The Collect, a unique pop-up store concept taking over the 5000 square foot first floor of 500 Oxford Street, is the new home to eight up and coming independent brands. The pop-up was born in a partnership between Westminster City Council, New West End Company, and James Andrew International and the vacant retail space is now being used by small-scale businesses, homegrown start-ups, and emerging creative talent, to showcase their brands in Central London. 

The entrance to The Collect features an immersive art installation by artist Carson Parkin-Fairley, complementing the design flare of the brands’ that shoppers will find inside. All of the brands use design to push their messages – focusing on inspiring change, sustainability and challenging the conventional standards in the beauty and fashion industries in a hope to change consumers’ attitudes to shopping.

The brands that make up The Collect are:

• Archive Six – a female-owned business based in London with sustainability. Community and quality being the driving forces behind the business.
• Bleaq – an inspiring community of designers who use creativity as a catalyst for social, political and environmental action.
• Moonlight Motel – an independent design studio focusing on the art of hand lettering and Chain Stitch Embroidery, Lana Hughes’ inspiring designs use positive and meaningful messages. 
• Löfte – The word ‘löfte’ means promise in Swedish. Löfte promises that every item is carefully selected for both style and sustainability. 
• Lone Design Club – a design collective that allows consumers to discover and shop from independent brands with traceable and mindful practices, selling exclusive & one of a kind pieces. 
• Loop Generation – an ethically-minded platform offering the very best in pre-loved clothing and accessories.  
• Never Fade Factory – an incubator program that works through collaborative group projects to produce sustainable fashion and art commercial items, specialising in creating “one of one” sustainable fashion pieces. 
• Rebel Blends – Born in a kitchen out of the desire to solve a personal problem, Rebel Blends has evolved into a passionate protest against the standards in the conventional beauty industry. 

Don’t miss out on visiting The Collect – a must-visit this Christmas season, open until January 2022!

Address: The Collect Pop Up 500 Oxford Street, London, W1 

Written by Lenny Wright

Photography courtesy of Lone Design Club