Lambert’s Yard, Leeds

A little while ago, before the juicing and yoga event in the same building, I took the opportunity to have a good look around Lambert’s Yard.

Interested by its ethos of supporting new designers, I’d been looking for a chance to go inside since its launch in November 2014.

Housed in a collection of old buildings on Lower Briggate in Leeds, Lambert’s Yard describes itself as a concept store and creative event space. But there’s much more going on besides.

It first opened in winter 2013 as a pop-up shop and exhibition space, with its mission being to allow access to the previously disused building and support independent fashion and lifestyle designers. The aim was to establish Leeds as an international centre for independent design and manufacture.

After the final stage in its development, it opened its doors for good in the autumn.

The store – and its online shop – stocks both emerging and established designers in an ever-changing, curated collection of brands not available elsewhere in the city.

But Lambert’s Yard is also one of the first places outside London to host a Centre of Fashion Enterprise (CFE) event. This fashion business incubator, based at the London College of Fashion, aims to support fledgling fashion businesses in their first years. Erdem, Mary Katrantzou and Peter Pilotto are just some of their successes.

Lambert’s Yard was instrumental in bringing the CFE to Leeds, where it is supporting Yorkshire’s emerging fashion design talent.

British fashion is admired across the world and the hope is that, in coming years, designers starting in Leeds could go on to become some of the biggest names in the industry.

Ultimately the aim is to establish a permanent fashion incubator in Leeds and develop a long term plan for the fashion design, manufacturing and textile industries.

Sometimes I’ve been in stores that are home to up-and-coming designers and walked out wondering if anyone ever buys the stuff. But at Lambert’s Yard I found the designs to be wearable, as well as being unique.

Understandably, being designer-made rather than produced for the mass-market, the clothes, bags and accessories are more expensive than the high street but many are far from out-of-the-question prices. While not within my day-to-day budget, I would certainly go back if I wanted to buy something unique for a special event.

I loved the industrial chic design of the space, too.