Lambert’s Yard: Leeds’ unique brand new concept store & creative events space

Today Leeds is recognised as one of the best shopping destinations in the UK and noted as a hub for fashion, designers and artists. This vibrant city now has a new addition to the fashion buzz in ‘Lambert’s Yard’, a unique, creative events space which opened this November. Located in Leeds City Centre on Lower Briggate their discrete entrance could be easily overlooked but this remarkable space is well worth a visit! On a mission to represent fashion and lifestyle designers, both emerging and established, Lamberts Yard began life as a pop up shop and exhibition space in winter 2013 but expanded quickly and now occupies two floors of the historic, previously disused Leeds building. Part of a courtyard of buildings dating from the early sixteenth century, Lambert’s Yard now provides not only a creative event space but also an independent concept store in their mission to support the strongest independent designers and brands.

Image courtesy of Mary Oliver

This retail space is located on the first floor and showcases luxury brands and designers such as Subversive Store, Antipodium, Murdock London, Number 35, Beulah Home, Mila, Blanket Row, Cote & Ciel and Charlie Borrow. In addition to this Lambert’s Yard will also include products from the ‘Centre for Fashion Excellence’ new North of England ‘Pioneer Programme’ winners – Cabba, Zara Mia, Williams Handmade, Studio 805 and D’Albert.

“Our aim is to help establish Leeds as an independent retail destination to rival London,” explained head buyer Adam Jagger, revealing how he and the Lambert’s Yard team have “been working hard to bring new, or lesser-known independent brands to Leeds.”

The second floor of Lambert’s Yard embraces the unused urban space, now re-imagined to act as a flexible event space. Curated by renowned Art Director and Interior Designer Johnny Buttons, this carefully created interior space is neutral, open and attractive. Johnny Buttons enthusiastically shared with guests that his aim was for a “beautiful, aspirational environment for the client, but most importantly it also needs to be a functional and practical retail space” that makes the most of the building’s innate character and beauty. His aim was to contrast “the warmth of the original parquet flooring and exposed red brick” with the “material palette and clean lines of the Lamberts Yard retail concept.” This space is available for hire but will also host an array of both creative and cultural events including a regular exhibition programme.

Image courtesy of Mary Oliver 

Most exciting is that Lambert’s Yard is home to the Leeds Fashion Initiative, a new collaboration formed in June 2014 with Regeneration Through the Arts, Leeds City Council and the Centre for Fashion Enterprise. The Leeds Fashion Initiative aims to support emerging fashion designers as well as promoting Leeds as a leading international centre for fashion and textiles. This ground-breaking project will offer support in the form of training, representation and business and marketing support for fashion designers outside of London. Now available at Lambert’s Yard is a monthly Centre for Fashion Enterprise support group for emerging designers, led by Lamberts Yard’s Adam Jagger. All are welcome and will have access to one to one mentoring and business support from selected designers. This exciting collaboration with the Centre for Fashion forms world-class industry training not available elsewhere in the city and intends to continue the story of Leeds’ significant history in textile manufacture and fashion design.

Take a look, have a wander and support the creative industry with some unique Christmas presents whilst enjoying Lambert’s Yard’s exciting new physical and online presence as it influences and benefits the Leeds fashion and art scene.

Mary Oliver

For more about Lambert’s Yard visit their website at www.lambertsyard.com or follow them on Twitter or Facebook.

For more from Mary Oliver visit her fashion and beauty blog at www.letsstrikeapose.co.uk
You can also check out her social media channels:
Twitter: @letsstrikeapose
Facebook: www.facebook.com/letsstrikeapose
Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/letsstrikeapose