My London: Rejina Pyo

The designer gives her hair the Japanese touch at Haco, always leaves Artwords with a book and loves a few too many drinks at the gay bar
Rejina Pyo
Emily Phillips17 September 2021

Home is…

Near Alexandra Palace, with my husband [chef Jordan Bourke] and four-year-old son.

What are you up to at the moment for work?

Working on the SS22 show this month and also the AW22 collection. It all overlaps! Summer’s just gone and then you’re showing the summer collection again.

Which shops do you rely on?

For fashion, I love vintage — Found and Vision in Notting Hill is amazing. I like Leila’s Shop by Arnold Circus, its chocolate truffle is fantastic. Artwords Bookshop (above) is small but they have a lovely selection and I always end up buying something. Momosan; the owner is Japanese and she brings incredible things over and collaborates with glass blowers and stuff. And perfumes from Liberty.

Who do you call when you want to have fun?

Daisy Hoppen — she knows the best secret spots in London.

The Grand Opening Of The Standard, London
Daisy Hoppen
Dave Benett/Getty Images for The

If you could buy any building in London and live there, which would it be?

This excites me… I’d like to buy anything! I love Kenwood in Hampstead. I love the surrounding nature. I’d keep the period architecture but change out some furniture to be mixed with modern things.

What’s your London secret?

Queen’s Wood between Alexandra Palace and Highgate — not many people know about it but I go walking there a lot. It changes as the seasons go by and it’s so beautiful.

What’s your biggest extravagance?

I recently paid £12 to get a packet of crisps delivered to my house at 10pm because of a major pregnancy craving. A £1 packet of Pipers salted on Deliveroo. I just really needed them.

Favourite beauty spot?

I’m such a low-maintenance person. I love Pfeffer Sal on Warren Mews and Skinwork. And my recent discovery is a hair place called Haco in Shoreditch — it’s run by Japanese stylists and has very nice personal service. They really know what they’re doing. Twelve people I know go there now.

Best meal you’ve had?

Recently I went to Towpath café by the canal. It’s not a fancy place but it’s so lovely and a lot of the time the owner is there. The food is something you’d cook at home but by a brilliant cook. And you always feel great after eating there.

Towpath Cafe on Regent's Canal, Haggerston, London, UK
Towpath
Alamy Stock Photo

Where do you go to let your hair down?

I love getting drunk with my friends and then going to a gay bar playing cheesy 1980s music that you can dance to. [Gay bars] play the best music.

What do you collect?

I’m obsessed with chairs and lamps by mid-century designers, so work by people like Mario Botta (right) and Gio Ponti. I can’t get enough chairs and lamps. They’re very interesting objects.

Which podcast are you currently obsessed with?

Sorry to disappoint but I’m not a podcast person. I prefer audiobooks. I’m listening to The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.

What makes someone a Londoner?

I’ve lived here for 13 years. I remember arriving and everyone having an opinion and major sarcasm. And a secret desire to push people away if they’re standing on the wrong side of the escalator.

Rejina Pyo’s LFW show is on 19 Sep

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