Steven Julien 

 dance scene, mixing a cool combination of deep boogie rhythms and cutting house beats. Previously called Funkineven, Julien's 2024 album 

 is an eclectic journey from the throbbing heat of the dance floor to the calm haze of morning. 

London's Black music culture soundtracked the 

 that Steven worked in as a teenager, an experience he pays tribute to in 

. Yet the city's sneaker shops likewise play an important backdrop to music subculture, with trainers integral to London's urban grime aesthetic. 

Steven blends grime, jungle, boogie, and R&B into his sonic palette and has designed shoes with an equal amount of innovative flair, collaborating with the likes of Nike and Patta to launch his bespoke creations. 

Below is his guide to the No.1 stops for sneakers in London.

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Og status! They been in the game for a min, I’ve been going there since they had their lil shop on St Annes Court Soho, with the sliding glass doors and shoes in metal cages. Sometimes I pop in the current location to check what’s new!

Footpatrol

A more refined selection of shoes, limited or sometimes hard-to-get sneakers, especially collabs, but overall a chill shopping experience and very well curated.

Department Store

DSM London

Family Patta, big the crew up. I was honoured to score for their Nike campaign for the “air max 1 waves”. Great shoe, I got all the colours except one, anyway nice lil shop to cop sneakers.

Patta Soho

I’ve been going there for timeeeeee! I even paid my lil bro to queue there for a limited shoe—some MTV Raps Puma Clyde’s—think only 200 and odd pairs made! Fatima, who I collab with even worked in there years ago, as well as some other friends. It's good to see it’s still there, I occasionally pop in to see whats up.

size? Carnaby Street

Lil cheeky Sports Direct comes in handy now and then! Getta quick fix on some all black or white air max 95s, no frills, straight to the point pit stop when wanting new simple shoes.

Sports Direct Stoke Newington

Below the river in South London you will find some of the city’s most delicious restaurants, pop ups and street food stalls. Naz is the cofounder of soul food fusion concept, Bando Belly. Over lockdown she and her co founder Alex Sintunayake were inspired by London’s fusion of culture which you can find across all corners of the city but especially in the South. As a proud South Londoner, Naz has put together a list of a few of her favourite spots to check out when next you're in the ends.

Note : Sadly Bando Belly burned down in May due to an electrical fire. Visit their 

 to help out and support Bando Belly in getting up and running again.

This year, I went on a mission to create a soul food fusion concept, Bando Belly with co-founder Alex Sintunayake. London is the world’s biggest melting pot and living in the capital means fusion is everywhere - food, music and of course the people. How many places in the world would an English, Turkish and Indian man all know the appropriate response to wagwan?!!
Bando Belly is about taking that exact energy and putting it on a plate; I have created a menu to highlight a diverse selection of flavours from all around the globe to reimagine London’s soul food.

A cute cafe serving classic Vietnamese dishes, they know me here as the woman who orders a table full of food. Don't miss the BÁNH XÈO Crêpe filled with pork or chicken, prawns, onion, bean sprouts and salad. CÁNH GÀ CHIÊN BƠ chicken wings with garlic butter and lemongrass. All their Pho are delicious or BÚN TÔM XÀO king prawns on rice. 

A Filipino food truck station outside Peckham library. They have been serving banging tender beef in adobo and marinated grilled chicken over rice with green and spicy sauces. You can grab a large box for £7 I always grab two one for now one for me and brother to fight over later.

Two Nigerian sisters with food as bold as they are. Their spin on Nigerian classics will have your mouth watering and belly full. My go to is the beef suya and prawn fried rice but grab a mixed plate for a taste of everything. 

A family run business with warm friendly service. Serving an array of South American food from tacos to arepas. I always get the beef chachapa, a sweet corn pancake with shredded beef and soft cheese.

A Mediterranean fusion kitchen inside a new bar that has a banging playlist full of amapiano bangers. Their portions never leave you hungry, there’s a tapas style menu and some great mains. I’ve had the thick sea bass fillet several times but I’m dying to try the confit duck and bean puree.

A traditional Eritrean restaurant serving vegan/ veggie delights tasty fish dishes and my favourite kulwa, which is lamb fried in ghee, onion and green chilli. Everything comes with Injera, a teff flour sourdough pancake. For first timers I suggest the combos based on how many people you're with, selections picked by the chef made for sharing. Great for date nights or group visits, make a night of it by trying the traditional honey wine and end with the authentic coffee ceremony.

