What’s New
ANIMA
We caught up with Fulham resident and founder Sarah Thomas to hear about the new community based wellness space she’s creating for mothers / mothers to be and their children at 181 New Kings Road. ANIMA [a - ni - ma] meaning, among other things, the essence of a person, vital force, inner child, is a space on two levels in Parsons Green. After becoming a Mother herself three weeks before lockdown Sarah felt there wasn’t a place for Mothers to go to that reflected her new state of being – a new mother seeking community. ANIMA is intended to be homely, welcoming and a place where mothers can relax and connect with their community.
Sarah told Urban Village LDN “Fulham has such a community village feel to it, there are many families in the area and a real need and want for places to go to that are designed with Mums and children in mind. We wanted to create a place that is a nice experience for Mums (no loud music blaring and awful coffee), and somewhere that makes women feel supported throughout their whole journey of motherhood from antenatal to postpartum and beyond. We want to tend to a Mother’s own needs whilst also creating a space for children to connect with nature and the simple joy of imaginative play”.
ANIMA is a hybrid space with a cafe, treatment rooms providing on-demand holistic beauty treatments (massages, facials), wellness classes (meditation, yoga, sound healing, breathwork), creative classes (candle making, flower arranging, life drawing). Sarah told us “we are looking forward to working with different and local practitioners for classes with a more natural and creative feel with both local Mums and children in mind. Our children’s activities range from baby yoga to nature walks and all our classes are designed to encourage creative and conscious development in little imaginations and to give Mums the opportunity to embrace their creativity”.
ANIMA will also stock a small range of independent clothing, wellness and homeware brands tailored towards Mothers and Children. They will be open to the public from 14 July, aim to build the business and tailor make it for the local community based on feedback from Mothers about their wants and needs. They will be hosting retreat days throughout the summer starting with: “Mothers-To-Be” on Weds 16 June and “New Mums and Families” on Monday 21 June. Both events will include a wellness class, nature craft, organic facial and a seasonal organic lunch. For full details and tickets head to the ANIMA website on the link below.
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/animahouse
New look for Hot Spot Yoga
We went along to The Hot Spot Yoga Studio to take a look at their recent renovations. Fulham Resident and Studio Director Melissa McIntyre showed us round and told Urban Village LDN “the studio opened in 2006 and the last time we underwent some changes was six years ago. We took the opportunity during lockdown to put the downtime to good use and be ready for when we were able to reopen again. We’ve refreshed our look and brought some green into the studio to reflect our fantastic Parsons Green location”.
The studio reception has a leafy back wall, a stunning feature tree which is under lit and creates a leafy ceiling canopy, there’s a Scando forest wallpaper feature wall, wood accents and earthy tones throughout. The changing rooms and shower facilities have been upgraded and the studio, we enjoyed it’s warmth on an especially windswept rainy day, has been installed with a medical grade UV disinfectant filter. The studio is abiding by the current 1m distance rules and can currently accommodate 26 spaces.
If you’d like to take a look at their refurb, sample The Hot Spot Yoga studio experience then why not head over and visit the team at their International Day of Yoga event on 21 June. To celebrate this day recognised by the United Nations, which is also summer solstice, there are complimentary classes at the studio throughout the day. The studio also have a great intro offer of 10 consecutive days of classes for £35. Find out more here http://thehotspotyoga.co.uk/intro-offer
Annabella Clothing
We spoke to Valentina Liotta, a local mum who recently decided to get involved in a business that has been run by her family in Catania, Italy and introduce what they offer to the UK. Annabella Clothing was started by her Grandmother over 50 years when, as a Mother to five children who was good with her hands and looking to get back to work, she decided to create a small range of hand sewn baby clothes. Over the years the business grew with her sister joining their two room shop which had a couple of machines and a few seamstresses. Valentina told Urban Village LDN “when I became a Mother myself and having recently had my second baby I put my career on hold. My Grandma who is now 96 is no longer going to the shop but my Aunt is still involved in the business which sells directly to wholesalers and retailers in Italy. I started talking to her and discussing how we could market the products to the UK which had never been introduced to the brand. A couple of months ago we launched on social media and created an online page on Etsy”
Valentina told us that Annabella Clothing “is a niche product, far from mass production and not something you’ll find on the high street. We create around 20 pieces each season, they are handmade, classic in style featuring unique embroidery and we can personalise orders with the baby’s name or initials”. The range uses premium and natural fabrics including Modena Wool and organic cotton which are all sourced in Italy. The attention to detail shows in their designs, there are no third parties involved with the company in fact they are still working with people who have been involved with the company from the start. Their top of the range product is the Newborn set which includes: a dress / jumpsuit with leggings, a throw, organic cotton linen pillow case, a hat and baby booties which are all coordinated in colour and design. We also loved their individual pieces including gorgeous dresses, bloomers and leggings; a baby wardrobe staple. The designs are perfect for gifting, special occasions and we were massively impressed when Valentina told us that items are tailor made to specifications and delivered within two weeks of an order being placed. To find out more follow them on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/annabella_clothing Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Annabellababyclothing or head to their Etsy page on the link below where Valentina will happily answer any questions and can discuss individual orders.
