souvenir – a treasure trove in highgate

By now, readers of my blog know that i tend to stumble across places. Often it’s while looking for bijoux flats, other times it’s because i’m out and about looking for inspiration. This was the latter. I drove by the shop window and just had to stop. In i went!

Souvenir opened its doors for the first time just over a year ago. It’s a space showcasing the work of exciting british-based artists and designers. You’ll find hand-made products like prints and illustrations, jewellery, textiles, homeware, stationery and gifts. There’s also an ever-changing selection of vintage treasures.

The shop currently only opens from wednesday to saturday. Come on in, let me show you round!

Meet cassie ostwald, a graphic designer and former set designer. I wanted to know what made cassie open a shop so asked her a few questions!

What is your background? Do you come from a creative family? I graduated as a graphic designer and then worked as a set stylist before opening souvenir. My family are all creative – my parents met at central st martins and both had creative careers. My father was a graphic designer, then moved into directing TV commercials. My mother was a fashion designer before opening several of her own successful shops.

How did you arrive at opening a bricks and mortar gifts boutique? Did you ever consider only online? I’d been thinking for a while about opening a space showcasing the work of exciting new artists and designers. Then the shop in highgate came free and i’d grown up in the area, so knew it well. I wanted an actual space, rather than just selling online, so that I could create an environment for people to step into and experience. I like being able to use the windows to create eye-catching displays and I enjoy the process of meeting customers and seeing their reactions to different pieces. You can’t get that from an online shop.

How do you choose the products you want to stock? I look for pieces that are unusual, well made and affordable. The idea of the shop is that everything looks like an illustration, whether it’s a cushion, an eggcup or a necklace. I like things to be functional as well as beautiful. If it makes me smile or it’s something i haven’t seen before, then i’m drawn to it. There’s an animal theme in the space, particularly foxes – this wasn’t planned, but has turned out to be what most customers respond to.

You specialise in british-based artists and designers. This is a refreshing approach….. I decided to focus on british-based artists and designers as we have so many talented people here. I also wanted to be able to meet the artists whose work I showcase, and to support our economy.

What are the ups and downs of your first year trading? The first year of trading has gone by so quickly. The ups have been meeting all of the different people who step into souvenir and hearing their amazing feedback about the space. When people stop in their tracks as they walk past the windows and start smiling at the pieces they’re seeing. The amount of people who say they were driving past and had to stop and come in. How enthusiastic everyone has been about the shop, especially local people who are so pleased to have it in the area. Being chosen by ‘time out’ as one of London’s best new shops was wonderful. The downs would have to be the current economic climate, but we’re still doing well in spite of it, which makes me feel positive.

Do you have a vision/dream for the future of souvenir? In the future I would like to also sell online, we’re already having a lot of enquiries from other parts of the world asking us to post pieces out. I want to continue to discover new and exciting artists and designers. It would be great to eventually expand to other locations.

I love all these lamps, always have!

I loved many of the products but these handmade vintage velvet greyhound and fox cushions were by far my favourite. I think they are elegant and sophisticated and each one is different due to being handmade. The greyhound one is such a perfect present for a man, do you agree? They come in 2 sizes. A true find and exclusive to souvenir!

The hand-painted hamster and badger jugs are gorgeous, aren’t they?

Major pug love here, in the form of salt and pepper shakers!

Now, for those who saw my post earlier in the week, you might recognise this fella! I will use him as a sugar bowl.

I’ve always had a soft spot for tin toys.

A few more products that appealed to me.

This vintage tri-ang baby walker was kindly donated by a customer who thought it would add to the souvenir decor. Apparently it has already enchanted many small people.

Laugh at me all you want, but I completely fell in love with these handmade superheros keyrings. Yup! I had to have them all (well a girl needs protection, right?). I say all, but in the end i bought the following: asterix, obelisk, yoda, mr t, superman, spiderman and batman! I tell you, they really make me smile and are settling in well. Now, for those clever sleuths, which one did i not take home with me? 

I’m sure you’ll agree with me that if the uk had more shops like souvenir, our high streets wouldn’t be in such array and this would give the growing online shopping industry a run for their money.

I live locally to souvenir so can drop in as and when. I hope that some of you will visit and others will wait for the online shop to open. It was rather a pleasure to be there and purchase my goodies. I certainly left with a smile on my face!