Huge Peruvian restaurant with great outdoor seating for a spot of people watching. The cocktails are strong, and food packed with flavour. I have unashamedly ordered the same thing every time, grilled beef heart in aji amarillo and cod ceviche. The softness and deep flavour of the beef heart is unforgettable.

Master Chefs 2011 winner’s Japanese fusion restaurant serves great Japanese classics with sprinkles of Caribbean flavours. My go to is the Leopard ramen, a super thick creamy pork broth with parmesan and scotch bonnet or the extraordinary lazy goat ramen boneless curry goat with noodles, that one is a spice girl for sure!

This hole in the wall in Brixton a mother and daughter serving Colombian street food. Seeing a girl walking down Brixton high street with a massive snow cone piled with fruit and I had to stop her to ask where I could get one. Think fruit salad in fruit juice covered with a mountain of shaved ice and condensed milk and syrup. There's a lot going on but oh my there's a lot more to love. A super sweet summer treat. If its a hot day be ready to wait up to 30 mins.

A great fun Korean BBQ restaurant, a huge menu to choose from. This place you can take anyone, and they will enjoy. Don't go too crazy with the starters the wings and beef short ribs are my favourite or you'll have to come back twice like me to try the BBQ. Always order a bottle of soju and a pot of makgeolli, the milky, off-white, and lightly sparkling rice wine, get a cab home you will need it!

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The Best Food in South London with Naz

With London Fashion Week taking place this week, the English capital never fails to keep the effervescent spirit going with an ongoing display of daring fits and styles gracing the streets. 

Broadcaster and internet sensation Miss Jason quickly rose to fame as the creator and host of YouTube show 

. As a queer east London club host and style enthusiast, well known in the industry, Miss Jason works to highlight London’s thriving fashion and nightlife communities.

Below, the fashionista shares the spots that you need to visit during London Fashion Week.

If you've got a minute between morning shows, pop into Reference Point. Stockists of independent publications, host to exhibitions and events, and nestled right under the Dazed Mag Offices. Grab yourself a copy of the latest Boy.Brother.Friend while you're there.

Well it's all in the name. Not JUST another store, this Shoreditch space brings together creatives from fashion and lifestyle, art and music, featuring a fab lineup of designers, evening functions, and a library of Blackness by PRIM.

Cute little boutique restaurant in the heart of Soho, run by my fab friends Missy and Gabe with the best curated menu. It's a modern American dining experience like no other - while you're there make sure to try the Devilled eggs.

Well this is my favourite stop off of them all, because personally... I love eating cake. Situated on the first floor of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane this is the perfect spot for a bit of bouj, serving high tea with a twist by the best baker in London. Very Bridgerton darling.

When fashion parties are done but the night is still young, head over to Colour Factory. It's the precursor to the afterparty and home to some of London's best clubnights and live music. 

Miss Jason's Best London Fashion Week Spots

This list of Black-owned B2C businesses in London is a result of collaboration across our global community and is by no means exhaustive. There are so many more incredible businesses out there and we welcome all suggestions. We have also listed some local initiatives for you to donate to, if you can. We’ll be updating this guide regularly, so if you feel like sharing, please email 

, as well as other contributors who asked to remain anonymous, for helping us put this together.

The category is…Black storytelling! Their focus is to make stories by African, Caribbean and Afro-Latinx fam available and readily accessible. You can currently find them at their bookstore pop up in Shoreditch Boxpark.

London’s first ever cactus and succulent shop. Offering a selection of the most unusual and exotic plants sourced from across the UK and Europe. Their online store is still available to shop on.

Eat of Eden serves up some of the best tasting specialist plant based cuisine in there many locations across London. We recommend the callaloo, ackee and macaroni pie.

Brixton Soup Kitchen are a Brixton-based service for the homeless and people in need. However, they help people who are from London and surrounding areas. Their charity provides hot food, support and counselling for people in need. They rely on donations and volunteers to continue their work, which you can easily donate to on their website.

2021 Andam prize winner and a distinctive new voice in the menswear arena, Bianca Saunders has been capturing the attention of the fashion world, alongside the likes of Kanye West and WizKid. The London designer's pieces counter the traditional notions of gender and masculinity and draws from touchstones on either side of her British and West Indian background. Her collection is available to purchase at Browns.

Black Cultural Archives is the home of Black British History. Their mission is to collect, preserve and celebrate the histories of people of African and Caribbean descent in the UK and to inspire and give strength to individuals, communities and society.

