with Peckham landmarks Bus-sey Building and Copeland Park, the Southwark Council will be holding a festival from September 8 to 11, showcasing a series of activities and performances.

With more than 130 participating artists and crafters, the grassroots initiative will function as an open studios event.

The BBC Proms have recently announced its decision to hold part of this year’s Proms festival at the multi-storey car park in Peckham.

The event will take place on September 3, and will see the orchestra honour the work of Steve Reich.This announcement comes after the news that newly appointed Proms director, David Pickard, would be taking the show away from the Royal Albert Hall for a new series named “Proms At...”.

Tickets for this event go on sale at 9am on Friday, June 24.

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B B C P R O M S

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Frank’s Café, situated on the tenth floor of a multi-story car park in Peckham, is set to reopen for summer on Friday, May 19.

The hip summertime café boasts an exquisite view of Peckham and its surroundings, perfect for a relaxing day in the sun or picturesque night under the stars. Frank’s Café will be open to the public from 5pm - 11pm on Tuesdays to Fridays, and 11am - 11pm on weekends. With an impressive array of food and cocktails, Frank’s is set to be one of Peckham’s major hotspots this summer.

April 28 marked the opening of a new design studio to the Peckham area. DESIGNME Textile Studio offers some of the best screen printing, textile, embroidery and cutting resources in the local area. They offer reasonable prices for students and young creatives living in and around London.

Founder Michelle Smith, came up with the venture after being a student herself and struggling to gain accessibility to similar resources. Smith says her main vision is to “create a community and an atmosphere where everybody feels comfortable and can work with each other and make new networks and connections.”

A vintage clothing boutique is set to open in Copeland Yard this September. Located in the heart of Peckham Rye, the boutique is planned to be located in the outside venue of the Bussey Building.

Currently, owner Nicola Brierley sells vintage products from her portable store, which she moves around Peckham Rye.

The reclaimed clothing trader sources her clothing and accessories from the 1950s - 1990s. The boutique will sell pieces curated from all around the world, including countries such as England, France and America.

www.littlesister.rocks

L I T T L E S I S T E R

D E S I G N M E T E X T I L E S T U D I O

F R A N K S C A F E R E O P E N I N G’

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Check out our interview with Nicola on our website!

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platform press house

Youth Platform is a youth-led culture focused group at Peckham Platform, run fortnightly for 13 to 19 year olds. The youth programme has announced a new creative project, Platform Press House, set to run from June 2 to July 31.

The programme will create a new publishing house in collaboration with artist Harold Offeh. Offeh is a renowned artist, whose work explores a range of media including performance, video, photography, learning and social arts practise.

The artist discusses the aims and intentions set by the youth programme, “This project emerges out of a series of conversations and activities with the Youth Platform. Its collective aim is to use both traditional and current forms of alternative and radical publishing to give voice to the concerns and interests of the Youth Platform members.”

Youth Platform aims to nurture and develop creative talents within the community, creating opportunities for aspiring artists, writers and creative thinkers.

Peckham is celebrated for its cultural diversity and young creative talents. Peter Rhodes, who runs the youth programme, states, “Diversity and gentrification in the area is a huge concern and diversity in the arts is a real problem. As an organisation we aim to commission a diverse range of artists.Our intention is to build an art gallery that is as accessible as possible.”

Platform Press House will present work from the creative youth programme and from the wider Peckham community. Peckham Platform’s art space will be transformed, animating the gallery as a live publication in text, video and audio, questioning the contemporary role of a publishing house. During the project, a section of the gallery will present a reading of zines and small publications.

For more information, visit www.peckhamplatform.com

W H A T ’ S H A P P E N I N G

Text by Gabrielle Smith

P L A C E S

Follow Jake Smart as he takes us around Peckham. Watch the full feature online!

Vibrant. Everyday you see something

new and something interesting happening.

— JANE MUIR, CERAMIC ART IST

Buzzing with talent and creativity, which is what makes it such

a special place.

— LOUISE HARDY,ST ILL LIFE PAINT ER

Diverse. It’s social, it’s dirty

and full of life.

— LEONI BULLCO CK,WO OD CRAF T ER

Diverse. It’s social, it’s dirty

and full of life.

— LEONI BULLCO CK,WO OD CRAF T ER

Diversity is probably the key word. There is a lot of new stuff always

coming up at the minute, there is a lot of mixture.

— JEMIMA BEUL AH,BOUT IQUE OWNER

A creative hub.

— CL AIRE T HORPE,DESIGNER

So energetic — shops and stalls, people yelling at each other, old ladies

screaming at buses to get off the road.

— JOYCE WAN, DESIGNER98

Text by Weiqi Yap

With Peckham fast becoming an enclave for young creatives, it’s no wonder SE15 is stepping up its film game. If you find yourself in Peckham craving a film fix, here’s a rundown of the best places to head to.

PECKHAMPLEX

BEST FOR: Old school vibes

You won’t find much for £4.99 in London anymore, but you can count on Peckhamplex to bring you the latest blockbusters for just that. Tickets are just £4.99, or £5.99 if you want to catch a film in 3D. It’s not the fanciest, but this community favourite brings you a no-frills cinematic experience, and could almost pass as retro chic with its charm and character. The programme focuses on big name releases, as well as occasional arthouse, foreign language and independent flicks.

PECKHAM & NUNHEAD FREE FILM FESTIVAL

BEST FOR: Budget film fix

Even easier on your pocket is the annual Peckham & Nunhead Free Film Festival. Now in its seventh edition, the festival will take place this September. Happening in various locations in southeast London, PNFFF is entirely volunteer-run by a group of film enthusiasts straight from the Peckham community, making it free of charge for you, the viewer! The programme is currently underway.

