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A vintage kilo sale shop with ‘live window models’ is opening in Leeds
After a long Covid-related hiatus, the company is now seeing a massive influx of new customers who want to shop for affordable, sustainable vintage clothing.
Fourteen years after deciding that vintage clothes should be sold dependent on their weight, Shop Kilo, allegedly the first kilo sale operator, is opening a store in Leeds.
The Merrion Centre in the heart of the Arena Quarter will host a pop-up store for the vintage clothes store for the foreseeable and will be the first long-term shop for the brand.
Image: Shop Kilo
The original kilo store broke the boundaries of normal retail when it launched its 'buy by weight' events 14 years ago.
After a long Covid-related hiatus, the company is now seeing a massive influx of new customers who want to shop for affordable, sustainable vintage clothing.
As a size and age inclusive brand, the 'weigh by kilo' clothing store is looking for ‘live window models’ for their opening. Auditions will take place on the main mall at the Merrion Centre on Friday 4March between 11am-3pm and the chosen winners becoming ‘live-in models’ that will represent their potential customer demographic.
Founded in 2008 by fashion stylist and former Selfridges personal shopper Judy Berger, the main ethos of Shop Kilo is to help others to live sustainably and believing in using the clothes of the past to protect the future.
Judy Berger, Director of Shop Kilo, promises exciting things to come for the first pop-up:
"We are super excited to announce the launch of Shop Kilo in The Merrion Centre. Our company has always been events based and we can see crowds of up to 1500 people per day all over the country. We are Leeds born and bred and we knew that to set down roots, we need to set our flagship up in our home town.
"The Merrion Centre staff share our vision of sustainable retail and we are both working together to create a shopping environment that doesn’t damage the planet. Circular retail is the future of shopping and [the new kilo store] is perfect for guilt-free shopping.”
Image: Shop Kilo
Esme Briggs, Graduate Asset Manager for Town Centre Securities (TCS), owners of the Merrion Centre commented:
“We are delighted to announce Shop Kilo is coming to the Merrion Centre as it mirrors our own sustainable ethos which is high on our agenda. More and more consumers have become ‘greener’ in their shopping choices"
"The brand will benefit hugely from the massive influx of student accommodation around the centre; a demographic that continuously looks for more environmentally friendly shops that offer affordable products."
American pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo has outlined her ambitions for 2026 - and one of them involves a trip to Leeds.
It's safe to say the concept of Olivia Rodrigo taking a stroll down Briggate or waiting for a train at Platform 16 is one we're struggling to get our heads around, but we're absolutely not mad about it.
The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter is known for her love of the UK, having been spotted spending chunks of time in both Manchester and London over recent years.
But in a recent interview with Hits Radio UK, Olivia Rodrigo stated she wanted to explore more of the UK. And the city at the top of her list? Leeds.
When asked if she has a favourite area of the UK, she said: "I spent some time in Manchester which was really nice. Very inspiring, so many great bands from there.
"I spent some time in Wales too, which was fun. I've been around but I need to go and see more things. I really want to go to Leeds this year. I think that'll be fun. Just like as a spectator, I think that'll be cool."
You know what Olivia, it absolutely will.
Interviewer Will Best then suggests she attends a Leeds match to which she responds "yes" enthusiastically.
So next time we're at Elland Road we'll definitely be keeping a firm eye out for Miss Rodrigo who we've no doubt will look exceptional in a Leeds United jersey.
The Leeds bakery serving up fresh pastries straight from their backyard
Thomas Melia
In case you missed it, a bakery in Bramley has received lots of attention recently after people have sampled some of its impressive bread and pastries before raving about it online.
Since then, Ruth, the mastermind behind it all, has generated queues from her summer house-turned bakehouse with people coming from far and wide to sample her flaky favourites and doughy delights.
Baking for more than 10 years and opening The Fat Pigeon just outside of Leeds city centre three years ago, there's no denying that the pastries and more produced here are some of the best.
This micro-bakery has a mighty menu and although Ruth's personal tastes might lean more savoury, the menu heavily favours sugary baked goods.
Anyone who loves a good sweet treat will be glad to know there's croissants, traybakes, cinnamon buns and the star-studded kouign-amann, a French-originating buttery pastry that covers all bases as it's sugary, sweet and slightly salty - heaven in baked form.
Ruth posing with a pigeon statue alongside some of her delicious golden creations / Image Credits: The Hoot Leeds / The Fat Pigeon
There's plenty more dough-based delights that cater to the savoury palate too. Think sourdough loaves, baguettes and focaccia that's oozing with perfectly paired herbs and generous amounts of oil.
What makes this place even more special is the fact that not only the products being created and consumed made by a Leeds local, most if not all of the offerings are made using Yorkshire produce.
Ruth has made sure to keep local produce at the heart of all her bakes with Met's in Farsley who providing cheese, Whiteley's contributing fresh vegetables like parsley and rhubarb, flour from East Yorkshire's own Stringers and The Organic Dales for any dairy items - it really doesn't get more Yorkshire than this.
Enough from us, social media user's are singing this bakery's praises too as one commented "Delicious. Delicious. Delicious" and another going as far to say, "Beats every pastry I had in Copenhagen".
The sourdough loaves and bloomers at The Fat Pigeon are homemade and look as good as they taste / Image Credits: The Hoot Leeds / The Fat Pigeon
Hopefully you're reading this on a Friday or early Saturday morning, otherwise all I can do is apologise for tempting you with all this bakery's homemade golden goodness so far in advance.
The Fat Pigeon is open from 9am to 12pm every Saturday meaning you can stock up on some of Leeds' best bread and pastries to tie you over until the next weekend, depending on your will power.
Sophie Smith -
25th February 2022 
