Local brands return to their roots at Coal Drops Yard

Cubitts and Lost Property of London are both planning to open stores at Coal Drops Yard, the major new shopping quarter in King’s Cross located next to Granary Square, in what will be a return to the locally founded brands' roots.

The brands are among the first to be announced for the Heatherwick Studio-designed development, which will eventually house 100,000 sq ft of shops and restaurants when it opens to the public in autumn 2018.

Lost Property of London was established by Central Saint Martins alumni, and visiting lecturers, Katy Bell and John Maskell who will be expanding from an existing boutique in Islington to an 874 sq ft flagship unit.

The brand takes traditional English saddlery and reimagines it through a modern, minimalist lens. All of its hand-made products are designed from its North London studio and produced locally, with a focus on traditional craft techniques and minimal waste. Its flagship at Coal Drops Yard is envisaged as a creative headquarters as well as a retail space.

Cubitts was founded in King's Cross by Tom Broughton and is moving into a 502 sq ft unit at the location, which inspires much of its designs. The eyewear brand's frames are constructed with custom Cubitts pins directly inspired by butterfly rivets that can be found outside Lewis Cubitt’s Granary building in neighbouring Granary Square.

In 1851 the butterfly rivets were set in granite blocks to provide strength to support a crane which lifted goods from barges on the Regents canal. Cubitts uses the same rivet shape on its glasses to provide strength and to tie its pin drilled hinges in place. The same shape is divided in two on its logo to form an interpretation of KX, a reference to King’s Cross.

Craig White, Project Director at Argent, said: “We’re very happy that the first brands announced for Coal Drops Yard are two of the King’s Cross area’s top retail alumni. The new neighbourhood is a unique and wonderfully atmospheric canvas for retailers, and when it opens next year, the Coal Drops at its centre will be a vibrant and truly different place to shop. From Autumn 2018 there will be 20m people a year visiting for a carefully chosen selection of the best in apparel, design, homeware and lifestyle in beautifully repurposed heritage spaces.”