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ROOFTOP FILM CLUB

BEST FOR: Date nights

Sitting atop the Bussey Building is one of five of Rooftop Film Club’s venues. It might be hard to keep your eyes on the screen, given the panoramic view over Peckham Rye. As with other Rooftop Film Club venues, this is outdoor cinema done right, coming fully equipped with comfortable deck chairs, blankets, and wireless headphones. Screening a rich list of mainstream releases, golden oldies, and cult favourites. Tickets go at £15 each.

BACKROOM CINEMA

BEST FOR: Underground finds

Tucked away at the the back of The Montpelier, The Back Room Cinema sits just 30 people, making it an intimate addition to London’s network of indie cinemas. The programme champions work outside of the mainstream, showcasing films from all over the world on the strength of their creative merit, rather than the breadth of their media profile. Serving both the local community and emerging filmmakers, these folks are dedicated to bringing you quality cinema for less than the price of a pint.

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With a constantly changing menu, each visit will excite the taste buds.

The small functional space offers locally sourced food and wine imported from regions of Italy. Decorated with minimal chairs and tables, the restaurant offers an intimate atmosphere with alfresco dining. The interior eating area combines rows of tables with refined décor, offering an air of sophistication. A large chalkboard stretching across the wall serves as the menu, listing ten dishes from starter to desert.

Welcomed with a carafe of water (free of charge) and complimentary fresh bread and butter there was a comfortable, ambiance of hospitality. With two tables sitting outside the restaurant, they were bathed in the afternoon sun. The location set the perfect scene for a relaxing bite to eat and a refreshing drink.

Ordering an Italian summer-time favourite aperitif of Aperol spritz, the bright orange cocktail was served in a plentiful glass tumbler filled with ice and a wedge of blood orange. It came with a pleasing price of £6.

Offering unusual and distinctive dishes, they were prized with imaginative ingredients the portions were also served quickly and efficiently.

The starter plate of deep fried courgette flowers provided a satisfying crunch before being contrasted with a soft filling. The floret was filled with creamy ricotta cheese, accompanied by sweet smooth aioli. It came with a side serving of sweet and crunchy onions.

The second course was of mackerel fillet and pickled turnip smeared with bittersweet pea puree. Complimenting the dish was the white petals of turnips placed atop the mackerel. The fish was succulent and flaky, retaining a delicate flavour.

In total the two dishes came to a pleasurable £13.50. A small price to pay for such quality cooking.

Other food on the menu included freshly made Italian pasta, available in two sizes catering for varying appetites. The alternative mains included black bream complimented by green samphire and cherry tomatoes and confit duck served with carrots and potatoes. Desserts consisted of white chocolate, loquat fruit and almonds or a simple portion of ice cream.

The dishes were made to perfection, bursting with unusual flavours and textures, presenting specialized effort and skill. The overall mood of the dainty Italian was inviting and intriguing, encouraging the appetite to return and discover more new exciting dishes they have to offer.

Craving a taste of Italy? Artusi is the ideal setting.

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Text & photos by Katie Woodward

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This May, vintage and contemporary clothing boutique Threads will begin selling designs by owner and designer Jemima Beulah. Specializing in vintage and locally designed pieces, the store combines the aesthetic of retro fashion with characterful homeware pieces making it the go-to lifestyle boutique of Peckham.

Sitting amongst the cafes, restaurants and secondhand furniture stores of Bellenden Road, the boutique first opened in 2011. After acquiring the store in 2014, Jemima changed the mood from thrift shop to modern boutique, showcasing the designs of local artists and designers. Developing alongside the increasing style-focus of the area, the store is transforming into a working atelier.

Mastering her craft of fashion design at Kingston University, Jemima has since worked for Yves Saint Laurent, Paul Smith and Hussein Chalayan. She gained the majority of her experience

working on Mayfair’s Savile Row, “I was the executive assistant to the directors of a bespoke house on Sackville Street which is where I did my main apprenticeship in tailoring.” After progressing onto another boutique on Columbia Road, she explains, “I freelanced doing dressmaking for Lily Allen’s Lucy in disguise and then came here, so it has been a long journey.”

Immersing into different eras of the 20th century, the space is filled with individual treasures: an upcyled turquoise table displays a floral china tea set; vintage vases by Hornsea Pottery line the windows and a large basket stores a selection of vintage handbags. Surrounded by rails of clothing against every wall, jewellery and accessories are also scattered around the store.

Jemima reproduces the quality of original vintage clothing by deconstructing the traditional dressmaking process. “I have a massive library of original dress making patterns, and depending

Welcome to Peckham’s diverse lifestyle boutique.

Text & photos by Katie Woodward

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on what the trends are I will cater for them.” Creating a series of capsule collections from season to season she explains, “I have got a lot of clean-cut patterns where I do a lot with colour and fabrics to make pieces which all interlink into one collection.”

Designing her clothing to compliment other pieces on sale, Jemima’s designs seamlessly connect fashion with homeware. “I want to be able to sell things which match and go well together.”

Continuing with her capsule collections, homeware is set to be the next point of expansion. “I have just started sourcing from London’s mid-century markets, which I hope will be really successful,” she says. “Stocking clothing and homeware has created a sort of lifestyle brand, it is integrating a one stop shop for my clients.”

Joyce Wan of homeware and clothing brand Bobbie and Lola stocks her designs in the boutique. “It made sense to me that someone who is interested in buying vintage clothes might also be interested in vintage home wares, or vice versa.” Also based in Peckham, she says, “Jemima was very enthusiastic about my products. Our designs have a similar aesthetic —mixture of vintage and contemporary styles.”

Eco-conscious design company Pica Pica, is a locally based ceramist and jewellery stocked in Threads. Founder Claire Thorp aims for her pieces to have a relationship between each other. “They all seem to speak to each other quite nicely,” she explains. “I think the two are undeniably interlinked, they both reflect current trends, which in turn reflect where we’re at in terms of modern lifestyle.”

