To celebrate International Women’s Day this week, Eastpak organised a brilliant London #shewears tour (simultaneously taking place in 10 cities across the world including Amsterdam, Paris, Madrid and Guangzhou), visiting and meeting some of east London’s inspiring women. From tattoo artist to fashion editor, super-creative florists and grafitti artist, cookery book writer and a bakery supporting vulnerable women, the ladies we met were passionate and inspiring…
Convoyed in lady-driven black cabs, we (a lovely mix of bloggers and writers) met the ladies in question, heard their stories and got involved by designing our own tattoo, decorating cupcakes, signing a wall mural, making flower crowns and (the easiest part!) eating our fill of the most delicious spread laid on by…
Anna Barnett Cooks
Anna hosted us in her dreamy Hackney home (belongs to her housemate she told us!) with a feast we practically fell over ourselves to photograph then to steadily consume. Anna shared her story, telling us about her very first job working for MTV, then at Henry Holland, until she finally fell into food by way of putting on pop-up dinners and creating recipes. Her cookery book Eat The Week came out last year and she contributes recipes to Miss Vogue and Arcadia as well as running her own site.
The Flower Appreciation Society
I already knew the lovely Flower Society duo Ellie and Anna from previous blogger events – flower crown making has been having a bit of a moment these last couple of years. Their workshop is a photographer’s dream and we were set up at big tables filled with flowers fresh from the market that morning and all the tools we needed to make our crowns.
Top tip: tape your flowers to the wire all facing the same direction.
theflowerappreciationsociety.co.uk
Amara Por Dios
Swedish street artist Amara created this mural just off Great Eastern Street in Hoxton to celebrate International Women’s Day. Her work is inspired by her Chilean heritage and ancient cultures from around the world resulting in a super vibrant, boldly-outlined, tribal-like style. Amara very kindly let us sign her work in the bottom right hand corner by her name! Loved loved loved her paint spattered jeans…
Luminary Bakery
An east London social enterprise helping women from vulnerable backgrounds. Through bakery training, the team helps women gain skills for employment. We tried our hands at decorating cupcakes as the ladies told us all about their project. They are currently crowd funding for a new bakery premises in Stoke Newington, Hackney, so check it out here – they’re nearly half way there!
Parliament Tattoo
Open and passionate, tattoo artist Rebecca Vincet told us with much hilarity how she never planned to be a tattoo artist, but was something she got into after having her daughter. Refreshingly upfront and honest about her work – she often talks people out of getting tattoos on their faces, for example – her work is detailed, beautiful and inspired by nature; check her super popular Instagram account. She also runs a monthly womens’ group in south east London.
ASOS Executive Fashion Editor
From how she got started in the business and joined the initial fashion team of just three at ASOS eight years ago, Executive Fashion Editor Natalie Michaelides talked to us about her many roles – styling, trend forecasing, keeping projects on brand and creating print and digital content. Clearly a fast-paced and stimulating environment, she shared her best piece of advice for the workplace: “Be nice to people!”
A huge thankyou to the Eastpak team for such a fun and inspiring day!
Looks like you had a good day!
I love the new tones in your photos! ?