How did Shoreditch Become a Cultural Hotbed in London?

From vibrant street art, to independent boutique shops, to an array of cultural delights, Shoreditch has become an exciting and trendy district in London. But how did this area of East London become a cultural hub? In this article, we take you through the history of this popular district and outline some of the key events, initiatives, and businesses that have made it what it is today.

A Quick Introduction to Shoreditch.

The area of Shoreditch is located in the central East of London, bordered by Hoxton to its North, Bethnal Green to the East, and Holborn to the West. In previous times, Shoreditch was known as a gritty industrial hub. However, over the past two decades, it has seen something of an extreme transformation and is now home to an array of stylish places to hang out and grab a bite to eat or sip a coffee.

From Its Old-Industrial Roots to Boomtown.

In days gone by, Shoreditch was a less-than-desirable district of London, functioning as the industrial heartland of London from the 19th century onwards. During this period, warehouses manufacturing textiles and furniture provided much-needed employment for locals, however by the end of the 1950s, this industry had nearly died out. After this point, Shoreditch began to suffer from mass-deprivation and high levels of unemployment.
However, since the start of the 21st century, the area has experienced something of a renaissance as artists and creative entrepreneurs started to move in. This transition has given an area once described as “drab and grey” true life and energy. This transition was given further support under the guidance of New Labour in the early 2000s and gained further momentum throughout the Blair presidency.
Since then, the area has seen a huge influx of independent businesses and shops emerging – all playing their part in helping the cultural rejuvenation of Shoreditch. Events such as Renegade Craft Fair saw web entrepreneurs, artists, and fashionistas come together and collaborate – hence creating an inspiring atmosphere. The Craft Fair first launched in 2010, though it all started as a small market stall, held by architect Brady Bryant alongside his wife ola in 2005.
In addition to this, an array of bars, clubs and anywhere else for socialising have popped up, each adding its own unique contribution to the cultural life of the area. This new trend for going out began back in 2003 with the opening of The Old Blue Last – a popular venue for gigs, DJ sets and art exhibitions. Since then, more bars and pubs have inspired even more creativity – helping fuel the reputation that Shoreditch now has today.

How Was The Local Arts Scene Boosted?

Alongside the ever-growing presence of bars, pubs and socialising outlets, Shoreditch’s local arts scene has also been given a much-needed kick-start. Street art has flourished throughout the area over the past two decades – creating brightly coloured murals down the walls of local buildings. Well-known graffiti artist Banksy – along with other predecessors such as Space Invader – have helped boost the once laid-back art scene.
The East London Mural Preservation Society has worked hard to build upon this art scene by restoring murals that had been sprayed over by barbershops or retail stores. Local artist Dave-Tremok also gained enormous success when his murals were replicated by Topshop for their 2017 advertising campaign. All these activities, along with many others such as outdoor festivals have helped strengthen Shoreditch’s cultural credentials.

How Has Tech Been a Significant Factor in Shoreditch’s Rejuvenation?

Tech has had a massive role to play in Shoreditch’s shift from industrial wasteland to creative hub. In fact, between 2010 – 2017 Tech start ups more than tripled from 204 to 627. This led to areas such as Old Street being nicknamed silicon roundabout due to its huge tech presence. Companies such as Google had offices there which meant long queues formed every morning as people waited to get in.
Additionally venture capitalists were attracted to invest in start ups which meant there were high profits to be made. As such, tech entrepreneurs were enticed to take up offices in area – leading to an even bigger shift into technology as well as providing massive boom in housing market value within Shoreditch itself.

Conclusion.

Shoreditch has undergone an extreme transformation in recent years due to its embrace of creativity, art and entrepreneurship – turning it from an old industrial area into a thriving hotbed of culture. The rise of tech in the area has driven people and businesses there which has helped inspire a new wave of creativity – from street art murals to independent boutiques – making Shoreditch what it is today. Discover more about Shoreditch’s rich past here.