The 9 Places That Shaped Darkwah’s Taste

‘The Places That Shaped My Taste’ is TQE’s take on a city guide. Yes, we’re interested in the new restaurant that’s surprisingly worth the hype – but we’re also asking local tastemakers to dish on the decades-old strip mall joint they’ve frequented since high school, the crystal shop that got them through their rough patch, and the barber who defined their style.

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When people talk about London's vibrant youth culture, they are talking about individuals exactly like Darkwah.

The London-based Ghanaian multihyphenate is a modern creative in every way: someone who is above all an artist. Darkwah doesn’t limit themselves to one nor a chosen few types of media. Instead, their work crosses over from fashion to music, having done work as a stylist, creative director, DJ, online creator, and more. Everything they do is infused with some special meaning, including their July 2 show at Cooc, a private members' club at London’s Mandrake hotel.

"This show is my attempt at creating connected effort. It's a show for anyone who has ever felt they needed to hide who they are in order to survive," they tell The Quality Edit. "Pride began as a protest and, in the times we find ourselves in, that spirit of protest is exactly what we need," they continue before enumerating LGBTQ+ rights being rolled back in the UK and across Europe.

Darkwah describes their creative process as “spontaneous and organic,” pulling from daily life and collecting on something like a mental moodboard. London is, thus, not only inspired by creatives like Darkwah but directly feeds their creativity, too, in a beautiful symbiosis. That’s why we had to know about London through their eyes.

We asked Darkwah about the places that have shaped their taste and what inspires their style. They revealed their favorite spots that spark the most joy and creativity, that reliably offer a good meal and drink, and those that have the best fashion picks.

Dalston Superstore

One of my favourite places I ever worked! An LGBTQ+ owned space that takes you from daytime with brunches and a great lunch menu through to the night with the liveliest and most liberating parties. I bartended, danced on the bar, had a concept for each look I wore to work and I loved every moment of it! It’s a cornerstone in my development and growth in myself and the community. 

The Churchill Arms, Kensington

I went to many a birthday in this pub. In the front it looks like an old English pub covered in flowers where locals come to watch football and have after-work drinks but venture towards the back, and there’s a family-run Thai restaurant with seating under vines and other hanging plants, with taxidermy butterflies and an eclectic collection of tchotchkes and art. It’s like being in a garden in a Lewis Caroll fantasy. The food is great, and for Notting Hill, it’s great on the wallet too.

Wanda Tattoo, Fitzrovia

It may seem funny to name a place I also work but this place has shaped my taste so much. The space invites you to be playful and curious while tapping into your darker side with anthracite grey walls and Wanda’s collection of personal and on-exhibit art-pieces. I’ve come to know tattoos as another form of deep self-expression and actualisation which, as a non-binary person, is super important to me. The process of having my tattoos designed and placed on my body is always handled with the utmost care.I love when an artist says, “Maybe not that.” There’s an honesty and security I feel being tattooed here.

Brixton Village & surrounding areas

Brixton Village is a collection of stores, restaurants, market vendors and other businesses situated just off Electric Avenue (a couple streets over from where David Bowie was born). I have gone there since before it became known as Brixton Village (back when I was 13-19 years ago), and it has always provided so much inspiration. Every stage of my creativity has seen me come to Brixton for something—whether it’s fabrics for making looks, getting wigs and makeup for drag performances, finding new places to eat and enjoy myself, or simply to people watch. It’s alive with the most exciting energy!

Machine-A, Brewer Street, London

When I was a student, my first serious boyfriend took me to this store, and it completely changed the way I saw personal style and clothing in general. Stavros, the owner of the store and his team of buyers made such incredible selections (they still do, by the way). I would often go to the store just to look at pieces; feel the materials and be inspired by the way things were styled on mannequins and to learn about different brands. Machine-A is more than a store—the events it holds, people it brings together, and position it holds within the conversation on fashion in London makes it a cultural landmark.

Sloane Street, London

Sometimes all you need to do is get on a street where you’re guaranteed to see beauty. Sloane street is that place for me. When I was younger, if ever I was feeling down, I’d put a look together and take a walk down Sloane Street. I’d pass the boutiques—Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Balenciaga and the rest of them—taking in the way people dressed and moved. Allowing myself to feel free and fabulous in the way I moved too. There’s something about being your most unapologetic self in an aspirational environment and being looked at with admiration… being told you look good by the woman with the Birkin getting out of a Rolls Royce. For 16-year-old me, it was empowering, and to this day, I still will walk that street in a look, though now it’s also when I’m feeling great. I don’t go looking for affirmation anymore as I am very happy and confident in who I am, but more to say to younger me, “Look we’re here and we’re thriving!”

Retro Man, Woman & Books Buy, Sell, Trade - Notting Hill, London

These three stores are located on Pembridge Road, Notting Hill. As a lover of fashion and a collector of comic books, these stores have been a staple in my life for 16 years! When I need to clear out my wardrobe, I take my things there and trade them in for pieces I like in the store or sell them. I love going there and getting lost in the pieces they have from relatively recent pieces to things seen on the runway 10 to more than 15 years ago! The book store doesn’t only deal in comics. I’ve also acquired some amazing coffee table books there. Definitely a must-visit if you want to do London like a Londoner.

Hirst Antiques

A little further down Pembridge Road, on the corner that turns into Portobello Road, you’ll find the burgundy front of Hirst Antiques. You won’t be able to miss it because looking into the window feels like looking into a treasure-laden pirate queen’s lair. Whether you’re looking to buy or looking to be inspired, it’s a place that will always spark joy and excitement. I’m always here for anything that adds some sparkle and shine to the day!

Michael Nadra, Primrose Hill 

A chic vibe in beautiful Primrose Hill. I love having dinner at Michael Nadra. It’s the perfect place to relax, catch up with friends, or simply enjoy some me time with delicious food, a great wine, a great cocktail selection, and a mix of glamorous Primrose Hill locals, plus a few celebrities here and there.

Looking for more inspiration? Check out Ben Shenassafar’s LA, Xavier Donnelly’s New Orleans, and Elisa Marshall’s New York.