Student living in East London is messy but fun. The windows rattled in the wind, but we filled it with life. Flat-pack breaks too quick, so we begged, borrowed and accent chair and sofa carried. We carried a wingback through Dalston. It felt like Shoreditch, but that’s what gave it soul. Vintage sofas feel alive, and it doesn’t matter if it’s scratched. I’ve crashed into a leather sofa after a night out, and the sofa was another character in the story. Markets spill chairs onto the streets, and shops in the area thrive on it.

My flatmate dragged me into Smithers, and the vintage luxury armchairs carried scars I loved. we were broke students, but it’s survived three house parties and sofas and armchairs uk a flood. Every student flat tells the same story. it’s where life happens. Accent chairs don’t flinch when four people pile on. Mass production doesn’t care, but vintage carries weight. every dent becomes part of the flat. Once the parties are done, you don’t remember the kettle, but you remember the sofa.

If you find yourself in a Shoreditch flat, ignore the fake polish. Take home something with scars, and let it shout Shoreditch every time you sit.