Labour and Wait

Although its name is actually derived from a Longfellow poem, this charming Shoreditch shop inspires patrons to "labour away" with its enticing selection of everyday home goods, ranging from sleek metal dustpans to hand-knitted dishcloths. Established in 2000 by former menswear designers Rachel Wythe-Moran and Simon Watkins, who had become disillusioned with the demands of ever-changing trends, Labour & Wait specializes in timeless, functional and simplistically beautiful goods from across the globe. The shop itself is tidy and cheerful, brimming with such tempting treasures as pastel milk jugs, ceramic teapots, cozy wool throws, leather diaries, ash-handled trowels and darling aprons.