Step through the doors of Mercantile London, and you’ll find more than just beautiful clothes—you’ll feel a sense of place. Founded by Debra McCann over 16 years ago when Spitalfields was still a scrappy corner of East London, the boutique has quietly become a landmark for slow fashion lovers. In this interview, Debra reflects on how Mercantile London has evolved, what truly defines quality, and why human connection still matters most in retail.
How did Mercantile London first come to life, and what made Spitalfields Market the perfect backdrop for your vision?
We opened our doors 16 years ago, when Spitalfields was a very different place, quiet, a bit rough around the edges, and honestly, all we could afford at the time
The store blends vintage charm with cutting-edge fashion—how do you strike that balance when curating collections?
We’re not label snobs, we’re textile obsessives. For us, it’s all about quality, detail, and pieces that tell a story.
You stock both established labels and emerging talent. What draws you to a new brand or piece?
We love a hot back story or talent and creativity, love small batch makers and a collection that stands out from the dreadful homogeneity of the High Street
Mercantile has built a loyal following. How has your customer shaped the store’s identity over the years?
For sure, we’ve really got to know her and she pushes us to experiment more and more, we love that.
You’ve seen retail in East London evolve dramatically. What’s stayed the same—and what’s changed for good?
There’s still a lot of the old charm despite the chains moving in and pushing the prices up. Just have to scratch the surface and it’s all there, but it needs supporting and protecting.
The boutique feels personal and relaxed. How important is atmosphere when it comes to shopping in person?
So important that everyone feels welcome, we are inclusive and just love the relaxed vibe. The antithesis to what boutique shopping is about. During covid we reluctantly went online, we always felt it was too tactile a store to replicate online but we can and we do and it serves our customers at a distance well.
Fast fashion dominates so much of the conversation. How do you approach the idea of “value” in your buying philosophy?
Prices don’t need to be high for product to be made fairly, the big stores have colossal overhead so baseline you’re not getting value for money, the product in my opinion is so often unfit for purpose on a price/quality ratio. I hate with a passion Amazon and Temu and all they stand for.
If someone’s never been to Mercantile before, what’s the one thing you hope they feel when they walk through the door?
Welcome, warm, comfortable to take their time to drink it all in. Always on hand with all the answers to queries but we never ever push sales.
Which Shoreditch-based businesses or founders do you find most inspiring right now, and why?
I love Luna & Curious for their sunshine approach, i love Mason & Painter for homewares, The Townhouse for the crafts and Libreria for books.
When you’re not in the shop, where are your go-to spots in Shoreditch to eat, unwind, or soak up some local culture?
I love to eat at Bottles or Funky Cellar at the market as they are local. St John and all the market food is a must and for soaking up local culture just a walk round the many markets and Brick Lane/Columbia Road area will nourish the soul.
