New Map For Independents’ Weekend 2017 – 1st, 2nd And 3rd December.

World-renowned artist Adam Dant has put our members firmly on the map!

The artist’s latest work is a hand drawn map of East London’s most loved independent businesses coloured with Indian ink and gouache. 20,000 have been printed by Calverts Coop in time for East End Indie Weekend.

The highly collectible maps will be given out to customers by our members on #INDIEWKND the 1st, 2nd and 3rd December when readers are invited to join a treasure hunt! For a chance to win one of 5 luxury hampers filled with products donated by members, simply find and photograph five different blue plaques hidden inside members premises and share them on Instagram.  Make sure you tag us and the business where you found the plaque so we can add your name into the hat and inform the lucky winners the following week.

The idea for our Independents’ Weekend and map originated from founding members Juliette Tuke from Milagros and Broke Frost from Tracey Neuls with the inaugural event last year. This year Adam was the chosen artist, picked by another founder – Nevio Pellicci. The full size map will be on display in Pellicci Cafe, 332 Bethnal Green Rd on 1st and 2nd December and at Bernsteins on Chatsworth Road  for the final day on 3rd December.

Adam, who’s passionate about supporting local businesses, met with members at our Bastille Day Social and listened to their stories. He said: “It was very moving. They are championing ‘independent’ in a world where the corporates are taking over the high street.

“The map is a panorama of the East End and what makes it tick, from mechanics and traditional trades to up to the minute trades – there’s a whole range. It’s like a Trompe L’oeil noticeboard: when you go into a garage and there’s a noticeboard with stuff pinned on; keys, receipts, photos and invoices. Using a corkboard effect and layering maps and pictures on top was a good solution when we had so many parts of the East End to feature.”

Our map is generously funded by Hackney and Tower Hamlets Councils and was produced in partnership with city map experts Herb Lester. This years East End Indie Weekend is supported by the Local Buyers Club, a new discount card offering savings at some of the best local and independent businesses in the area, with additional support from Matthews & Goodman Chartered Surveyors.

This splendid photograph of Adam Dant, Nevio and Anna Pellicci with the original map at E. Pellicci has been kindly donated by Sarah Ainslie.