The Shoreditch vision of diversity is strangely uniform, observes Gabriela Fabretti.
In Shoreditch and the surrounding area you will find people of many different tribes, from 1001 varieties of Londoner to tourists from all over the world. They have something in common which they’ve all come looking for: diversity. This is the place that like-minded people go to in search of difference.
‘Working here in Brick Lane is awesome! There is something new on these streets every day,’ said Portugese store manager Roberto Xavier (29). ‘I love the vibe,’ he continued, ‘especially on Sundays because of the market.’
Like many others, Roberto loves the fact that there’s always something new down the Lane. But the market he rates so highly is the Sunday Vintage Market, devoted to retro clothes and other items which are distinctly old.
Let me run that past you again: people come here for something new, but they would rather have it old school than any other way; and although they celebrate diversity, they are uniformly wrapped up in the past – usually to the point of wearing it.
Lilly Elise (28), who works in fashion PR, hails from America but takes inspiration from the Shoreditch area. Brazilian tourist Iris Inacio (18) shares Lilly’s love of the place: ‘It’s inspiring and fun’, they chorus. ‘I love the bars and music.’
In some ways I agree: what’s not to like? But there are some things I still can’t get my head round: why are the latest, newest trends in Shoreditch all pointing towards the past? And how come so many people celebrating difference all end up sounding the same?