It’s been nine years since Nicola Brierley went from being behind the camera to staying ahead of fashion. In her case, or at least in the case of her Peckam store, Little Sister, being ahead of the fashion curve means going back to the past.
In an era of fast fashion and one-click online shopping, Little Sister is all about unique and carefully chosen vintage items, Brierley claims.
It’s an eclectic collection. There is a 1960s camouflage raincoat, a 1980s Laura Ashley party dress, a long silk skirt, dresses that are sequinned or floral, dagger-collared 1970s denim jackets, bootcut jeans and vintage jewellery. It’s all hand-selected by Brierley. She boasts these pieces cannot be found anywhere else.
But why vintage and why Peckham? Brierley says she’s lived in Peckham for “19 years and counting” and left the TV industry to pursue a passion for vintage items, books and clothing.
After years of selling vintage pieces on eBay she decided to create a physical space in 2016. It would provide her local community a “safe place”, she thought. The idea, in her telling, is for people to come together and feel joyful as they connect over a shared love of fashion. The result was the Peckham store, which did so well, Brierley decided to open a second Little Sister in Brixton Village.
She says that expansion is “more than a business milestone” but development “rooted in community values”.
But why call the stores Little Sister? It was inspired by the female trio best known for providing background vocals for 1960s American band Sly and the Family Stone, Brierley explains. They were called Little Sister and one of the vocalists really was the Stone frontman’s younger sibling. She adds that the name also has personal significance as she has two younger sisters.
The idea behind the two stores isn’t growth for growth’s sake. Brierley says she isn’t interested in large- scale growth, but in creating meaningful and thoughtful spaces that build community.
“My philosophy is that is it an inclusive space for everyone, of all ethnicities and genders, I want everyone to feel welcome here,” says Brierley.
As the parent of a son with Asperger’s syndrome, which is what Autism Spectrum Disorder used to be called, Brierley is very aware of inclusiveness. Some people can be left out in certain environments, she says, and this awareness informs everything she does in the store from the moment customers are welcomed in.
