Friday night is going to be a quiet one, as I have to prep for Spitalfields Saturday Style Market (Bushfield St, London, E1 6AA, Enq: 020 7182 2533, spitalfields.co.uk). The market has just launched and starts trading this Saturday, so its a really exciting time. I normally stay close to home, so perhaps some Vietnamese at Song Quw on Kingsland Road (134 Kingsland Rd, London, E2 8DY, Enq: 020 7613 3222, songquw.co.uk) or meet a few friends for a drink at our local The Sun (441 Bethnal Green Road, London, E2 0AN, Enq: 020 7729 0429, suninnbethnalgreen.co.uk) which has a really cosy atmosphere.
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Saturday morning youll see me dragging my suitcases of stock down Bethnal Green Road, if theres time I might grab a coffee from Kahaila on Brick Lane, if you're ever in the mood for tea and something sweet they do an amazing red velvet cake (Kahaila, 135 Brick Lane, London, E1 6SB, Enq: Cafe@Kahaila.com, kahaila.com). At Spitalfields its time to set up my stall and have a catch up with the other traders. Everyones really interested in each others work, which creates a great buzz at the start of the morning.
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The day always passes quickly, Spitalfields has a lovely relaxed atmosphere, busy but not overwhelming, filled with all kinds of people. The Saturday Style Market offers a range of designers selling unique pieces, often handmade locally. Its all about British design, so if you want something thats just you for your wardrobe while supporting British designers, head down to Spitalfields. If youre looking for handmade womenswear with original prints and fabrics you might enjoy a look at my stall. The Market is more about affordable pieces while promoting my higher end collection, it really is a great way for new designers to put themselves out there (Eleanor Bret-Day, eleanorbret-day.com).
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At 5pm Ill pack up and if its a nice evening I might join friends for a drink in Strong Rooms beer garden (120-124 Curtain Road, Shoreditch, London, EC2A 3SQ, Enq: 020 7426 5103, strongroombar.com). The night normally starts off with dinner and a few drinks at mine or a friend's then (always much later than planned) well head out. We normally stay East - perhaps go to the Star of Bethnal Green (359 Bethnal Green Rd, London E2 6LG, Enq: 020 7729 0167, starofbethnalgreen.com) or Joiners Arms (116-118 Hackney Road, London, E2 7QL, Enq: 07916 868839, joinershoreditch.com). No matter where we start the night, we will invariably end up at the Dolphin dancing the night away- if youre looking for a mixed crowd and some cheesy tunes, then this is the place (165 Mare Street, London, E8 3RH, Enq: 020 8985 3727, thedolphinhackney.co.uk).
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After a well-earned lie-in on Sunday, its time for a ritual group brunch, my friends will either head to mine for an en-masse fry up or, if were feeling lazy, well head to Cafe 338 (Café 388, 338 Bethnal Green Road, London, E2 0AG, Enq: 020 7729 0246, cafe338.co.uk ) for a full English (fingers crossed theres not a queue out the door). Come rain or shine my sister and I will head to Columbia Road Flower Market (Columbia Rd London E2 7RG, columbiaroad.info), we like to head down just before it closes to avoid the crowds and enjoy the end of day hard sell, a favourite being these flowers are cheap enough to put on your mother-in-laws grave. A walk round Victoria Park to clear our heads will normally round off the day.
Eleanor Bret-Day is a London-based womenswear and textiles designer, now trading at the new Spitalfields Style Market.
Launching June 15, open Saturdays 10am 5pm
