Values Speak Volumes ~ Volume 01 - Community

The values that inspire Sami-K and why they matter right now.

Monday April 12th

This is a particularly exciting week as we enter the next phase of the slow release from lockdown restrictions. I saw more friends and met more new people this week than I have so far in 2021. I was also reminded for the first time in about a year of how loud and smelly the tube is, and on top of all that I was out of the house for more than 10 hours!....crazy times right!?

We’re seeing the re-opening of non-essential shops and I have been squirrelling away the past few weeks preparing for the first Sami-K Pop-up at ‘The Crossing’ in West Brompton! It’s week one of two and there is a bustling energy of folks desperate for something on draft in The Lille Langtry over the road, and a constant flow of coffee lovers next door in the wonderfully eclectic The Hoarders Café (myself included).

Team Local

The welcome and support so far has been amazing and as I meet the locals I soon realise I have joined a hungry community, eager to support and bring people together in time for the long overdue summer of 2021. Not in a ‘street party’ sort of way… but something much calmer that draws the community together as we all slowly return to our now fragile world. Local businesses collaborating together to join forces, share skills and regenerate. Hearing and seeing this bought a little flutter of another positive change emerging within the communities of our ‘new normal’.

The Crossing

So I’m going to shout about this little spot because it totally sums up the incredible opportunities out there for new businesses. The last year has seen an absolute mega-load of new businesses and this needs to be celebrated, supported and shared. I found out about this space during a virtual members meetup with Make it British. These meetups really are valuable ways to exchange knowledge and discuss relevant topics as British business owners dotted across the UK. On this particular meeting, the wonderful London-based knit designer Valentina Karellis suggested The Crossing Pop-up space at West Brompton Crossing, London. I was straight on it and after a few lockdown-related date shuffles here we are! All set up and ready to dress the beautiful locals in our Shelby Dungarees!

This dedicated pop-up space is a perfect blank canvas. It’s a charming, cosy and wonderful little spot to settle in and experience your business in a new environment. The team behind The Crossing are committed to supporting local businesses and as a new online shop, I have found it a fabulous chance to present Sami-K in a new creative way. It has been so exciting to display the collection and meet some customers properly too!

The Crossing has seen a variety of artists, fashion and fitness brands in the past and I would encourage any small business to explore this space.

Pop-up Life

Did you know that for every £10 in local independents £25 is generated within your local economy!?

Thank you Love Local Collective for this amazing fact as it really highlights how important it is to source locally, now more than ever! And as we re-build our local economies, pop-up spaces like this become ever more valuable.

If The Crossing sounds like a familiar space and you know of something similar in your area please let us know! Sami-K values community and we are not only keen for new ways to present our products but to spread the word for others out there too.

All I can otherwise say is that I hope this spirit of community sharing and creative energy continues, helping the regeneration of our local economies from the last year. Our high street now has some gaps with huge potential that I hope will welcome local businesses with true meaning, passion and heart.

In the meantime, we are here at The Crossing until 25th April, so pop by our Pop-up, we would love to see you!

If you are not based in London keep up to date with our collection and check out life at The Crossing via our instagram. You can also read our feature with West Brompton Crossing and see more about the space here too.

Lots of Love