Not only sourcing from South London, Jemima stocks pieces by independent designers. Having spotted ceramic designer Lilly Ballard at The London Artisan Market, the boutique now has a large selection of her earth tone designs available. “Each stockist is carefully chosen and I think Threads have got it just right,” Ballard says. Her clean-line bowls and mugs sit seamlessly amongst the other collected pieces on sale. “Jemima is always really keen to get new pieces so I can try out new work and see how it sells.”

Maintaining the support of local designers, the work of Peckham based woodcrafter Leoni Bullock are also

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placed around the shop. Her minimal Danish-inspired wooden tables sit perfectly with Jemima’s clean cut 50s utilitarian dresses: “A lot of people buy my pieces for the fashion element,” Leoni says. “I sell a lot of my products in Threads boutique.”

A focus on creativity also comes as the reason behind developing the lifestyle store, Jemima explains, “There are a lot more creative people coming to Peckham now, so I am selling to people who want key little pieces for the house or like unique clothes.” Reflecting Threads’ ethos to support the community, Jemima hopes she attracts a certain customer

base: “Someone who is quite ethically minded, and does not want to pay into creativity, but rather wants to support it.”

Conveying the original artistic nature of its local area, Threads has integrated a stylish hub for its diverse community. It is a contemporary reflection of creativity, and the ever-changing nature of Peckham.

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F E A T U R E F E A T U R E

Local bars in Peckham Rye hosted their first ever ‘micro-festival’. With local and international bands, May 13 to 15 saw an influx of party-goers and music lovers. The music festival is said to be a celebration of the local music scene, bringing together artists, labels and record shops, as well as international headline acts. The independent festival was organised and run by a group of friends and local residents across Peckham’s independent venues, such as the Bussey Building, Rye Wax and Canavan’s Pool Club, to name a few.

Peckham Rye Music Festival curator and organiser, Glenn Middleditch, discussed Peckham’s thriving music scene and his intentions behind the festival, “It will be connecting all the different nights, record labels, and record shops. Bringing them all together to help shine a big spotlight on the wonderful music scene we’ve already got down there.” By using native musicians and venues, the festival will contribute to the local economy and bring other music lovers to the area, whilst displaying local talent and highlighting Peckham’s renowned music and art culture.

The music festival proved popular with students and young people in the area. Karol Zurakowski, 19, art foundation student at University of the Arts London, praised the idea of his hometown hosting an annual music festival, “I love the idea of having an annual Peckham music festival, bringing local artists and business together and bringing more people into Peckham.” It will give local musicians an opportunity to work together and bring recognition to their talent to people who are unaware of Peckham’s eccentric music scene.

In recent years, Peckham’s art and music culture has grown with young creatives migrating from other areas such as Brixton and Shoreditch. The rise in housing prices has forced aspiring artists and musicians to move to a more affordable

area, contributing to Peckham’s flourishing creative community has thrived. Katrina Jones, 20, a drama student living in Peckham, discusses this issue and applauds Peckham’s affordable nightlife and events such as the micro-festival, “Yeah I did [attend]. It was such a good night out with my friends, and not too expensive unlike places such as Brixton and Shoreditch.”

Despite many positive reviews, there were also several complaints about Peckham’s first music festival. A few residents expressed their concerns about the loud music and invasion of drunk students. The music festival’s main event on the Saturday saw bars playing music from 1pm through to 6am, evoking several complaints from neighbours. Stuart Scott, 27, a local resident expressed his concerns of this disruption, “No, I think there will be a lot of complaints. The bars will be having loud music and local residents won’t be happy, especially older residents or people with young children.”

When asked why Peckham, Middleditch discussed Peckham’s existing talents and music scene, with the festival highlighting this, “The whole idea behind the festival is to, yes, bring some big international acts in — the likes of Juan Atkins, Kassem Mosse. But really it’s about using those to help shine a big spotlight on the acts and artists that are already doing their own thing down here in Peckham and in surrounding areas. That’s why you can see from the lineup it’s heavily weighted towards local acts.”

In spite of few negative comments, the organisers for Peckham Rye’s Music Festival were pleased with the festival’s turnout, as Middleditch stated, “It’s been absolutely brilliant and I’m so pleased about the way everyone’s really embraced it. A real good thing for the area. So we’re really looking forward to doing it again next year.” Bars were busy, the music was popular and local businesses got involved in celebrating Peckham’s music scene. As a result of this year’s success, the music festival is set to become an annual event. With more musicians and more local businesses involved, Peckham Rye Music Festival will hopefully continue to be an event to attend in upcoming years.

Watch the full feature online!

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Text by Gabrielle SmithPhotos by Weiqi Yap

peckham rye’s first music festival:the people’s review

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the peckham coal line

Image sourced from Chelsea Fringe

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Who would have thought there would ever be comparisons being drawn between Peckham and New York?

Well, thanks to architect Nick Woodford, that is exactly what’s happening.

Text by Jesse Ure

Woodford is the man behind the idea of The Peckham Coal Line, a structure much like that of the New York Highline. The Coal Line is set to be a 900-metre linear park that runs alongside the line of a disused railway track. It will connect the Queens Road area with Peckham Rye which is currently divided by busy roads.

The Coal Line was announced to the public back in January of last year and has been talk of the town ever since.The project is currently undergoing a readability study by Adam & Sutherland architects, which will identify any engineering challenges and possible solutions. It will also see the designs

being developed for the project and tested with the community, local authority and Network Rail.

A spokesperson for the project says, “This project is owned and loved by so many in the community that we wanted to appoint an expert team that can help turn the vision into reality. Adams & Sutherland’s proposals about how to undertake the next stage of the work offered innovation and determination — and we are confident it will help move the project forward.”

