Pop in to Jozi’s Pop-up Arcade
FAB FASHION: IDEA IS TO FEATURE LOCAL DESIGNS AND WARES BUT THERE ARE IMPORTS TOO Each week Marie-Lais looks out for the unusual, the unique, the downright quirky or just something or someone we might have had no idea about, even though we live here. We
This old central Joburg arcade in Commissioner Street has been boarded up for decades but in 1937 it was probably bustling. Now the old Investment Building arcade is opening again soon, this time as The Pop-up Arcade.
There was once an arcade frenzy in this part of town, with four more Edwardian ones in the city block across the road.
Though pop-ups are this-century tools for faster-testing markets, a whole arcade of pop-ups is quite something. These are concept shops, trying out an idea for a few months, staying or moving on and being replaced. There are some exciting ones, some madcap ones and some real wanna-hang-onto ones, all related to clothing and accessories. The idea is to feature local designs and wares but there are imports dotted about.
It’s easy to sniff out Pop-up with Dicky’s Cakes at the entrance.
Then, in the middle of the arcade, are two almost blank spaces. Vicky Ginya, the manager of the being-completed open bar, gestures and says: “There will be a piano.” On the opposite side of the arcade passage is the space that is soon to house a grand piano. Anyone will be able to stop and play it for a while.
At the extreme end, Tendai of Urban Style has fine, local leather wallets and floppy-bow-tied trainers. Further up, Timeless has cleverly styled men’s stuff. Mitch Mottiaen is the embodiment of vintage turned to fashion advantage with terrific hats and, as he adds, “such lekker jackets”.
Butch Thopolo steals the “outright concept” limelight with what he calls “Bible fly-suits”. Made in South Africa, they are very cool onesies. With an airforce look, they have logos and messages of a Christian kind included.
Portia Mokoena’s place has lust-worthy local designs and Louboutins as well as Gucci and Versace imports. And there are others with Michael Kors and other US labels and looks.
Madu Metja has a skateboard concept shop for adults and kids and a skateboard park is about to happen here in the building.
Down the length of the arcade are many more fashion-find places and three more concept spaces available as well.
I keep dithering at Hlamvu, the Ghanaian spot with fabrics that would make staggeringly beautiful clothes. I will go back for one of their laser-cut, summer collarcapes.