Pop-Up boutique and Lily Vanilli cafe

After the success of their Bricklane Sunday store the girls have decided to expand their mini empire and move to the Newburgh quarter in Carnaby Street. They had a launch party last night and we were there.

The boutique is a tiny one stop shop where you can buy one off vintage pieces, new designs, accessories and jewellery. And they have made sure all your senses are catered for-nestled in the corner is the Lily Vanilli café where there are cupcakes and tea a plenty. The walls are adorned with paintings, throughout the residency they will have artists on rotation-last night featured Fanny Bostrom from New York. Josh Weller played a set in store and over the next few weeks there will be performances from Johnny Flynn, Oh Ruin and Serafina Steer. We chatted to one of the co-founders and couture cake baker  Lily Vanilli:
 
Dazed Digital: How did the Swanfield collective start?
Lily Vanilli: Katherine and Cissi (designer behind clothing label 'Mine' and womenswear designer Cecilia Hammarborg)  found the space in Bricklane and decided to start a group inviting friends to showcase and sell their designs leading up to Christmas. They were looking for a baker and I joined them. It was basically just a space in an old recording studio with a beautiful hall that no one was using.

DD: What do you think about the new craze of Pop-Ups?
Lily Vanilli: They are a product of the times. Because so many businesses and shops are closing down they have to try keep other people happy by filling the gaps that bring interest to the area.  Carnaby London gave us the space. Pop-Ups are great because they’re are free, short term & non-committal.  It’s like - here is a space...see what you can do with it.

DD: What can people expect?
Lily Vanilli: A growing collective of young artists and designers, beautiful clothes, jewellery, shoes, lingerie and vintage pieces. Lots of parties, gigs every Thursday night, and a café. There will be the new collection of basics from Max & Che, Cecilia  Hammarborg coats and Summer & Autumn collections from Mine. A pop-up nail bar from the WAH girls in the 2nd week of August, a fortune teller and a feast & cake fight! (on August 6th w/Dead Kids).

DD: Favourite all time cake?
Lily Vanilli: My two favourites are my vanilla & pomegranate and a carrot cake with a whole bottle of brandy in it that I love. But it changes all the time with whatever is fresh & in season. Vanessa Feltz bought a box (true story).

Swanfield is Lily Vanilli, Cecilia Hammarborg  and Katherine Pont. The Swanfield Pop-Up Boutique will be at 3 Lowndes Court, London, W1 until September 13th 2009.