Many locals believe that the coal line will bring more attention and therefore improve the economy of the area. One

Peckham local, Shana Willis, is in full support of the coal line. When asked how it would affect her day-to-day life she said, “The whole point of the line is to make life easier for those of us who live in the area and it will. Having the line in place will cut my walk to work in half.”

The project has not only found support with Peckham locals, but it has also found its support in local businesses hoping that The Coal Line will bring more visitors to the area.

One local business owner who wished to remain anonymous said, “The Coal Line will really help the business, the more

Image sourced from Chelsea Fringe

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Peckham Rye, an area of art, community and diversity. In five kilometres you can buy fresh fish and in the next shop, a dress for just a pound. Not many places in London have a feel quite like Peckham. A mini taste of the world in southeast London.

But is the Peckham we know and love still thriving? Or is the creative centre heading for the same changes of gentrification as many other parts of the capital?

Peckham is a centre for young creatives. With Camberwell College of Arts and Goldsmiths University both situated in neighbouring areas, where cheap rents keep the students in town.

However, 2015 saw Peckham properties selling at their highest rates in recent years. With more and more independent restaurants and bars opening, how is Peckham actually changing for those who live there?

Brittany Redman, an Australian artist living in London and Ben Lloyd-Ennals a Peckham resident and activist for the refurbishment of Peckham’s Lido, and discussed their feelings towards the changes.

“Gentrification is so massively overused to describe so many different things — it’s become a bit meaningless.” says Lloyd-Ennals, which arguably is true. As soon as a new coffee shop

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Despite the speculations of Peckham’s changing landscape, with a new crowd and

a new band of businesses, for those who know and love the area can only see these

changes in a positive light.

peckham’s changing landscape

Text by Chloe McDonaldPhotos by Bethany Powers

& Weiqi Yap

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that gets written about it in the papers means more people will want to come and see what all the fuss is about. We will hopefully pick up some of those new visitors to the area as customers.”

The Coal Line has also gained the support of local charity Sustrans, an organisation that aims to bring safer and more energy-efficient travel to the streets of London.

Matt Winfield, deputy director of the charity, has written online that they are “really excited about supporting this transformative project. The Peckham Coal Line has huge potential to turn a dark and derelict space into a useful traffic-free route that will enable people to walk and cycle away from the road. This will be safer, reduce congestion, and make a real difference in the quality of life for local people through gaining access to a brand new green space.”

To top it off, the project has also received backing from the Mayor of London’s charity, in the form of a £10,000 donation towards it. Ex-Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, told reporters at the time, “The Peckham Coal Line is a fantastic example of how we can harness the enthusiasm of civic crowdfunding and work more directly with Londoners to improve their neighbourhoods”.

The project has had little opposition from Peckham locals and had gained backing from many large businesses in the area. It is evident the project is well under way.

If you wish to get more information on The Coal Line, The Friends of The Peckham Coal Line will be running a series of events through 2016.

Alternatively, visit www.peckhamcoalline.strikingly.com for more information and details on how to volunteer to the project.

peckham’s changing landscape

Text by Chloe McDonaldPhotos by Bethany Powers

& Weiqi Yap

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or bar opens in an area of London, many jump to the conclusion that the area is becoming ‘gentrified’.Gentrification is the process of “renovating or improving, a house or district, so that it conforms to middle class taste.” But its meaning seems to have dissolved into a judgement. Of a business, an art gallery and even of the people who live in an area.

“In general I am of the view that Peckham is better and nicer than the Peckham of the 80s in which I grew up. In the 80s the pubs were hostile and potentially dangerous, there were no restaurants, the shops were boarded up, burglaries and street violence were common,” Lloyd-Ennal informs me.

He grew up in Peckham and seen its changes first hand. He is currently raising money to try to get Peckham’s Lido reopened, as part of a scheme to get the community feel back into the area. “For many people in Peckham who were brought up here the fresh new arrivals in the last 15 years have brought a great energy and with it the art scene, new bars, sports facilities, live music venues, great restaurants and shops. They are mostly great people and make a huge contribution to the area and local economy.”

Brittany Redman, an Australian born artist who moved to London a mere nine months ago, and is the creator of a large mural by Peckham Rye station. The mural captures a statement that brings into question the changing landscape of the area. It reads ‘I Was Here First’, which I ask her about the meaning behind. “As much as I would love to give you the reason behind ‘I WAS HERE FIRST’ it was actually graffiti that someone had put there while I was in the process of painting the wall. I think it has been a great addition to my mural as the message has added another element to the painting and has got a lot of people questioning what it all means. This is how I want people to view my work, to look at my art and decide their own interpretation behind the painting.”

What was the idea behind the piece of art?

“I was given the opportunity by Inhabit Homes to create a piece of artwork that would complement Peckham Rye’s creative vibe and be an eye catching design. Artwork that would remain in the public eye for around six months so it had to be interesting and fit in with the area. When it was time for me to paint I didn’t realise just how much support and encouragement I would receive from everyone who walked passed, many stopping to take photos, to tell me what a great job I was doing and how it put a smile on their face. The amount of love and attention from those who admired my work is what brought this painting to life. I was able to feel free and confident when I painted, knowing that what I was creating was bringing people happiness and joy.”

When asked about the changes happening in Peckham, Redman said, “I love the quirky bars and art galleries in an ethnically diverse district of an already diverse city. I love that Peckham has become attractive to creative people and the proximity of Camberwell College of Art, has attracted many creative types of people. I will certainly be coming back to Peckham Rye to visit and enjoy what it has to offer.”

