Hemingway brings KioskKiosk retail venture to Nottingham

NOTTINGHAM will today become the first city outside London to host a retail initiative by acclaimed fashion designer Wayne Hemingway.

The man behind Red or Dead first launched his KiosKiosK pop-up shop concept next to City Hall in London earlier this year, in a bid to provide fledgling creative businesses with a rent-free showcase.

Now he is bringing it to Nottingham from October to December.

The kiosk, on the corner of Pelham Street and Thurland Street, will be home to a number of different fashion and creative businesses.

KiosKiosK's appearance also kicks off Nottingham's Creative October, a month of activities aimed at putting business in the spotlight, culminating with the Creative Business Awards.

Hemingway and his wife Geraldine took their first steps in fashion by selling on markets, later renting a cheap unit in a prime location as they learned about being entrepreneurs.

He said he launched the KiosKiosK concept because he believed it had become increasingly difficult for fashion and creative businesses to find high street space

He said: "It was our formative experience, and the opportunities provided by places such as Kensington Market, that led us to the KiosKiosK idea.

"In addition, from an urban design perspective many of our towns and cities' streetscapes would benefit from well-designed kiosks that provide beacons of creativity.

"I am calling on people with creative products to wow the world to come forward."

The project is being supported by Nottingham City Council's inward investment wing, Invest in Nottingham.

Business development manager Richard Kent said it was another example of the city's creative strength.

"The opportunity for Nottingham to host KiosKiosK as the premier destination following on from its debut in London is a great honour and re-enforces the city's reputation as a major centre for creativity and design," he said.

"Creativity is one thing, but we also have the commitment and drive to ensure that creative ideas are developed into successful businesses that play a key role in the local economy.

"Creative Nottingham is a collaborative effort that involves the cultivation of creative businesses in the city and the projection of talent on to an international marketplace.

"Providing over 25 Nottingham-based creatives with the chance to showcase their talents in a pop-up shop, and enabling the general public to gain access to such creative unique talent, KiosKiosK gives us a great opportunity to demonstrate the rich diversity of design and creative talent in the city."

To begin with, KiosKiosK will be home to two creative businesses – the performance and live art company Shrug, and contemporary products and furniture design outfit Sonodesign.

But a range of other creative businesses will follow, including Bantum Clothing, Fish and Flower Clothing, Charlotte Thomson Art and Illustration, Ink Posters, Bags2Riches, designer maker Debbie Bryan, Spokesman Books, fashion designer Callecia Brown, Regenerate Clothing, jeweller Amanda Smith, artist Gillian Lee Smith, and Phillip Watts Interiors.

richard.baker@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk