BRICKLANE SHOPS & COMMERCIAL STREET IS COMMERCIAL 

Time for recap 

With rise of commercial, chain store appropriately opening on 'Commercial Street'. Keeping in tune with the road's own history; in 80's/ 90's Commercial Street was full of high street wholesalers. For example wholesaling items for shops such as Marks and Spencers, and various sports brands. In 2011 staying within it's own routes, Commercial Street caters a more glossy image of retail fashion. In contrast to wholesale days; with dull, clustered, shelfs full of packed up garments in polyester bags. Without a doubt Commercial street has reached the pinnacle of its own slaughter, by opening a Topman 'general store. Although it's discreet, and from a far it seems a humble, low budget independent shop. But just take a peek inside and you'll see those Tompan tags. Naive consumer deception for sure!

Lets talk about THE REAL INDEPENDENT SHOPS: 

Now learn some original retail business skills from: Sarah Lucas and Trace Emin's SHOP in Bathnal Green 1993 

'Most items were pretty cheap and cost only a few quid; other items were more highly prized, such as Lucas' penis sculptures made out of beer cans. A range of white T-shirts emblazoned with bold, black hand-painted slogans also started to appear. Initially cheap to buy, they rise in price as sales increased. I once asked Sarah to explain this to me. 'All the t shirts are hand painted and go up in price every time we sell one. "Complete Arsehole" is now selling at £40. They start off at £12, go up to £15 and they go up in fivers until they get to £50. We haven't decided what happens after that.' Emin casually added: 'And the next most expensive one is £35 and that says "Fucking Useless".'

Lucky Kunst, Gregor Muir 

LIK + NEON one of the authentic independent shops, write up from 2007:

LIK + NEON, 106 Sclater Street, E1 (Just off Bricklane). 

LIK + NEON carries the theme of originality and quality from earlier more present eras. Recent collectables include: rare 70's and 80's deadstock, sport and surfwear.

LIK + NEON is a non derivative title, evoking a long standing partnership and sounding quiet Scandanavian or Nordic in origin; this is intentional. It is actually a word play on: two names of friends of Janice called Lik and Neon, who when their names are said together are always by mistake spoken as Lik and Neon.

In my opinion the real deal is always acres more worthwhile, interesting, maybe its: limited, niche and hard to understand at first sight. But in the long term, I think we all know what's more interesting: Sarah Lucas and Tracey Emin or Topman. 

SAMIA MALIK ihtgw