“If anything there are less multinational chain stores in Peckham than there were ten years ago. There have been a couple of signs of ‘gentrification’ with the new Foxtons which was defeated by local people, as were the luxury flats planned for next to the Bussey and the original insensitive redesign of the square by Peckham Rye station.” Lloyd-Ennal says.

“Peckham is a better and more exciting place now than at any time in my lifetime.” he concludes.

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Rye Lane

Rye Lane

The streets of Peckham are no stranger to peculiar style and

more importantly, personality.

Photos by Weiqi Yap

Watch the full video online!

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Peckham High Street

Peckham High Street

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Peckham Peace Wall

Rooftop Bar

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Text by Chloe McDonaldPhotos by Weiqi Yap

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richard kightley:artist,

entrepreneur,community man

I had arranged to meet Richard Kightley at a local café, The Refreshment Rooms, just around the corner from Peckham Rye station. When I arrive, he’s sat on a church wall across the road, soaking up the spring sunshine and chatting happily to another local resident, Mavis. It’s then that I realise the importance of community to Peckham, and to Richard.

We continue to the cafe, where he tells me that they have the best coffee around. Kightley gives off a relaxed energy, from his greeting to the simplicity of his dress, he’s wearing a simple blue plaid shirt, cropped denim shorts and trainers. He is set to open a new tattoo studio K-ink, in the Bussey Building, where he is also manager of CLF cafe located in the same building.

“I go by the name Richard K,” he says about his background. “K-ink comes from my work in performance.”

Kightley studied at London South Bank University, where he discovered performance art, which he continued to work in after graduation and later moved to Peckham and began working at Bussey Building.

“I realised that there’s a massive pressure on creatives to be able to finance their own work. Especially in my field, performance art doesn’t get much funding,” he states about the background of his latest business venture. “It’s hard to get funding as an artist full stop, but I mean trying to get funding as a performance artist is even harder.”

“I’d already been working under the name of Richard K so i decided to come up with this idea of a tattoo studio in Peckham; ‘cause I’ve worked here for a long time. I’m passionate about tattoos.” Kightley himself is covered in them.

“I did a series of performances when I was younger, where at the end of each performance I got tattooed with words that came from the audience, with a poem on my back”, perhaps a very clear idea of the significance of tattoos for Kightley.

“So, the different words make up an actual poem, not just random words tattooed?” I ask playfully.

“Yeah,” he laughs. “The poem actually ended out reading ‘The point is cold and warm, untouchable to all’,” he says smiling.

“Which I felt was like a really relevant reflection of the work I make as an artist. Or as a being in the universe. You know, it’s very, very true to... I’m very lucky it came out like that. Well... call it luck. Energy.”

Kightley’s performance art centres very much around his body, and body modification. He says that he’s inspired by the likes of Franko B and Ron Athey, both very prolific artists in the world of performance art.

Is the opening of the tattoo studio influenced by the work you’ve done?

“It was more that I wanted to continue to make art. But also, I saw a gap within Peckham as a creative central. That was like that there’s no tattoo studios that kind of offer the artwork that I wanted to put out… Which is a very particular kind of artwork, that K-ink puts out.”

Kightley want’s his latest business venture to be more than just a tattoo studio. He is aiming for K-ink to be a community space, a platform for young creatives across London to use and hone their abilities.

“I can use that as a vehicle of income to finance my performances. So that’s

kinda how it’s going to be. But also I plan to give like emerging artists in and around this area, and London, a platform to perform under the umbrella of K-ink.”

How long have you been planning to open the studio? Has it been an idea you’ve had for a long time or is it relatively new?

“I think I got to the point where like, at 29 years old, I realised that I wasn’t going to die anytime soon. I thought that for someone who... Well I generally kind of convinced myself that there was much of a point to anything.”

It’s at this point that I learn a lot about Kightley. From being homeless at 15 years old, going to university out of ‘pure luck’, to personal struggles and then to today. He has been through a lot, but doesn’t make a point out of this. He is humble.

When explaining to me why to he came up with the business now, he discusses, “I went through a period of being quite existentialist in the way I think. Saying ‘fuck it, what’s the point?’ to anything you know. As I think a lot of people do at some point. And then I realised when I got to 29 years old that, that was arbitrary. You need to do something with your life. And for me, performance had been that thing for a long time, it kept me going throughout being depressed. So I’d always use my performance as an order to help other people. That’s kind of what my ethos was.”

“You know, it was these demons that I had to overcome, and realise that I can help people with their own problems and which made me continue wanting to do performance and obviously… then I came up with the idea of the tattoo studio. ‘Cause obviously I believe heavily in tattoos,” he laughs, gesturing to his hand and arm tattoos.

It’s at this point that we get to discussing tattoos and the questions turn on me, as I show him my one and only tattoo. A drunken holiday mistake. “Do you think tattoos are something you need courage to do then? Do you think it’s the permanence of it?” he asks me.

“I think I got to the point

where like, at 29 years old, I realised that I wasn’t going to die anytime

soon.”

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“Permanence is a very interesting concept.” He says, answering his own question.

“I’ve been working in performance since I was like 18, and my first performance before I started getting tattooed was called Permanence. It involved me having scarification across my chest. With that word cut into me.”

“With a tattoo gun actually, without the ink. So I had it like scared into my chest... I’ve got a massive body piece now so you can’t see it anymore.” Kightley informs me.

“That actually coins it all there. That kind of says it to you, that the idea of permanence that I came into wanting to work in tattoos and that idea of permanence. That kind of permanence within artwork and how that translates to me, it’s all something very real that helps people deal with things. As I think tattoos are to people as well.”

K-ink is set to open in early June 2016, with just a small team of three tattooists and one apprentice. All of the tattooists at the studio come from different backgrounds and different styles of teaching. They are all developed in their careers in different ways, a part of what makes the studio stand alone.

