SEVEN DIALS WELCOMES SEVEN NEW BRANDS TO ITS STREETS, INCLUDING WINNER OF LOCKDOWN COMPETITION ‘START-UP WITH SEVEN DIALS’

8 September 2021 – The winner of the ‘Start-Up with Seven Dials’ competition series, Caribbean-inspired lifestyle brand Tihara Smith has opened its very first brick and mortar store on 37 Neal Street.

Last summer, Seven Dials launched a competition giving  budding entrepreneurs the chance to set up their first shop and operate their lockdown-born business from one of Seven Dials’ iconic streets. Chosen over almost 100 other applicants, lockdown business success story and lifestyle brand Tihara Smith’s new store is rooted in its Caribbean influence, featuring original vibrant and distinctive stationery, accessories, gifts, and prints, complemented by a customised, made-to-order service.

Founded by designer Tihara Smith, a graduate of the University for the Creative Arts Epsom, and showing her Windrush inspired collection at Graduate Fashion Week 2018, Tihara’s pieces take inspiration from the Caribbean, with a London twist. Each piece is hand-crafted in London, using a combination of contemporary and traditional craft techniques. The collection takes inspiration from distinct textiles, with bright colours and tropical flora and fauna, allowing people to have a little piece of the Caribbean with them wherever they go.

Tihara Smith, Founder of Tihara Smith added: “After so much hard work in establishing my brand, the launch of Tihara Smith’s first store is a huge milestone. I’m excited to utilise this space in Seven Dials to bring the vibrancy of Tihara Smith to more people. I have traded online with my own website and with online marketplaces such as Etsy and Jamii in the past, but this physical retail space will give me the platform to establish a stronger connection with customers and enable visitors to personally experience the spirit and story of Tihara Smith.” 

Karen Baines, Head of Group Marketing & Communication at Shaftesbury, commented: “We are absolutely thrilled to finally welcome Tihara Smith to Seven Dials. When we launched the Start-Up with Seven Dials campaign, it was important to us that we champion the brands that truly embody all the qualities that the area represents. Tihara Smith is a one-of-kind brand, inspired by real experience and one we are delighted to welcome to our seven streets.”

Another finalist of the ‘Start Up with Seven Dials’ competition, Billi London is the first and only biodegradable tights brand in the world, opening on 6^th September on Monmouth Street. Founded by Sophie Billi-Hardwick and Marie Bouhier, they are passionate about showing that social change can be paired with durable fashion. To celebrate the opening of their first store, Billi London have launched the ‘Sev7n’ collection, a store-exclusive collection named after the area.

In addition to Tihara Smith and Billi London, Seven Dials has welcomed a number of new brands to its streets. Last month, Seven Dials welcomed independent fashion label Olubiyi Thomas to Endell Street and essential oils brand, anatomē, to Monmouth Street, a botanical remedy store dedicated to supporting health and wellbeing. September will also see the launch of fine and demi-fine jeweller, Astley Clarke, while artisan coffee shop WatchHouse will open later in the year.

ENDS

Seven Dials

Seven Dials is home to 95 shops, including international flagships and concept stores, renowned beauty and grooming salons as well as over 50 vibrant cafes, restaurants, bars, pubs, and a thriving residential community. The area comprises of Monmouth Street, Earlham Street, Neal Street, Shorts Gardens, Neal’s Yard, Endell Street, Shelton Street, Mercer Street and the Seven Dials Sundial Pillar. Combined with two luxury hotels, five theatres, two private members clubs, a large number of apartments and offices, Seven Dials is a unique retail and leisure destination in the heart of London. Sevendials.co.uk @7DialsLondon

About Shaftesbury

Shaftesbury owns and manages a 16 acre property portfolio in the liveliest parts of London's West End.  The portfolio comprises of restaurants, cafés, pubs and shops, extending to apartments and offices in the highly popular, sought-after and prosperous locations of Carnaby, Seven Dials and Chinatown, together with substantial ownerships in East and West Covent Garden, Soho and Fitzrovia. 

All our properties are close to the main West End Underground stations, and within ten minutes’ walk of the two West End transport hubs for the Elizabeth Line, at Tottenham Court Road and Bond Street.

@shaftesburyplc

shaftesbury.co.uk