READER OFFER: Valentina has kindly offered subscribers to Urban Village LDN 15% off on any purchase made before the end of June. Simply enter the code URBAN15 at checkout.
Abode
Bayley & Sage Abode is the company’s first homeware and garden shop and aren’t we lucky its in our urban village at 38 New Kings Road, a few doors down from their Parsons’s Green delicatessen; on the site where Oddbins used to be. The team at Bayley & Sage told Urban Village LDN “Similarly to the artisan food and drink offering across our nine delicatessens, Bayley & Sage Abode is approached with the same commitment to celebrate independent craftmanship. With a specific emphasis on tableware and earthenware the store offers a beautiful and eclectic mix of homeware along with plants and flowers that can be treasured”.
We went along to investigate and there is no doubt they’ve waved some magic on this site to transform and give it a massive upgrade. The facade of the shop is stunning with fabulous window displays and inside you’ll find a treasure trove of planters, glass vases, gardening accouterments, candles, their own range of pottery all beautifully displayed on rustic shelving. There’s a conservatory style ceiling which floods the space with light and leads you through to an outside space. The flooring of rubberised pebbles slightly threw us, but what a smart idea to stop crunchy sounds and gravel being dragged back in store. There’s a mermaid water feature and a garden shed displaying bird feeders, pots etc “we have specifically focused on tableware and earthenware but we offer a beautiful and eclectic mix of homeware along with plants and flowers. The look and feel was incredibly important to us so customers will find a range of natural textures and aromas to explore”.
We asked Bayley & Sage why they decided to move into homeware and the reasons behind choosing Fulham as the location for their first store “We felt it was a natural progression for Bayley & Sage. We love celebrating great food and drink but we also appreciate the importance of how it is served and the overall experience. There is so much ritualism around cooking for friends and family and the special touches that people remember. We also love the way it’s a part of Bayley & Sage you can keep. Bayley & Sage Abode has been a concept of founder Jennie Allen’s for some time, therefore, when the space became available, she immediately saw the potential. South West London is the heartland of Bayley & Sage and particularly Fulham – we really feel we know the local community. Not to mention, our Parson’s Green delicatessen is only a couple of doors down from Abode which was an added bonus”. We love that Fulham was first and think Abode is fantastic addition to the area, the team told us “as we grow, we are always on the lookout for great new locations so watch this space!”
Deja Vu
We spotted flashes of pink and “coming soon” hoardings on Wandsworth Bridge Road a few months ago. Mid-May, after lockdowns and renovations, Deja Vu opened the doors to their hair, beauty and ascetics salon. Looking radically different to the corner spot last occupied by Starbucks their pink colour scheme, big windows onto neon signage, plush pink velvet seating and a stunning collection of mirrors is certainly lifting and brightening up this section of WBR.
Entrepreneur Founder, Chase specialises in the hospitality sector but after his bars were badly hit by Covid and some of his other businesses wiped out he decided he needed to diversify. After brainstorming with his five sisters they suggested a beauty related business and so Deja Vu, a salon where customers can find all their beauty requirements under one roof, was born.
Deja Vu offer a membership scheme designed so regular customers can save money on monthly treatments but you don’t have to be a member to visit the salon and walk in’s are welcome. Gold membership (£30 a month/minimum three months) gives members a 20% discount on hair and beauty services and their Platinum membership (£50 per month/minimum 6 months) gives you additional access to aesthetics with a 30% discount. There is also an additional 20% discount on all retail purchases and every three months you can claim a free treatment of your choice up to the value of £60. Hit the link below to find out more.