The main component, as Kightley describes, is a guy called Ant The Elder, the apprentice to Maxime at Sang Bleu. The

others are Mishka, who he says is “a specialist in conceptual geometric designs”, and Daniel Cooke, “an all round talented guy, he can do all styles.”

All of which is Kightley excited to show and celebrate their work through the studio. K-ink’s apprentice is Lara Loathe, an ex-graphic illustrator who can only be described in fully as being “a superstar, I’ll make her one. Watch this space, I’m pretty good at doing things I wanna do. And she has such a talent you know? Where she had such a talent for the illustration side of things, she’s now transferring that into tattooing. She is a raising star. Watch this space.”

“So it’s very much a part of you?”

“Yeah, yeah yeah! My blood went into that fucking place!”

Kightley is clearly passionate about the opening of his first (but not last) business. The studio is a contemporary business to fit in with the changing landscape of Peckham Rye, a tattoo studio come performance space come community hub.

The studio is set to open in early June, so look out for their opening night as it is set to be an event in itself.

For more details follow @kinkpeckham on Instagram.

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Crafting refined and elegant pieces, Leoni Bullcock is a modern artisan. Aged 28, the designer has established her own homeware brand, selling in numerous London boutiques. Specializing in clean lines and unique forms, she is turning her attention to larger pieces.

Hidden away under the arches of Peckham Rye station, her dusty workshop is filled with classical music- an audio representation of her pleasing designs. “I design for simplicity and beauty,” she explains. ”It is about the legacy of where the wood came from.” The results of her craft include home accessories and small pieces of furniture.

Surrounded by piles of wood and mountains of sawdust shavings, her chaotic workplace is visually miles apart from the refined objects she creates. “Looking at this workshop, you struggle to relate to the minimal and clean products I make!” she says. Benches of tools and ongoing projects line the room representing the labour she puts into her end product. “I love working with permanent materials which are quite challenging to work with.”

Using reclaimed and scrap timber, she sticks to traditional designs, “I don’t like to add any nonsense to it. I have got a rule: circles and lines. That’s it. Just playing with very amazing shapes.” Her Danish and Scandinavian influenced pieces exhibit minimal and sophisticated details, featuring candleholders, crockery and jewellery pots.

Growing up in Bournemouth, much of her inspiration comes from her childhood, with her mother being an artist and father a carpenter. “Our house was always full of weird and wonderful things!” she laughs. “The first thing I ever made was for my mum, it was a wooden spoon.”

Leoni moved to Peckham three years ago, after graduating from Bournemouth University with first class honors in fine art and interior architecture. Winning Best Model in Show at Free Range, a graduate design event in London, she demonstrated her expertise. As a self-taught crafts-maker she broadened her skills by interning with local furniture makers

Hendzel and Hunt, and studied on a furniture-making course in Peckham.

Establishing her business two years ago, she now sells in London boutiques including Threads, Odell’s and Cornercopia Homestore. “The stores I sell in focus on the handmade and natural aspects, everything is pure and real,” she says.

Selling 50% of her products in clothing stores, she insists that fashion doesn’t have an influence on her designs. “I don’t

design with fashion in mind, only the object and the material and how I can do the best work with that”. She does however, confess that fashion may have an influence on her sales. “I do think people buy my pieces for the fashion element as wood is quite fashionable.”

Describing her work as “simple, functional, useable, pleasing and tactile” she maintains a set style for her designs, retaining a fixed aesthetic of apparent grain and smooth lines. “I love coming across beautiful timber, and being excited about what I can make from it,” she explains. Putting great effort into designing, crafting and accomplishing her works, Leoni pinpoints that it is more than the visual aesthetic of her creations she enjoys of her craft. “Each piece has a story behind it,” she says. “All of the timber that I use I know where it

is from, I know where it grew, sometimes I know who planted it and whether that has an importance or relevance.”

While she sells pieces to be used on a day-to-day basis such as crockery, plates and chopping boards, she accepts that her products are sometimes purchased for their appealing element, rather than for function. “I hope that my products will be used, but I fully accept that they won’t always be.” she explains. “It is enough for me knowing that they can be used.”

Currently, Leoni is working on her Autumn/Winter collection. Focusing on prominent pieces and various projects, she will continue to master her craft. “I love seeing the finished product and feeling proud of what I have made.”

leoni bullcockthe contemporary woodcrafter

Text by Katie WoodwardPhotos by Jess Littlewood

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TRAID has stores located in various areas around London — from Brixton to Camden to Peckham — populated by young creatives. How does the demographic of these areas affect the types of stock that end up in stores?

Maria: The type of clothing that ends up in TRAID shops is dictated by what people kindly donate, however there is an element of selection for shops through our central sorting, where shop managers come to our Wembley warehouse on a weekly basis and select clothing for their customers.

Sarah: TRAID has 11 shops across London, on busy bustling high streets. Each of our shop managers visit our clothes sorting warehouse in Wembley once a week and have a strong influence as to what goes in

to their shop. Cherry picking items that they know will sell well and be attractive to their customer base. This also allows for the shop managers to channel a little of their personality into the range they offer. We aim to pack our shops with a good selection of vintage, designer, high street and basic as well as children’s, linen and ethnic materials and clothing. At least 1,000 items a week are sent out into each shop to encourage regular visits and we aim to merchandise based on the demographic and the community to which our shops serve. Young creatives do frequent our shops and we have tried to brand our shops in an attempt to dispel the mothball myth of shopping secondhand and make them nice places to shop. As when you’re shopping secondhand, everything is one of a kind so

Cue the age of ethical fashion — it’s become more pertinent than ever to rethink the way we shop. Fast fashion is quickly becoming one of the most damaging issues to plague not just our planet, but working practices of the textile industry.

