Central Parade, Hoe Street, Walthamstow featured on Conde Nast list of worldwide creative spaces

Central Parade in Hoe Street, Walthamstow has been named as one of seven inspiring spaces across the world by Conde Nast travel magazine.

The hub, which features a bakery, a florist and clothing and jewellery shops, opened last summer in disused council offices.

Lotta Clarke and Anna Morrison run Birch and Star pre-loved clothing store which offers fashion for women and children as well as maternity items.

Mrs Clarke, a mother-of-two, was inspired by her Scandinavian roots to offer parents inexpensive items they may only need for a short while.

The 35-year-old who is originally from Finland and now lives in Walthamstow said: “It came from the idea that we use some of the clothing for a short amount of time.

“When I was on maternity leave with my first child I was keen to find a place with good quality pre-loved clothing in London but really struggled.

“It’s quite common in Scandinavia. There is no stigma towards pre-loved clothing out there.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, pictured with Lotta Clarke, visited Birch and Star last year as part of his tour of Central Parade.

“Being featured in Conde Nast is great exposure for the whole Central Parade project.”

Ms Morrison, 38, of Hackney added: “It is a good ethos for the borough to recycle your clothes. You are saving them from being thrown in landfill.

“People can bring in clothes and we sell them and they get either store credit or cash.

“It’s great being here in Central Parade. It’s a community and everyone looks out for each other.”

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan pictured with Lotta Clarke and her baby.

Earlier this year Central Parade was awarded first prize in the category for ‘most creative building reuse’ in the annual Waltham Forest Design Awards.

The hub was praised by Conde Nast in its July issue as “an excellent example of a ‘meanwhile space’: meaningful, forward-thinking projects for otherwise unused buildings.”