If you’re looking to cleanse your home and space, Cremate’s natural incense hand-dipped in London is the shit. They come in two scents: Mary Mother of God and Middle Way. We love both.

Homage Tees are responsible for those T-shirts emblazoned with the faces of British icons like Louis Theroux, Princess Di and David Attenborough.

South London rooted Jewellery and accessory brand Image Gang has garnered a global community of courageous and creative young women. You can purchase Image Gang on ASOS and directly via their website.

Who doesn't need fresh crepes? One of the many businesses created for our culture.

The world would not be the same without Carribean food. Riaz Phillips created Belly Full: Caribbean Food in the UK, to document a journey across the UK meeting the people behind the county's most popular Caribbean eateries. If you love your jerk and rice & peas, why not educate yourself on their history?

Whilst in quarantine, supply yourself with the more fresh and delicious fruit straight to your door weekly. They also give more variety than your basic Tesco selection.

The only paradox we want to be in. Delicious plant based recipes, plant based catering for dinner parties.

Exploring the space where football and the Black experience intersects.

Black Thrive is a partnership between communities, statutory organisations, voluntary and private sector. They work together to reduce the inequality and injustices experienced by Black people in mental health services. They address the barriers which lead to poorer outcomes across a range of social factors, such as education, employment, housing, and so on, all of which may negatively impact one’s health and wellbeing.

Born from a lack of ethnically diverse natural hair care in the luxury beauty industry. Nigerian-Italian Loretta De Feo devised Dizziak – a deep conditioning formula that provides course, textured hair with the rich hydration it needs and deserves. A revolution in multi-cultural hair care, Dizziak has been coined an aphrodisiac for Afro hair – delivering visible and touchable results in minutes.

Specialists in African and Caribbean Literature since 1966. For over 50 years New Beacon Books has made available to Britain and its communities poetry, literature, non –fiction, history and children’s books from Africa, Caribbean, Asia, African America, Europe, South America and Britain.

Welcome to the home of natural honey! Founded by local Walthamstow legend, you can subscribe to receive raw honey to your doorstep or even buy bees for yourself.

SEASON is a trailblazing football and fashion platform that launched in London in 2016 to counter the male, pale and sometimes stale state of modern football culture. They tell stories that showcase, celebrate and empower female fans authentically, while unpacking important issues, emphasising diversity and collaborating with exciting creative talent.

Founded by Karl Jouanni, Alive & More is a forward-thinking, and gravity-defying fashion brand. Living within the cosmos of his other venture, TEAM RELMS, ALIVE & MORE is a streetwear label that brings something new, fresh, and all-encompassing to the table. The concept is simple, get the RELMS app, play the game, and travel to the virtual fashion shrine to unlock your very real garments, and, while you’re at it, immerse yourself in the world of Team Relms as well.

Bleu is a creative interior design, mid-century furniture store based in Herne Hill, South London. They source our illustrious stock from around the world. Most of their products are mid-century modern, 20th century design, decorative art, vintage industrial furniture, vintage African masks and art. They also offer specialist upholstery and restoration too!

Trap House Salon is a safe, judgement free space to get your your hair, nails and lashes done at affordable prices. They give you that good good experience and you always leave looking fly.

Gingham doll is a small womenswear brand based in London who continuously excite the fashion palette, using classic silhouettes but with a fresher twist. They are still operating and offering Free post worldwide and have just been informed that our boutique in Shoreditch will reopen on the 20th June.

Pureté Nature is wellness brand for luxury skincare, haircare, aromatherapy and home fragrances. All of their products are ethically sourced and handcrafted by themselves using the finest natural ingredients.

The best radio station in the world. Need we say more? You can subscribe to NTS and become a member now.

Learn how to use your space with Storage Goals. They offer customised and stylish storage solutions that are tailored to your personality. Using Scandinavian designed products from Elfa, they cater for all your home and office storage needs.

In 2016, Dutch streetwear brand Patta, opened its London store doors in the middle of Soho. Ready to introduce London's community to everything it represents, Patta have continuously stayed a brand that influences culture in London and across the world.

The Prince of Peckham is a pub for south London, by south London. The community pub is for everyone in the area, with a downstairs bar and pub, and an amazing event space. On the top floor there is a music room for parties, weddings, meetings, location shoots, live music, art exhibitions, and all other celebrations. Street food kings White Men Can't Jerk are kitchen residents serving up jerk chicken, Caribbean roasts and stacks of wings. It's a vibe all year around.