Life is one big shop-fit!

Decorating and renovating are the theme of the week. Trying to get the shop fresh and clean and ready for autumn winter collection. It seems never ending - as soon as you finish there's something else that needs attention.

We've got a funny shaped shop in Afflecks, Manchester. Afflecks is an old department store on 3 floors which has been given over to alternative and independent businesses. A big emporium of many different shops - a cross between a market and a concession in a department store - its a warren of vintage stalls, independent fashion labels, gothic wear, and much more. Its a great place to start out as there's lots of other creative people around.

The other great thing is that its flexible - as the stalls around us have become available we've steadily expanded in size so now we're one of the largest stores on the third floor. We sell our own label designs for men and women, handmade accessories and also a selection of choice vintage accessories.

As we've expanded gradually there's always something that you're not happy with, something that could be displayed better or an area that you just get sick of seeing. We've kept with the theme of using and re-cylding whatever we find. A blank white box it isn't - more like granny's living room, with furniture and cabinets for shop displays. This week we've stripped a lot of high hanging rails and we're gonna paint a wall black!

I think it will make a nice backdrop for some of the great photographs we have recently had taken by Camilla.

Here's hoping we manage to get it all finished before everyone comes back to uni and Manchester becomes a hive of student activity again.

I'll post some piccies when we get finished but here's some as it is now..... (well ish - a few things have moved since these but you get the idea)