26 April, 2016
In partnership withYubl
The girls of In Bloom have teamed up with SUITCASE for an adventure with the new social messaging app Yubl. The In Bloom girls are a collective made up photographers, mixed media artists, event managers, PRs, DJs and writers. Born and bred Londoners, they are known for their unique approach to their city documenting colourful corners and interesting spaces for their hundreds of thousands of followers. Last week we sent them to Manchester to document the city's coolest spots but this week they are back on home turf.
Mahaneela Choudhury-Reid is the founder of the digital cultural platform Cozy Mag. She also manages her friend, the photographer and DJ Hannah Faith. The girls go to East London for it's vibrant and diverse community - here every wall, every corner and every building has an energy and personality. From cute coffee shops to their favourite concept store, the girls take us to some of their favourite East London spots. Download Yubl on mobile to see their city guide come to life.
Spend the morning exploring all the hidden corners of East London. Start at Old Street Station and get lost, walk down streets you wouldn't normally, turn down alleyways that take your fancy and look up. Take your camera and shoot everything which pops out - flowers on the windowsill, a rooftop, a piece of street art and make your own visual map.
Check out the Good Hood concept store on Curtain Road, an East London staple. Set over two floors with exhibition spaces, installations and a basement café, a visit here is an experience in itself. The shop is expertly curated selling womenswear, menswear, lifestyle products and cosmetics with over 200 of the coolest luxury and contemporary brands from London and abroad. The shop is effortlessly cool and we love it.
Head to Cream a daytime canteen serving breakfast and lunch with some of the best coffee and fresh juices around. We're obsessed with the space, which is minimal in design with scattered wooden tables, bright green plants, and filled with natural light. Their menu changes constantly based on what's market fresh but we love their soups and salads (and French toast at any time of the day). Pair it with an almond milk latté and you're good to go.
Visit Pure Evil Gallery. There's so much amazing street art in East London - you just have to look up. But we also love this gallery owned by the renowned graffiti artist known as Pure Evil. It's a great place to see his work with other street artists from around the world. It's also great if it's raining…which we know happens a lot in old Blighty.
Eat at Andina by chef Martin Morales. If you've heard of Lima and Ceviche, the famous Peruvian restaurants in London, Andina is the cheaper option but equally delicious. We love the ceviche - raw fish marinated with citrus juice and spiced with chilli - and the pisco sour cocktail. It has a cosy atmosphere, making it the best place for dinner with friends.