TRAID (Textile Recycling for Aid and International Development) is a charity based in the UK that works to improve the cycle of clothing consumption. With over 1,500 charity clothing banks around the UK, TRAID has managed to divert about 3,000 tonnes of clothes from landfill every year.

Being increasingly populated by young creatives, Peckham was identified by TRAID as its latest target location to set up shop. We spoke to TRAID’s CEO Maria Chenoweth and TRAID’s Head of Education Sarah Klymkiw to find out more about TRAID’s efforts, and its new Peckham outlet.

Interview & styling Weiqi Yap

PhotographyKay Ibrahim

Model Josephine Vermilye

MakeupCrystal Ong

Clothes courtesy of TRAID Peckham

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although it might take a little longer to hunt down that perfect jacket or evening dress than the average high street shop. When you do find the one that fits you perfectly, the bond you’re created with that item is so much stronger and you might be inclined to keep that item for longer.

What made TRAID decide to open a store in Peckham?

Maria: TRAID opened its latest shop in Peckham, as it’s attained a large store with high footfall that is located in a very diverse community. The people of Peckham really love and have embraced their TRAID store, it’s a great relationship.

One of the reasons why many of us are still consuming fast fashion is a lack of awareness on its environmental and social impact. How is TRAID working to raise awareness on the issue?

Maria: Tackling fast fashion and its impacts for TRAID is a two-pronged approach. Firstly, offering an alternative to the consumer such as our secondhand clothing is a

great antidote. Secondly, we have our educational and international development work. TRAID education offers a high output and broad range of engagement for people to gain awareness and then make the choice on their consumption behaviours. Our international development work involves grassroots working with non-governmental organisations to counteract the harm done to people and their environment in the production of clothing.

How does TRAID go about handling outreach and education?

Sarah: TRAID’s education programme launched in 2005 to engage audiences of all ages to understand the importance of reusing and recycling our clothing. We see our education work as an exploration into better understanding our own values and how that relates to valuing our clothes and go on a journey to strengthen our relationship with our clothing through theory, discussion, creative play with textile ‘waste’ and skill-sharing forgotten repair

techniques. Approximately 10,000 items of clothing are still sent to landfill every ten minutes in the UK, so we still have a lot of work to do. By working collaboratively with teachers, local authorities, community groups and other organisations, our hope is that we have a circular approach to sourcing and discarding of clothes where #secondhandfirst is an attractive alternative to conventional consumerism.

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“I think collectively we need to feel empowered to know that our actions can make a difference.”

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TRAIDremade is an initiative that differentiates TRAID from many other organisations. Tell us more about how it all works.

Maria: TRAIDremade was initially set up to use the textile that had no use, through up-cycling garments and materials to be able to be used again. Over the 13 years that the label has been alive, it has morphed into many things. From high end to high street; from being made in-house to made by external designers. TRAIDremade’s current destination is with the fantastic designer, Alex Nobel, where the concept of our label is also used to highlight, campaign, and fundraise for specific areas of the injustice within the garment industry.

How can the community support TRAID’s efforts towards sustainable and ethical fashion?

Maria: Community support is the most important aspect for TRAID, whether shopping for clothes or donating clothes we depend on community engagement with our passion for keeping clothing out of the waste stream. We have a number of community activities such as our mending activists that repair damaged clothes, people can volunteer in TRAID

shops, come along to our events and talks we even have a scheme where we will come and collect peoples clothes through our home collection scheme. The simplest way for people to support ethical fashion is to buy or donate clothing to TRAID’s charity shops, which support our reuse and environmental activities while raising funds to support the lives of garment workers globally.

Sarah: I think collectively we need to feel empowered to know that our actions can make a difference. Certainly the most sustainable item of clothing is the one we already own, and it’s too easy to get confused by greenwashing so buying ethically can often be a minefield. We don’t buy clothes because they are ‘sustainable’, we buy them because of their aesthetic and price first and foremost. The problem we’re faced with is that clothes aren’t bought with longevity in mind, often it’s the experience of buying that we enjoy rather than getting the most value out of the item that we’ve bought. The cost per wear, we’re not factoring in the intention to wear and use of the garment, and considering what we already have in our wardrobe that makes it work, washing it less, repairing it when a hole appears or a button falls off.

Conversations with young people through our education outreach has highlighted the pressures of media and social media, so I would always recommend shutting out those voices and choosing clothes that reflect you, as an individual, with your own mind and your own values and if you’re wearing something more than the average six wears — great! You’re wearing clothes as they were intended. And to consider taking our #secondhandfirst pledge to try and meet your clothing needs by sourcing more secondhand whether that be through swapping, sharing, mending and charity shopping. And naturally when you don’t want the item of clothing any more, donate it to TRAID for reuse and resell to help us to improve working practices within the textile industry!

To find out more about TRAID, visit www.traid.org.uk

TRAID Peckham14 - 16 Rye LaneSE15 5BS

Peckham? It rings many bells in different people’s minds. For any young, arty, fashion-focused London dweller, the southeast London nest has a very attractive ring to it. It offers everything a young Londoner might want and desire. However, we are one generation of Peckham lovers – there are non-believers out there. Peckham has a past of gang and violent crime, putting a negative stamp on the area. With the help of the media, this became a blot to the Peckham landscape to people that had never even visited the south London community.

So this is a stigma I’ve decided to help shake.

Text and photos by Bethany Powers

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Aidan Powers – white, middle class, 57 year old man – my father. Not your average Peckham visitor, but he shouldn’t hate it right? Well, his thoughts about the area began a little something like, “Obviously Only Fools and Horses, so thinking of it as a rather poor, deprived area. And the prevalence of gang warfare. So in all I suppose it was fairly negative.”

