me and the other half hot footed it down to london this weekend as i was performing at time for tease, we got a hotel as we planned to go to Camden in the hope of many a rockabilly and vintage shop.
there was plenty of vintage but hardly any rockabilly, i only found two and only one of them was any good!
we've been talking for a while about moving to London but now we're thinking of setting up a website over these next 6 months, and then when i have finished uni and we have a bit more know how, set up a stall in Camden.
it would be the best rockabilly styles, such as stop staring, switch-blade stiletto, whirling turban etc but if we did do you see it as somewhere people would go to??
any advice would also be great..!

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Millie Dollar - Liverpool based performer

Definitely go ahead with the website! But as far as a camden stall is concerned you might want to see what effect the Stables market regeneration has first. As I understand it they're closing half of the market down in the next two weeks to turn it into another glass fronted, cookie cutter high street full of national chain stores.

Camden has really died for me since I was a teenagers and it was a lot more punk and goth and bootleg gig videos! Its sad when the whole atmosphere of a place sells out to entertain the tourists. It used to be my place to feel I belonged not for annoying U.S tourist to harrass me with 'lets take a photo of the girl with freaky hair'. I didnt like feeling like part of a tourist attraction. Now I tend to go there in the week when its quieter.

Theres a few small rockabilly places there (unless theyve gone with the likes of Breathless and Black Rose) down the alley next to Cyberdog; Bates Motel and Hellwear and Speedball. And dragstrip I love but its more Psychobilly.

i went down there and i think dragstrip was still there and collectif but i didn't find anything else?
my boyfriend was embarassing me by being touristy, he kept taking photo's of everything!!

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Millie Dollar - Liverpool based performer

I feel really sad, I just heard on the news how the stables market is shutting after the bank holiday to be rebuilt as something that looks like a miniature Lakeside. I love that place so much. I grew up in the middle of nowhere and it was such an escape for me and the only place I could get a lot of the stuff I wear. I sound old but it seems everywhere unique is getting built over. The fields I used to play in next to my parents house are now a ring road and housing esate. Everywhere I have so many good memories of are vanishing.

I believe they got final planning permission in October last year. It's why so many of the stall holders like black rose and breathless have already relocated. I think they've also arranged for temporary stalls elsewhere for some other traders. The rest are just being put out of business or forced to move.

There were lots of petitions floating around last year trying to stop it but they didn't make the slightest bit of difference. Apparently during the planning process camden council agreed to size restrictions on the new shop units in order to make them appeal more to market and independent traders but I think we all know that the high rents they will be charging will mean only the high street brands can afford them. This was the councils final line...

“We absolutely support the desire to preserve the independent and alternative attraction and feel of Stables Market - rather than it looking like a typical high street - and also its economic importance to the Camden Town area. On balance the committee felt that the design, size and heritage considerations of this application were a significant improvement on the previous consented planning permission.”

Hi Millie,

Have you tried Black Cotton - it's a rockabilly shop which is run by Lady Kamikaze and El Nino from Lady Luck and it's in Camden market.

Let me know when you need the website, I'll be able to get you up and running very quickly.

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Castlist - One Site To Rule Them All!

Its happening everywhere, don't get me started with what they are doing to Liverpool. Its going to be a sad world when there is a starbucks and KFC in every town in every city all around the world. Well I guess it stops the need for travel.
Diva

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Diva Hollywood - http://www.myspace.com/divahollywood

I miss the Camden of my childhood too... I have a couple items from Collectif, but I'm thinking the best bet for some decent rockabilly clothing would be to get sewing (or get someone to get sewing for you, if you'reuninclined to do it yourself!). I'm trying to hunt down some old patterns at the moment, so if anyone has an suggestions they'd be much appreciated!

i've heard of black pearl but i didn't see it! i didn't know it was in camden!!! i'll keep an eye out next time, the place is too big!
i'll try and keep you updated with what happens, but we'll let you know when the website is up and running!

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Millie Dollar - Liverpool based performer