Every week I bring you London’s most interesting cultural releases and openings, as a way to share what’s shaping our creative scene. This week features Buy British by Afrosurrealist, Paul McCartney’s Rearview Mirror photo exhibition at Gagosian, emerging menswear label Labrum’s Soho retail space, and Voyeur Voyeur’s newly opened concept store in East London. These releases and openings reflect how music, art, fashion, and design continue to evolve—through intimacy, heritage, and immersive experiences.
Brand Profile – Labrum
Labrum is the menswear label led by Foday Dumbuya, born in Sierra Leone and raised across Cyprus and London. Founded in 2014, the brand blends British tailoring with West African aesthetics, crafting garments that serve as storytelling rooted in identity and freedom. Labrum’s philosophy centers on inclusivity, cultural memory, and stylish expression.
This season, Labrum presents at London Fashion Week on 19 September 2025 at 9:00 pm, held at 180 The Strand. The show marks a key moment in Labrum’s trajectory, bringing directional and purposeful pieces into the LFW main schedule.
Exhibition of the Week – Paul McCartney: Rearview Mirror: Liverpool–London–Paris at Gagosian, London 4 Oct 2025
This exhibition shows 18 rare, remastered photographs taken by McCartney between December 1963 and February 1964. They capture behind-the-scenes moments during the early Beatles tour across the UK and first steps abroad, venues like Lewisham Odeon and Paris’s Olympia Theatre. The highlight: a self-portrait taken in the attic of Jane Asher’s home, where McCartney composed "Yesterday". The images were thought lost, now presented with his signature frames in a quietly personal take on history.
Album of the Week – Buy British by Afrosurrealist
Released on 14 August 2025, Buy British is Afrosurrealist’s debut LP. It spans 13 tracks and features collaborations with Ceebo, Zino Vinci, REEM, FLOETIC, SAMSON, Gabriella Cole and others—each track layering voices that build a portrait of Black Britain today. Tracks like “boys don’t cry” and “skank” stand out, they link raw lyricism with rich production, showing an artist who’s rooted, experimental, and deeply connected to his context. This album is capturing attention for its sonic breadth and cultural resonance.
New Store Opening – Voyeur Voyeur (East London Concept Store)
Voyeur Voyeur is about to open in the heart of Shoreditch, London. Created by creative director Kat Qiu, it’s a hybrid of retail, art, and sensorial experience. This isn’t traditional shopping, it’s an intimate environment where design, story, and discovery intersect. The store attracts those curious about the edges of fashion and visual culture and adds a fresh kind of cultural space to London’s landscape.
What catches your eye this week—will you listen to Buy British, visit McCartney’s photos, explore Labrum’s pop-up, or step into VoyeurVoyeur? Share what you’re into or what we should spotlight next. And don’t forget join me this Thursday for the Trend Research Group, where we unpack these launches, plan what to explore, and build our cultural community together.
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