Determined to change this, a tour of Peckham’s cultured streets and secret hangouts was of course on the agenda and my father’s changing thoughts and perspective are as follows.

Out of quaint Peckham Rye station, we arrived and walked straight down the hustle and bustle of Rye Lane. A culture shock was what came with it – he says, “Initially if you’re not in familiar surroundings you may feel a little bit threatened perhaps, but not in a horribly overt kind of way. Just a little bit uneasy in that I don’t really fit in here.”

After the initial culture shock, I took him to see a bit of Peckham history – the Peckham Peace Wall. “It was so nice to see lots of people writing. The messages were quite strong because they weren’t really anti-authoritarian they were more saying don’t destroy our place, lets have peace.”

Now for the fun bit. We took a detour from the madness of Rye Lane and went down the side street to the infamous Bussey Building. The pace of our journey slowed down as we took in a new set of surroundings. “I really loved it. I just like the fact it was an old factory space that you know I kind of like that because I think that’s quite trendy now.” He says, “There’s a real nice eclectic kind of mix of what you might call creative media and hands-on craftsmanship.”

Now enthralled by the somewhat ‘trendier’ side of Peckham, we made a trip to another face of the area, Bellenden Road. Of course, with a pit-stop at the Brick Brewery on Blenheim Grove which links the two parallel roads together. “It’s very typical of London where you can turn one corner and be in a totally different world from another one. And that two roads that are 100 yards apart and running parallel to each other can be so different.” Further adding, “I kind of can see the dynamic and friction between those two worlds and the different stories they tell.”

Back to Rye Lane, in yet another pub, John the Unicorn, we discussed my dad’s trip around

this little corner of London. He loved the microbrewery, stating, “I just thought it was a really nice place. I could have sat there all night.” He pointed out the clash of personalities within the streets of our tour and reflecting on our visit around Bussey Building, he discusses, “It’s interesting that there were some evangelical churches down there which are associated with the Afro-Caribbean culture I guess. But I did feel that perhaps it was a little bit of a hipster enclave apart from Rye Lane.” “I do wonder whether there is a clash between the hipster, arty, media-colonising parts of the area and the older more established ethnic communities that already exist and how they coexist and whether there is tension around the invasion of the arts. But I guess it is also bringing a bit of vitality.”

Finally, we discussed whether his perception had changed. “I’ve certainly got a different impression of it. I think it will be totally different in five years. I think it will be a very interesting time to be here now. Because I do think the gentrification process will happen inevitably and you’ll lose that buzz Peckham has and I’ve come to embrace!”We finished of our tour of Peckham on the Bussey Building rooftop, drink in hand, with a view across the whole of the city. Two generations side by side, totally mesmerised by Peckham and its diverse, colourful community!

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A night out in Peckham is an experience. There’s not a fancy thing

about it but just a damn good time. Hidden little bars and clubs in the

most unexpected of venues offering some tasty drinks, good music and

some special memories.

Here are some of our favourites.

If you’re looking for a chilled vibe with a friendly atmosphere Rye Wax has all this to offer. Situated underground, lies an open space with walls plastered with posters showing Rye Wax’s rich love of music and local culture. Tom, from Rye Wax, describes the bar as an “operating a space that’s nearly always open that provides records, music, food and drink and we like to think we have a uniquely welcoming atmosphere and connection with underground culture.” Providing a lively menu of food and drinks and also being home to some of Peckham’s most loved and diverse events from DJ’s, live music and comedy- Rye wax is a treat for those who like something a little out of the ordinary.

WHO: There’s no set person in Rye Wax’s demographic. Most would be able to find something to love about it.

WHEN: Anytime. However, Rye Wax holds some great events including SIREN, a woman only techno night which has gathered much interest from all over London. They also hold other great monthly events with much loved DJ’s of the area.

WHY: Rye Wax isn’t just a one-time must go spectacle- it’s a community. It’s diverse nature and relaxed vibe makes it loved among many and is a visit that’s definitely worth making.

Practically on top of Rye Wax stands one of Peckham’s most loved places, of course the infamous Bussey Building and its nightlife entity the CLF Art Café. Keeping hold of the space and the great events the building holds has been a struggle but equally a success in Peckham and now the CLF Art Café continues to play host to some of the areas most visited nightlife events such as The South London Soul Train and Stevie Wonderland. The large open space mixes some school disco nostalgia and funky beats, in it’s simple school hall décor, making it boogie central for the masses of music lovers it hosts parties for every week!

WHO: Young party people out for a good time with good music.

WHEN: Bussey tends to hold most of it’s most famed events on Friday’s and Saturday’s. However, they do have the occasional event for the midweek disco queens too.

WHY: There’s no place quite like Bussey, they can strip it all back to basics and provide not only a good night out but a community of people who are together and dancing for the same thing- the absolute hell of it! What else do you really need?

A little further down Rye Lane you can find another one of Peckham’s night time gems. Canavan’s Pool Club and yeah it really is a pool club, a pool club with a little twist though -that twist is, some absolute great underground dance and disco nights. Canavan’s opens its’ doors all night long to party people ready to enjoy a dance with their mates in an easy going bar with no fancy offerings. Just good music, good people and good vibes. (And very well priced drinks)

WHO: As well as being a great spot for late night party goers Canavan’s is also still quite a local venue for just the afternoon tipple and a good game of pool. Not just a one trick pony.

WHEN: Well Canavan’s boldly advertises it is OPEN ALL THE TIME. However, party wise the weekend is when you’ll find your fun here. One of Peckham’s favourite nights FRIENDS OF OURS, held the 1st Saturday of every month, plays homage to hot new underground techno releases.

WHY: Because getting your groove on in a shabby, yet wonderfully charming, London pool club is a must even if you don’t realise it yet- guarantee it will drag you back for more.

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Text by Bethany Powers

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