The Read.
Writing about Mertra and London streetwear from the BuyMertra team. New pieces go up most weeks.
A conversation with Mertra: on starting a brand in London with no plan and no money.
We met Mertra at her Hackney studio. We talked about the new collection and what comes after it.
Why South London is still better at graphics than the rest of us.
Five South London labels and the print decisions that keep their work better than yours.
A Bethnal Green studio is making British outerwear that actually fits.
We went to the studio on a Tuesday morning. Notes and photos below.
Stop calling it luxury streetwear. It was just streetwear.
A short opinion piece on the death of the luxury streetwear category. London never really cared anyway.
Field notes from a Saturday on Brick Lane.
A walk down Brick Lane on a Saturday. The queues were long and the prices were higher than last year.
The London streetwear starter pack, done properly.
Twelve London labels worth knowing about if you’ve just moved here. Most are still small. None of them are hype-only.
Hackney workshops are cutting British basics again. We went to see them.
A few new London labels have brought tailoring back into streetwear. Here’s where they’re doing it.
A conversation with Gone Club LDN. They don't really do press releases.
We met Gone Club’s founder at a pub off Old Street. He doesn’t think launches matter that much.
Reckless Scholars: a Peckham studio run by two friends with one shared idea.
We spent an afternoon at the Reckless Scholars studio. The sewing machine is older than most of their customers.
Drop coverage in 2026 is broken. Here's how we'd fix it.
A short editor’s note on what most drop coverage is missing. Mostly: time.
“Buy less. Wear it longer.”
The magazine
BuyMertra is an independent magazine about Mertra and London streetwear. Made in London.
Issue 07 · Saturday 13 June 2026.