FLAGS OF OUR HIGH STREET TREASURES
Fabric flags from fabrics sourced solely from Walthamstow High Street
2022-2023
Flags of Our High Street Treasures is a placemaking project that celebrates the diverse people, stories, social histories and heritage of the Walthamstow’s famous High Street. Based on the extensive interviews with the street’s traders and co-designed together with diverse local community groups, these joyous flags share urban folkloric narratives of hyperlocal relations and multicultural pluriversal co-flourishing. The flags celebrate mutual stories of belonging to the area and attempt to articulate Walthamstow-specific symbolic language of care and meaningful exchange.
The flag designs have been developed through a series of co-design workshops with 5 local community groups: Waltham Forest College students, The Gleaners workers’ cooperative at The Hornbeam Centre, Waltham Forest Antigua, Barbuda and Dominica Twinning Association, The ELMS (East London Mental Health Services) clients and The Mill E17 visitors.
The flags were exhibited at 1B Gallery as part of Dark Yellow Dot’s curated programme.
OUTCOMES:
8 CO-DESIGNED FLAGS
86 TRADERS AND BUSINESSES INTERVIEWED
5 PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY GROUPS
7 CO-DESIGN WORKSHOPS
65 WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS
1 PARADE ON THE HIGH STREET
2 LOCAL EXHIBITIONS
WINTER FEAST PARADE
The flags were premiered during a ceremonial procession on the High Street, visiting the traders that have contributed their stories to the project. The carnival spirit was evoked through a contemporary urban ritual, filled with colour, flare and festive energy, celebrating the melting pot of cultures, stories and heritages that make the High Street the vibrant place that it is. The procession took place as part of the Winter Feast – project’s celebration event that gathered local folk over mid-winter workshops, food, song and storytelling performances for Small Business Saturday, as well as to commemorate the installation of Sandie M Sutton’s Walthamstow Griffin sculpture. The flags were paraded by the performers and musicians from Mbilla Arts, an incredible local arts organisation on a mission to promote art forms of Africa and the diaspora, joined by the dancers from Somos Chibchas, who showcase and share Colombian culture and folklore.
PUBLIC SPACE FLAG
Co-designed together with Waltham Forest College students
Workshop facilitated by Alisa Ruzavina & Sam Griffiths
Sewn by Mika Sembongi
Local bus numbers are depicted enroute to the Walthamstow Central TFL station, highlighting how many people travel from different parts of London to come gather together to create, learn, work and commune in Walthamstow.
The green leaf branch represents the legendary Lime Tree walk that leads to the station’s approach, the only significant green space on the High Street.
The sunflower is a nod to the Ukrainian national symbol, sharing the message of peace, welcoming each and every person to Walthamstow.
The music notes share the ever-present vibrant energy of the Town Square. A space always filled with sounds, speeches and music blasting through portable boomboxes.
The red dots, representing the diversity of local destinations, have made their way into the final design from the voting stickers used during the workshop with which the students decided on their favourite design sketches.
CREATIVITY, DIY & REPAIR CULTURE FLAG
Co-designed together with Waltham Forest College students
Workshop facilitated by Sam Griffiths & Alisa Ruzavina
Sewn by Mika Sembongi
The recycling sign was merged with a “creative eye” showing that sustainable practices directly depend on the active use of creativity. It is through practicing an imaginative approach, old clothes can be revived, home can be transformed, tools can be used and new projects can happen.
Traders referenced and depicted on the flag:
- Fabric shop keepers – Saeed from Saeeds’ Fabrics, Raihan from Raihan Fabrics, Faik, Hussein and Tunai from Star Fabrics, and Abdul from Fabric Bazaar
- Haberdarshery shops – Ribbons and Zayan Buttons
- Repair shop – Eco Forest Cleaners
- Charity Shop keepers – Cinzia from Sue Ryder and Donaria from Traid
- DIY stores – 99p Extra and DIY by Sam
THE MARKET FLAG
Co-designed together with The Gleaners Café at Hornbeam Centre
Workshop facilitated by Alisa Ruzavina and Anita O’Brien
Flag assembled and sewn by Anita O’Brien
“Pound a Bowl” and “Have a look!” are the recognisable melodical rhythmic phrases repeated by traders over and over again throughout the day, creating the familiar soundscape of a bustling afternoon spent at the longest in Europe market . The actual £1 bowls are commemorated on the flag as a cultural relic that might be soon disappearing off the stalls due to rising prices.
Traders referenced and depicted on the flag:
- Fruit stall holders – Han and Zaki
- Clothes market stall traders – Salim and Kevin
- Perfume stall owner – Ibrahim
- Farmers market stall – Paul and Noah of Wild Country Organics
FUTURE VISIONS FLAG
Co-designed during a public workshop at The Mill E17
Workshop facilitated by Sam Griffiths
Sewn by Sara Shimasue
This flag represents an optimistic vision for the future of the High Street, depicting ways in which the High Street can be better, more welcoming and enjoyable for all. The participants have envisioned birdhouses and trees, new planter benches filled with seasonal plants and flowers, regular community outdoor dancing events and a plan for a public amphitheatre at the Town Square with regular free performances, comedy shows and lectures.
PAST HERITAGE FLAG
Co-designed together with ELMS (East London Mental Health Services) clients
Workshop facilitated by Alisa Ruzavina
Sewn by Jennie Caminada
A nod to the local griffin lore can be found on the flag – celebrating Sandie M Sutton’s Walthamstow Griffin sculpture and the original decorative griffins that inspired the sculpture placed by Thomas Courtenay Warner, the first Mayor of Walthamstow, on the pavement and above some of the shops near St James Street.
Historically significant locations mentioned on the flag:
- Rossi’s – a famous traditional ice cream parlour, favourite spot for all the children of the 60s and the 70s
- L’ Manze’s – one of the oldest London’s iconic pie and mash shops that served as a real community gathering place for almost a century until it has recently closed down for good
- The Chequers Pub – having been around since 1699, it is the oldest institution on the street, with a benevolent history of being first adopter of the soup meals for children in need back in the 1800s
FOOD CULTURE FLAG
Co-designed together with The Gleaners Café at Hornbeam Centre
Workshop facilitated by Alisa Ruzavina & Sam Griffiths
Sewn by Kaori Yatsumoto
“Travel The World Down the High Street” speaks to how one can experience a whole multitude of worlds, cultures and heritages by simply taking a stroll down this street of culinary delights.
Cafes and restaurants referenced and depicted on the flag:
- A traditional English breakfast from Big Ben Café
- A plate of noodle stir-fry with spring rolls is for the Milagrosa, the legendary family-run oriental supermarket that has unfortunately closed down their shop to move all trade online
- Best falafel in Walthamstow can be found at Mannoush, opinion confirmed by many!
- Jamaican patty, fried plantains, black rice and peas from Tree Island owned by the master chef Anthony for over a decade
- Chopsticks are for the Chinese Sun On Café
- Eastern European goulash from the newly opened Kosovar Pizreni Bakery, run by Bardah
MULTICULTURALISM FLAG
Co-designed together with WF, Barbuda and Dominica Twinning Association
Workshop facilitated by Alisa Ruzavina
- Sewn by Jennie Caminada
The swirling traditional heritage fabrics of the Caribbean, China, India, Nigeria and Ghana represent the dynamic ever-evolving mix of different communities, worldviews, histories and heritages melting into one pot that makes up the diverse and vibrant culture of Walthamstow.
Traders referenced and depicted on the flag:
- Specialised beauty shops – Paks Hair & Cosmetics and Afro Cosmetics & Hair
- Iconic British barber sign is for Mozart, Legends, and Friends shops
- A Dashiki print shirt represents the traditional African print clothing market stall run by Matthew and African fabrics stall ran by Mona
- International food shops – International Supermarket and Proudly African
- A bubble tea from the trending What the Bubbles, run by Benyamin
- A plate with pie & mash with jellied eels and liquor to commemorate the recently closed L’Manze’s pie & mash shop
- A hijab scarf, to celebrate the female-run Muslim fashion shops – Soul Boutique ran by Sana and Sisters Boutique ran by Ruby
FEMALE-LED BUSINESSES FLAG
Co-designed together with WF, Barbuda and Dominica Twinning Association
Workshop facilitated by Alisa Ruzavina
Sewn by Jennie Caminada
The swirling traditional heritage fabrics of the Caribbean, China, India, Nigeria and Ghana represent the dynamic ever-evolving mix of different communities, worldviews, histories and heritages melting into one pot that makes up the diverse and vibrant culture of Walthamstow.
Traders referenced and depicted on the flag:
- Specialised beauty shops – Paks Hair & Cosmetics and Afro Cosmetics & Hair
- Iconic British barber sign is for Mozart, Legends, and Friends shops
- A Dashiki print shirt represents the traditional African print clothing market stall run by Matthew and African fabrics stall ran by Mona
- International food shops – International Supermarket and Proudly African
- A bubble tea from the trending What the Bubbles, run by Benyamin
- A plate with pie & mash with jellied eels and liquor to commemorate the recently closed L’Manze’s pie & mash shop
- A hijab scarf, to celebrate the female-run Muslim fashion shops – Soul Boutique ran by Sana and Sisters Boutique ran by Ruby
CREDITS
Lead Artist & facilitator:
Alisa Ruzavina
Project Producers:
Laura Kerry and Morag McGuire of Artillery CIC
Co-facilitator & Design Support:
Sam Griffiths
Community Collaborators:
Waltham Forest College students, The Gleaners workers’ cooperative of The Hornbeam Centre, Waltham Forest Antigua, Barbuda and Dominica Twinning Association, The ELMS (East London Mental Health Services) clients and The Mill E17 visitors
Trader Interviews:
Jenny Greenfield
Project Support:
Amanda Chaloner and Ellie Horry
Flag Makers:
Jennie Caminada, Mika Sembongi, Kaori Yatsumoto, Sara Shimasue, Anita O’Brien and Carolyn Abbott.
Winter Feast Performers:
Mbilla Arts and Somos Chibchas
1B Gallery Exhibition Team:
Lauren Little and Lukas Dennet of Dark Yellow Dot , Hannah Ford and Joana Niemeyer of Indivisible Numbers
Exhibition Install Technician:
Simona Pesce
Photography by:
Ariadna Alzuru, Penny Dampier, Sam Griffiths, Alisa Ruzavina, Carol Pinto, and Thomas Barden
The flags have been created as part of The Walthamstow Griffin project funded by :
Untold Stories: Mayor of London’s Commission for Diversity in the Public, with support from Waltham Forest Council
